Say Cheers With a Corn Cup at the Ballpark

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn CupsSome people may like to drink their liquor from an old fruit jar but at baseball parks this summer you may be drinking your beer from a corn starch cup.

Some of the nation’s major league baseball teams are adopting cups made from corn starch this season to help quench the thirst of fans and be more environmentally-friendly at the same time.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, for example, have announced a new greening initiatives program called “Let’s Go Bucs. Let’s Go Green.”

Pitt PiratesBeginning with the 2008 season, the concessionaires at PNC Park will be using corn-based beverage cups. They are also reportedly printing game-day programs with soy-based inks and providing flex-fuel vehicles for team scouts.

According to Bob Nutting, Pirates Chairman of the Board, “We are not launching this program because ‘going green’ is a popular trend. We are doing it because it is the right thing to do. The measures being put into place at the ballpark will have an immediate positive impact. These initiatives not only make sense for the environment, but they make good business sense as well.”

The Oakland A’s are also reportedly using cups made of biodegradable cornstarch this season.

Corn

More Digital Solutions at Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Bader RutterIn today’s digital online world everyone’s got to have someone to help them out with digital solutions.

Bader Rutter, a Brookfield, Wis.-based integrated marketing services agency, has added two associates to its Digital Solutions Group.

Damon Sanchez joins the agency as senior interactive media specialist. He comes from Charleston|Orwig where he was senior interactive director. A native of McFarland, Wis., Sanchez earned his bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He is also an instructor at the Madison Media Institute.

Tara Hammond joins the agency as a web programmer/analyst. Her previous experience includes positions as a software engineer at TEKSystems and most recently, as a technical business analyst at James Tower. Originally from Mequon, Wis., Hammond holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Agencies

Are You An Ag Journalist of the Future?

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEA ByLineI’ve got to say “Thank You” to AAEA President John Walter, Successful Farming, for his latest column in the organization’s newsletter (pdf), The Byline. John told me he was writing this and we did have a phone/email interview to go with it. Here’s how he starts out.

The first time I met him was at the 2005 Agricultural Media Summit in Milwaukee, and to tell you the truth, I found the experience to be a bit unnerving. He was running circles around the rest of us, shooting photos and video, conducting audio interviews in the corner of every room, dashing off to the media room to file Web reports multiple times
daily, and generally practicing our profession at a pace I’d seldom seen before. Ag journalism on steroids.

At that time most of us had not even heard of the inelegant word, “blog,” and he had already coined the term, “agriblogging.”

Read the full column to find out who’s he’s talking about.

I think the take away is that things are sure changing in the profession of agricultural communications. That’s why I think it’s so important to participate in the professional improvement opportunities offered by organizations like AAEA, LPC, IFAJ, NAFB, NAMA and others. I wouldn’t stop there. I highly recommend other communications activities like those offered by the National Press Photographers Association and shows like MacWorld Expo, New Media Expo, etc. Sometimes we get so caught up going to all the farm shows and events that we neglect our own professional development. And don’t forget reading up on these subjects. You’ll also be amazed at how much there is available online that’s free, including how-to’s on YouTube!

The best way to learn how to use some of these new tools is to jump in and just do it. Start a blog and a podcast. Create a Flickr photo album or YouTube account and upload some of your materials. Share and be shared with!

I’m just starting the chapter in Clay Shirky’s new book, “Here Comes Everybody” that’s titled, “Everyone is a Media Outlet.” Mull that thought over. These new media tools allow everyone to be part of the online conversation that’s changing our world.

ACN

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Tom Camerlo, a dairy farmer from Florence, Colo., was re-elected to his sixth term as chairman of the board of directors for Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA). Randy Mooney of Rogersville, Mo., was re-elected first vice chairman. Tom Croner of Berlin, Pa., was re-elected secretary/treasurer. Four other board members were elected vice chairman, and each will chair one of DFA’s committees: Jerrel Heatwole of Greenwood, Del.; George Mertens of Sonoma, Calif.; Wayne Palla of Clovis, N.M.; and Bill Siebenborn of Trenton, Mo.
  • Diamond V® has received the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification. This certification means that the Diamond V manufacturing facility is now recognized as an approved AFIA SF/SF facility.
  • Applications are being accepted for the W.D. Farr Scholarship program, presented by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Two $12,000 graduate scholarships will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing graduate degrees in animal science, environmental science or agriculture. All applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2008. The scholarship application and criteria can be found online or by calling 303-694-0305.
  • StollerUSA has produced Golden Pest Spray Oil, an effective tool in the fight against gypsy moth infestations. According to users, Golden Pest Spray Oil is easy to apply and can kill treated gypsy moth egg masses, helping to reduce the starting population in areas scheduled for an insecticide spray due to high populations of the pest.
Zimfo Bytes

Speaking to Macaholics

Chuck Zimmerman

MacaholicThis evening I’m on a panel discussion with this well known Macaholic for the Jefferson City/Columbia Apple Users group. We’re talking all about podcasting, one of my favorite topics.

