Visiting Journalists From Mali

Chuck Zimmerman July 29, 2007

Attending the Ag Media Summit is a group of communications professionals from Mali. They’ve been attending Oklahoma State University as part of an international exchange program and have been doing internships and all kinds of things.

I had a chance to speak with one of the group who is actually a student in Utah right now. I’ll have to add his name here later since I neglected to write it down. He does say it in the interview.

This is the whole group after lunch at Alltech. Here’s the interview: ams-07-mali.mp3

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Touring Alltech Headquarters

Chuck Zimmerman July 28, 2007

Our next stop on today’s tour is Alltech. The tour is going on right now but I was here earlier this year for the Alltech Symposium. I’m borrowing Billy Frey’s office for a few minutes before lunch.

Dr. Pearse Lyons greeted us at the door and welcomed us to Alltech headquarters. Then it was off to the tour which is where I’m headed to now. More after lunch.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Sleeping Barrels of Bourbon

Chuck Zimmerman July 28, 2007

Once bourbon is barreled here at Woodford Reserve it “goes to sleep” for approximately 7 years. During that time the very clear distilled fresh product gains its color and flavor from the wood barrels.

The room in which they sit for this time smells wonderful. Actually up to 30% of the product will evaporate which they calls “angel’s share” before it’s ready to bottle. We weren’t allowed to use a flash inside these buildings due to safety concerns btw.

The master distiller will take samples during the process to make sure everything is going okay in the barrel. That sounds like an interesting job.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Touring Woodford Reserve

Chuck Zimmerman July 28, 2007

The tour of Woodford Reserve Distillery was really good. It’s my first whiskey distillery tour and I learned a lot. Like that Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey are similar but not the same.

Our tour guide, Jim, led us through the whole process from start to finish including a tasting back in the main room next to the shop where many of us damaged our credit cards. You can learn a little bit about Woodford Reserve in my interview with him: ams-07-woodford.mp3

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Ag Media Summit Bus

Chuck Zimmerman July 28, 2007

Here’s the happy crowd full of Starbuck’s coffee and McDonalds sausage biscuits and hash browns. Our bus guide is Carey Brown, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.

We’ve got about an hour to go to the first stop so I brought the Mac along to keep up to date during the day, battery willing.

I’ve already got a photo album started for the Summit which you can find here: 2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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Pre AMS Tour Started

Chuck Zimmerman July 28, 2007

We’re on the pre-Ag Media Summit tour here on Saturday morning. Most of us thought is was a farm tour until we saw Diane’s place next door.

Actually, our bus was across the street so we didn’t go in. In reality we’re on the bus right now heading to our first stop which is the Woodford Reserve Distillery. Nothing like a little bourbon sampling early on Saturday morning.

From there we head to Alltech headquarters and then Kentucky Horse Park and a tobacco farm.

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Meeting The NACT Officers

Chuck Zimmerman July 27, 2007

I’m here in Louisville now and some of the first people I got to meet were the officers of the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. They are a very fun loving bunch as you can see here.

We gathered together for a little relaxation. Me, from driving all day. Them, from working on helping set things up for AMS since Wednesday.

A lot of people are filtering in this evening and some of us will be going on a tour tomorrow. I’ll let you know all about it.

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July ZimmNews

Chuck Zimmerman July 27, 2007

Just in case you’re not yet on the list, the latest issue of ZimmNews is now out. Feel free to download the full Word doc. Here’s an excerpt:

New Media Tip: One of the things we get asked about most is the comment feature on blogs. It can be very scary to some and disappointing to others. What if someone writes something negative? What if I don’t get many comments? The list goes on and on. If you’re not writing in a confrontational style or about a controversial subject then you may not receive many comments. Most people don’t take the time to write. It’s kind of like people calling a talk show on the radio. The percentage of those listening who do is miniscule. Keep in mind that one of the benefits of business blogging is that you’re putting a more personal face on your business and your customers or members will appreciate that. You also need to know that with a blog you have complete control over commenting. You can set your blog up so that the only comments that are made public are approved by you. You can even edit them before approving them! And of course you can delete them. By allowing people to post comments you’re inviting them into “the conversation.” That’s part of what this is all about. If you’d like to know more about this aspect of blogging just give Chuck a call. Here’s a real helpful link to Lifehacker with suggestions for posting blog comments.

I’m off to Louisville today with stops along the way. I talked to Diane Johnson who’s there already and just waiting for us to show up. If you see or talk to her let her know how much you appreciate all that she does to make the AMS happen. I know there’s a lot of us who work on it but she does the heavy lifting. See you there (or here on AgWired).

ZimmNews

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara July 27, 2007

Founders of the Farmers Health Cooperative of Wisconsin (FHCW) report that the new co-op is providing the state’s farmers and agri-businesses with affordable, quality health insurance at a faster rate than was originally projected. We have easily surpassed the 1,000-member mark after only a few months of our April 1, 2007, unveiling. Originally the goal was to be at our current point in April 2008,” said Bill Oemichen, WFC president and CEO. “The fact the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin is growing this rapidly is a testament to the need for this program benefiting Wisconsin’s farmers.” The need for FHCW is also illustrated by the fact that 12 percent of current FHCW members were previously uninsured.
A new option for quick burndown of winter annuals and other tough broadleaf weeds in multiple cropping systems is now available from FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC). Rage D-Tech herbicide has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in a variety of crops for fast, consistent burndown of a broad spectrum of weeds. Rage D-Tech is an economical option for consistent control of winter annuals, including marestail, henbit, dandelion, shepherdspurse and mustards; and other broadleaf weeds, including bindweed, waterhemp, lambsquarters, velvetleaf, ragweed and smartweed.
More than 1,100 Appaloosas traveled to Oklahoma City to compete for prestigious titles in the 60th National Appaloosa Show and the World Championship Youth Show that began June 25 at the State Fair Park. Despite highly unusual daily downpours, hundreds of exhibitors competed throughout the 13-day event in 209 classes; all of which allowed the participants and their horses to demonstrate the excellent disposition and versatility of the Appaloosa breed. Overall, the 60th National Appaloosa Show and the World Championship Youth Show had a combined number of 4,344 entries, a slight increase over last year’s total entries. Though the 60th National Appaloosa Show and the World Championship Youth Show just concluded July 7, exhibitors and their Appaloosas are already preparing for the esteemed World Championship Appaloosa Show that will take place Oct. 26-Nov. 3 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Zimfo Bytes

BASF Sponsors Media Room Again

Chuck Zimmerman July 26, 2007

You know where I’ll be doing a lot of work from next week? Yeah. The BASF sponsored media room at the Agricultural Media Summit. Here’s the details on where you’ll find it.

BASF is proud to sponsor the media room at the Agricultural Media Summit again this year. The media room is located in the Rose Room on the second floor close to the exhibit hall and meeting rooms.

The media room hours will be as follows:
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday
6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday
6:00 a.m. to Noon on Wednesday

In addition to utilizing the media room, be sure to visit our booth, located at booth numbers 400, 402 and 404, where you can have a souvenir photo taken and learn more about the total portfolio of products available from BASF.

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