Registration is now officially closed here at Commodity Classic and the final numbers have been posted.
4,534 Total Registration (record)
145 Total Media (record)
847 Booths (record)
1,479 Total Growers
The highest registered attendance of growers was 1,517 at the Las Vegas Classic in 2004. Still a pretty impressive showing here in Nashville.
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: 
and 
For the last couple days we’ve been watching the American Soybean Association sand sculpture take shape.
I’m not sure when it was finished but here it is.
The theme message is “If you believe, belong.”
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
It took 3 or 4 days but we’re pretty sure that Evan Slack, Evan Slack Network, showed everyone attending Commodity Classic how to use the iPhone. I’m hoping Apple is paying Evan a commission.
Here he’s showing Anita Vanderwert, Brownfield, how to check her stock quotes via the built in web browser. She doesn’t seem to be paying attention.
If you’re thinking of getting one then please give Evan a call.
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Each year at the Commodity Classic general session we get to hear from the Presidents of the participating associations. Here they are on stage involved in an interactive discussion with moderator John Phipps. Pictured left to right are John Hoffman, ASA, Ron Litterer, NCGA and John Thaemert, NAWG.
John starts out wondering how in the world these three guys got so lucky as to be President this year when we’ve got such fantastic market prices. It’s a lively discussion which I hope you’ll enjoy.
Listen to the 3 Amigos here: cc-08-3-presidents.mp3
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Earlier this week the National Agri-Marketing Association announced that NCGA CEO Rick Tolman is their Agribusiness Leader of the Year. Here he’s standing next to their booth at the Commodity Classic trade show.
The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.
“We congratulate Rick on this prestigious award,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “His commitment and dedication is apparent in the many accomplishments that benefit agriculture, especially in the areas of ethanol, trade, transportation, biotechnology, and farm policy.”
Tolman will receive the award April 17 at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
BASF, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association are supporting the future of agriculture by awarding scholarships to young people working towards careers in the industry.
The first scholarship winners were announced today at a Commodity Classic news conference. I did interviews with all the winners who were here, which I will post later, but here is a group photo with the four students with (left to right) Adam Burnhams of BASF, ASA president John Hoffman, champion soybean grower Kip Cullers and NCGA chairman Ken McCauley.
The students pictured are – from left to right:
Lauren Schlosser of Missouri, James Seitzer of Minnesota and Catherine (Catie) Simpson of Colorado – all NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship winners – and Laura Stevens, a high school senior from Nebraska who won the first ever “Kip Cullers” Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship.
(I assume you can figure out the difference between the students and the presenters!)
The other NCGA scholarship winners were Jason Buss of Illinois and Josh Yoder of Ohio. Congrats to all the winners. BASF will continue their sponsorship of this program next year and applications will be available from NCGA and ASA in the fall.
Listen to the scholarship awards press conference here:
cc-08-basf-scholarships.mp3
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
The BASF theme at Commodity Classic this election year is all about family values – family of growers and family of products. And what better way to visualize that theme than in pictures.
The BASF booth is giving away disposable cameras and photo frames and encouraging their grower family members to go out and shoot pictures at the Classic and then return the cameras to have them developed.
World Champion soybean grower Kip Cullers paused to pose for a picture in the booth – and I just couldn’t resist the little cutie in the pink cowboy hat. Her proud papa is grower Kurt Hora from Washington, Iowa.
We have our own BASF Commodity Classic Flickr photo album on-line here for your viewing pleasure. This is separate from the general Classic photo album, since we have so many just from BASF events here!
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer announced the appointment of three incumbents and six new members to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.
Re-appointed to serve second terms are: Brian Haugh, Dallas, Texas and Michael A. Krueger, Phoenix, Ariz.
Re-appointed to serve a first term after filling a vacancy lasting less than 18 months is: Jay B. Simon, Stockton, Calif.
Newly appointed are: James F. Walsh, Lynnfield, Mass.; Michael R. Smith, Lakeland, Fla.; and Steven M. Turner, Covington, Tenn.
Newly appointed to fill vacancies lasting less than 18 months are: John R. Zuroweste, Dallas, Texas; Charles S. Mayfield, Jr., Athens, Tenn.; and Janey K. Thornton, PhD., Elizabethtown, Ky.
Terms for these appointees begin July 1, 2008, and expire June 30, 2011, except for Mssrs. Zuroweste and Mayfield, and Dr. Thornton, who are filling vacant positions with less than 18 months remaining and whose terms expire June 30, 2009. All appointees will be seated at the board meeting July 17-19, 2008.
The head of the Cash Crop Segment for New Holland is Ed Barry who is here at Commodity Classic. He says they have a T8040 Tractor on display and a CR9060 Combine along with a lot of training aids.
Business is good as evidenced by the somewhat short supply they currently have on equipment. He says that New Holland has a Pre-Sell Program and that participating customers have ordered at the highest rate they’ve ever seen. Ed says that all their plants are operating at maximum capacity right now to meet demand.
You can listen to an interview I did with Ed here: cc-08-barry.mp3
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
I don’t know if you can see it clearly on this small photo but this baby’s sporting an E85 sticker and her jumper suit says “Smell of Ethanol” on the back. On the front she’s got an Indy Racing League logo too.
I think her name is Danica after IRL driver Danica Patrick. You know this baby’s in a corn grower family and one that fully supports ethanol.
I just love babies and there seemed to be quite a few around yesterday afternoon in the trade show. These two are already planning to grow up and be corn/soybean/wheat farmers.
Babies take great pictures and I just love to hold them. At this point mine are all grown up and I have to admit that it’s nice to give them back to their rightful owner after holding them for a few minutes.
I tried to do some interviews but they were in a “no comment” mood at the time.
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