You’ve seen our announcement about the new one we’re producing for the Soyfoods Council and for our Domestic Fuel website and I think we’ll be announcing another one before the end of the week.

Well, it’s almost time for me to be on the program so I’ve got to go. Remember that if you need a little blogging/podcating/rss training then you know who to call.

Uncategorized

Norton Says Missouri Has Reds

Chuck Zimmerman

Norton SaysNorton Says that there are some good red wines in Missouri. This is for all my red wine fan friends who say, “Can anything good come out of Missouri?” Why yes they can and now you can learn all about it online.

Missouri’s signature grape, the Norton, is the highlight of a new Web site designed to introduce you to the Norton grape and wineries across the state serving up Norton wines and other quality wines from right here in Missouri. A visit to www.NortonSays.com will enlighten you on the life of Norton – an imaginative, fun advertising campaign designed to call attention to the Norton grape.

Visit NortonSays for a Trip Planner, Event Calendar or to ask Norton a question or two. NortonSays.com is brought to you by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, a division of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Food

New Soyfoods Council Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

The Soyfoods CouncilThe Soyfoods Council has a new podcast series started which you can find a link to on their website. We’ve worked with Executive Director, Linda Funk, to create this new series which you can subscribe to with this feed link. Remember that you can use your browser to subscribe now or my favorite, iTunes.

The Soyfoods Council website www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com has been an important resource for information about soyfoods for three years, including information on the latest nutrition research as well as details on new products, foodservice usage and consumer information.

The Council has added a series of monthly podcasts to the site. The initial podcast features an interview with soyfoods expert Dr. Mark Messina, professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University and former researcher with the National Cancer Institute.

In this podcast Messina focuses on soy and breast cancer and emphasizes the value of even a single serving daily of soyfoods for girls. He summarizes a study from the National Cancer Institute showing that girls who regularly consumed soy had a 58% less chance of getting breast cancer as adults. “Even a single serving of soyfoods a day can make a difference,” Messina reports. One serving of soyfoods is 1 cup of soymilk, 4 ounces of tofu, ½ cup edamame or ¼ cup roasted soybeans.

Future podcasts will focus on new nutrition research results from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute in Seattle, on how chefs use soyfoods in a variety of foodservice operations, and how registered dietitians recommend adding soyfoods to special and every day diets.

Ag Groups, Food, Podcasts, Soybean

April Fool’s Headline From NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

National Association of Farm BroadcastingIn the spirit of April Fool’s Day the NAFB has a set of news headlines posted (sent to me via email) that includes the following:

Donald Trump Tears Down Towers to Plant Soybeans – Sees Bright Future in Biodiesel”

“New Yorkers Planting Soybeans in Window Boxes – Forming Marketing Co-Op”

“Astronauts Take Milk to Moon to Compare Cheeses”

“Soy Ink Now Used in All Home Printers”

“Weather Forecasts Accurate for Past 20 Days – Sets New Record”

“NAFB Mini-Tractor Wins Pull at Iowa State Fair – Organizers Embarrassed – Won’t Reveal Tractor’s Color”

What would yours be? Submit via comments.

NAFB

Birthday Wish Thank You’s

Chuck Zimmerman

I just wanted to let everyone who sent in a birthday wish last week know how much I appreciate it. I would love to respond personally to all of them but since it’s now over 100 emails and other forms of messaging I just can’t git ‘er done. I truly value and appreciate all of you and your support.

Here’s another of my favorite lines from someone who sent in their top 10 things about turning 50:

You can tell your clients that if an old guy born in 1958 can use the “new” social media, anybody can.

Right on. I’ve used that line a couple of times already.

Uncategorized

LPC and AAEA Regional Workshops

Chuck Zimmerman

LPC Sales WorkshopI know the deadline’s today but maybe you can get your registration in still for the Livestock Publications Council and AAEA Midwest Regional Workshop on design and writing. It’s going to be held April 10 at the Pioneer offices in Johnston, IA. If you come in early the night before then you can play games with Diane Johnson at the Stoney Creek Inn. What kind of games do you have in mind Diane? Go to their website to get registered right away.

You can also keep in mind the first ever LPC Workshop on Sales and Marketing which will June 16-17 in Kansas City. Yes that’s a sales workshop. I think it only makes sense. Who isn’t involved in sales today? Do you “pure” editors think you don’t do sales when you’re out at a conference? Of course you do. This is a great idea for anyone in ag communications today.

ACN, LPC