ZimmComm’s contest to win an iPod Touch seems to be attracting a steady crowd of contest winner hopefuls. But, that’s just ONE of the perks of stopping by the ZimmComm New Media display here at the 2008 NAMA “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing conference. Visitors can also get online and search AgWired.com to see if they have been blogged by the ZimmComm crew. If you find your name, you get an AgWired.com “I’ve Been Blogged” T-shirt. Now, who wouldn’t want one of those?
Colle + McVoy Agri-Rock Fest
Speaking of rock. We were speaking of rock weren’t we?
Colle + McVoy held the 6th Annual Agri-Rock Fest this evening. Here’s some of the band. There were a lot of body piercings and tattoos and specialty rock legend beverages.
It’s now getting too late even for an agriblogger so you’ll have to check the photo album for some new ones and wait for more NAMA excitement in the morning.
ZimmComm Booth Rocks
Well the ZimmComm Booth is ready for action here at the NAMA Connection Point. Laura took a picture of Cindy and me.
You need to come on by to get your “I’ve Been Blogged” t-shirt and enter our iPod touch contest.
While there we can answer all your new media questions.
Right now the Best of NAMA Awards ceremony is finishing up and I’ll have more on the results from that by tomorrow. We’ll be heading out to dinner after the show this evening.
NAMA Students Market Blue Ridge Apple Chips
A big part of the NAMA Agrimarketing Conference is the student chapter marketing competitions. For this year’s “Leading the Charge” event, students from Virginia Tech have chosen to promote Blue Ridge Apple Chips for a company based out of Western Virginia. Team member Josh Stephens (pictured shaking hands far right) touts the apple chips as a healthy, on-the-go snack for busy-bodies living in the fast track… like us bloggers.
You can listen to my interview with Josh here, where he explains why his team chose Blue Ridge Apple Chips. He also comments on what he’s learning through the NAMA experience… and he’ll tell you, marketing isn’t easy.
But then, that’s why we are all here at the NAMA Agrimarketing Conference isn’t it…nama08-stu-josh-stephens.mp3
Breakout!
The first breakout session at the 2008 NAMA “Leading the Charge” Agrimarketing Conference focused on advertising. A group of panelists opened discussion on “Ag Advertising: How the Best was Won.” Tim Naylor, the chief creative officer for Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie, moderated the panel discussion. Other panel members included representatives from Colle + McVoy, Rhea & Kaiser, Bader Rutter and Martin Williams.
I couldn’t help but notice they are all MAC users…
Getting Down to Business
The NAMA Board of Directors’ Meeting is underway and members are tackling the important issues and topics on today’s agenda. I stuck my head into the Chicago meeting room at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center in Kansas City to pop a few photos of NAMA Chapter Leaders getting down to business. NAMA’s Leading the Charge Agrimarketing Conference will be hosting events here through Friday.
NAMA Chapter Leaders Learn and Lunch
This morning NAMA Chapter Leaders like these got together to talk about the challenges they face today in running a local chapter.
One of the presenters was Greg Ehm, Two Rivers Marketing, pictured in the blue shirt. I spoke to him at the lunch that followed their workshop.
Greg says that one of the biggest issues that came up was “time.” It seems like there are so many things competing for our time today that sometimes chapters are suffering from not enough member involvement. Greg says that the NAMA office has hired someone to help chapters with their challenges. I’m going to find her for an interview and introduce you to her soon.
You can listen to my interview with Greg here: nama-08-ehm.mp3
Pioneer Forage Forum Podcast
Pioneer Hi-Bred International is now on its third year of podcasting the Forage Forum on World Dairy Diary and the Pioneer Growing Point website. We just posted podcast number 30 on the websites today.
Forage Forum features “news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition.” It’s kind of interesting that a seed company provides this kind of service for dairy producers – and that is the topic of this week’s podcast as Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer discusses to company’s integrated forage approach and the expertise available to producers.
pioneer-podcast-30-wdd.mp3
Bill Mahanna on Integrated Forage Program (4:30 min MP3)
To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.
Previous Forage Forum podcasts are also archived at the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. To access them, go to www.pioneer.com/growingpoint and click Livestock Nutrition and Forage Blog.
Planning IFAJ/AMS 2009
The dedicated IFAJ/AMS planning committee is meeting early this morning to continue planning for the 2009 combined IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit. We’ve been reviewing the program and fine tuning things.
Sponsorship packets are almost ready and will be published soon. For those of you who have been AMS sponsors, keep in mind that in 2009 we’re going to be having hundreds of international agricultural journalists coming to the event.
My little part is the IFAJ 2009 Congress website which is up and running. If anyone would like to help, please let me know. Right now I’m seeking input and feedback on the site.
Missing Southeast AgNet
One of our NAMA Connection Point exhibitors will not be able to make the convention this year. That’s Southeast AgNet, a ZimmComm client. Gary and Robin are spending time with Robin’s Mom who is gravely ill. They sure wish they could be here but they know what’s most important.
So, thanks to their rep firm, Farmakis, you’ll still find information in the trade show. Gary sent along this message:
We appreciate our Farmakis national sales team for setting up and manning our exhibit this year! And we appreciate everyone’s thoughts, prayers and support during this critical time.