InfoExpo Kicks Off

Chuck Zimmerman

Mosaic BoothInfoExpo officially kicked off with a reception this afternoon. There is a lot to see and talk about in this year’s show because it’s bigger and better than ever.

I made sure I stopped by the Mosaic booth to enter for an iPod Nano. In fact, I’m so pumped to see these as giveaways. If you won one today I’m hoping you’ll be in my session tomorrow “Podcasting For Publishers.” I’ll show you how to use it and where you can get some great content for it and how to create your own. Make sure you stop by and see Dan and Bruce.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness

The Ralph Grossi Policy Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Ralph GrossiRalph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust, was our luncheon speaker today. He gave us a great overview of Washington, DC policy including the farm bill situation.

To save me time summarizing his comments I’m going to just let you listen for yourself. Yes, the golden ZimmComm microphone was in action. I’ll try to get back here and post more about what he said later. It’s getting time for the opening of the InfoExpo and that’s where I need to be next.

Listen to Ralph Grossi’s remarks here: ams-07-grossi.mp3

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Audio

Doing The YMCA

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to Brandon Souza, Cal Poly – Brock Center, San Luis Obispo, CA for providing me with another video clip from our opening session.

Brandon made sure we never forget the YMCA portion of the evening.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit, Agencies, Video

AMS Idol Contestants

Chuck Zimmerman

AMS ContestantsGetting back to the AMS Idol contest, here’s all the contestants.

Mr. Magic, Barry Nelson, John Deere, contestant and sponsor, is taking his bow as we showed our appreciation for their efforts last night.

You can find more photos in the album.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit

Heads of the Industry

Chuck Zimmerman

Animal HeadsThis is why I like taking the pictures as opposed to being in them. Poking my head through an animal cutout would not be the way I want to be remembered but hey, I take the pics when they ask.

I don’t know if you can figure out who they are but these are leaders in the industry.

It’s just an example of what a fun loving group agricultural journalists can be.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit

AMS Idol Winner Angie Greving

Chuck Zimmerman

Angie GrevingThe winner of the first AMS Idol contest is Angie Greving, Charleston-Orwig.

Angie just absolutely wowed the crowd with a Martina McBride number (Independence Song).

In fact, she was called back up afterward to sing some more. I’m not sure what the winner received. Hopefully a recording contract somewhere. Hey, I’ve got a microphone and a lot of hard drive space. It could be a start.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit

AMS Idol Contestant Jodie Wehrspann

Chuck Zimmerman

Jodie WehrspanIf you didn’t make it to the AMS Idol competition then never fear. AgWired is here (or was there).

I only shot video of Barbra Streisand also known as Jodie Wehrspann, Farm Industry News.

She did a big performance number including two songs.

YouTube wouldn’t let me upload the whole performance but you can see her first song.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit, Video

AMS Idol Judges

Chuck Zimmerman

AMS Idol JudgesOur opening reception here at the AMS featured a unique competition called AMS Idol.

Here are our famous judges getting ready to lay down the feedback to the competitors. One judge is not pictured (Marilyn Cummins). You figure out who they are. Let’s just say that the judges on that tv show that imitates this competition have nothing to worry about.

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit

AgraGate Picks Meyocks Group

Chuck Zimmerman

Meyocks GroupThe brave folks at The Meyocks Group have been selected as the agency of record for AgragGate Climate Credits Corporation, my sponsor here at the Ag Media Summit. You can count on the fact that we’re going to be learning more about carbon credit offsets!

AgraGate is a subsidiary of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, which has been involved in the emerging market for carbon offsets since 2003. AgraGate has contracted with farmers, ranchers and private landowners in 16 states for more than a million acres of carbon offsets. The credits are traded on the Chicago Climate Exchange.

The Meyocks Group helped create the AgraGate brand and will handle ongoing public relations and advertising responsibilities for the company.

“We’re pleased to have the services of the experienced team at The Meyocks Group,” said Dave Krog, AgraGate chief executive. “Our plan is to expand what’s been a successful regional program and take it nationwide in a relatively short time, so the agency’s brand-building expertise is important.”

Agencies, Agribusiness

Meet the Hubers

Chuck Zimmerman

Huber Winery TourThe farm tour at the Huber Winery Opening Reception was a little more sedate than the one we went on Saturday. Although I’m sure the end result for some people might have been the same (at least from what I’ve heard). Me, I was a good boy going home on the early bus.

While we were at the Huber farm I met with owners Greg and Jan Huber. They walked me through a description of how they’ve built up this agritourist destination over many years. One of the biggest pieces of advice they offer to farmers who might think about this is patience and “don’t try to do everything at once.” Here on the farm they’ve got a winery, fresh produce market, u-pick operation, ice cream shop, kids park and petting zoo and conference facility and it’s all beautiful.

Meet the Hubers in this interview: ams-07-huber.mp3

2007 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit
is being sponsored by: AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation

Ag Media Summit, Audio, Farming