Learn About the EcoJet at New Holland Tent

Chuck Zimmerman

EcoJetJay Leno wanted a jet engine of a car and he got one. It’s called the EcoJet and it runs on 100% biodiesel and cranks out 650 horsepower showing that this alternative fuel is high performance.

I interviewed Steve Reich about the car. He works for Jay Leno doing logistics which includes traveling around with this car lately. The EcoJet was designed by Jay working with General Motors. Steve says that the car is very light weight and should be able to hit about 220 mph. I’m guessing that when Jay drives it to the studio to do his show he’ll be doing the speed limit. Right?

Having the car on display here at the New Holland tent came about after Gene Hemphill, New Holland Public Affairs Director, met with Steve and Jay in Burbank when Jay decided to get a New Holland Boomer to move cars around in his garage. Here’s my interview with Steve: cma-07-reich.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, New Holland

New Holland Tent

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland TentIn the Chevy Sports Zone you’ll find the New Holland tent and it’s a busy place. It looks out over where the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race will take place tomorrow afternoon.

People who stop by the booth can enter a drawing to win one of five $100 Cabela’s gift cards. That’s a nice prize and one that they’re getting lots of entries for. Also on display is the New Holland Boomer compact tractor that all the celebrities will be signing who compete in the tractor race. This year’s tractor will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the FFA and the charity of the winner’s choice.

Last year’s tractor is still up for auction until midnight tonight. Don’t forget to place your bid if you’re interested. You can find the auction here.

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

New Holland

Michael Peterson and Suzanne Alexander on GAC

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael PetersonAfter Michael Peterson’s performance this morning on the Riverfront Stage he was interviewed by the Great American Country channel.

Here he’s being interviewed by Suzanne Alexander. Suzanne has her own blog on the GAC site called Music Row Ramblings. I just kind of tagged along to see how it went. The GAC has a nice studio like setup for interviews with the Riverfront Stage as a backdrop. You can see video of interviews they do with the stars on the website.

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

New Holland

Michael Peterson Performs

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael PetersonToday Michael Peterson performed on the Riverfront Stage here at the CMA Music Festival. I was able to go backstage with him and was also allowed to go onstage for a few photos. You can see many of them in my online photo album now.

Michael performed some old and some new, including 2 songs off his upcoming CD release later this year. The crowd was out early and they loved Michael. He started out with one of his biggest hits, “Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie.”

Here’s just a short audio clip of the performance recorded off stage to give you a flavor of what you missed if you weren’t there: cma-07-peterson-riverfront.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, New Holland

Talking Biodiesel With Joe Jobe

Chuck Zimmerman

Joe JobeAfter Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board did his XM Radio, Dave Nemo Show appearance I got a chance to interview him.

He’s really happy to get an opportunity this weekend to work with New Holland and Michael Peterson as they help promote biodiesel here at the CMA Music Festival. Earlier this year the NBB gave New Holland’s Gene Hemphill their Eye on Biodiesel Award for Innovation. Joe talks about how New Holland with people like Gene are leading the way for the company support needed to move bioidiesel forward as a viable alternative fuel.

Don’t forget that Joe will be one of the competitors in tomorrow’s Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race. Here’s an excerpt of my interview with Joe: cma-07-jobe-excerpt.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, New Holland

FarmPolicyFacts.org and 2008 Commodity Classic Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Wexford Irish Cream AleIt’s Friday afternoon in Nashville and time to relax with a very tasty treat. After a full day of CMA Music Festival related activities and a nice run I thought I’d check out the end of the week emails. There are a number of them that come in from Washington, DC. Like the NAWG Newsletter. In it I learned of a new website called FarmPolicyFacts.org. It’s supported by the American Sugar Alliance, Minnesota Corn Growers Associations, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cotton Council and the USA Rice Federation. I like the fact that it’s got an RSS feed but I’ve got to say that what I think they’re trying to do would work very well in blog format. If you wonder why just give me a call and I’ll explain.

I also found out that the 2008 Commodity Classic website is now public so you’ve got to check that out. It’s never too early to plan ahead. (Didn’t we just have Commodity Classic?) The little corn/soybean/wheat dudes are even animated!

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic, Internet

Joe Jobe Performs on the Dave Nemo XM Radio Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Joe JobeYou may not know that the CEO of the National Biodiesel Board is a musician with a great voice. I think we need to get Joe Jobe here at the CMA Music Festival up on stage.

Michael Peterson helped talk Joe into a song while they were live on the Dave Nemo Show on XM Radio (Channel 171) this morning. So besides talking about the benefits of biodiesel we got a little benefit entertainment.

Joe is going to be one of the celebrities competing in Sunday’s Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race. Michael does backup on the song: cma-07-xm-jobe.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, New Holland

Michael Peterson XM Perfomance on Dave Nemo Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael PetersonMichael Peterson not only talked about biodiesel and New Holland and his Celebrity Tractor Race but even played a song as a guest today on the Dave Nemo Show.

Michael talked about how much he’s learned working with New Holland over the last year or so and really put into perspective how important it is to develop our own renewable fuel sources. Based on his comments during the show it’s obvious that he’s really been putting a lot of thought into it. I think his star status will re-skyrocket when his new CD comes out this fall. He’s a great spokesperson for renewable fuels!

Michael PetersonWhile we were in the Dave Nemo home studio Michael got out his guitar and played us a song live. I had a recorder going just in case and so you get to listen to his song right here on AgWired.

Just make sure you tune into Channel 171 on XM for me won’t you?

Michael does a little set up for the song: cma-07-xm-peterson.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, New Holland

Live on the Dave Nemo XM Radio Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Dave NemoThis morning I was an observer as Dave Nemo, who has a show on XM Radio, channel 171 (Open Road) had Michael Peterson and Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board on as guests.

Right after they got started I recorded a short video clip so you can see what it’s like being in Dave’s studio. He works from a home studio that many people I know (me included) would envy. It was a really good show and now I’m going to have to listen to channel 171 more often.

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

New Holland

Gene Autry Centennial

Chuck Zimmerman

Charlotte AutryCharlotte Autry is a cousin of the ever so famous Gene Autry. She’s here at the CMA Music Festival with a booth next to Michael Peterson’s. I got to meet and talk with her about why she’s here.

This is the Centennial celebration of Oklahoma and Gene Autry’s 100th birthday. To commemorate that she’s selling a tribute CD with a number of artists who have recorded one of Gene’s songs.

Charlotte has a singing career of her own and tells us about it in an interview we did just outside the exhibit hall. You can hear what Charlotte’s up to here: cma-07-autry.mp3

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Audio, New Holland