McCormick Gets Rodney Miller

Chuck Zimmerman

Rodney MillerIt looks like McCormick is going to increase their marketing efforts, especially in the area of compact tractors with this announcement.

McCormick International USA, a division of ARGO Tractors and part of ARGO S.p.A., based in Italy, announces the appointment of Rodney Miller as vice president of sales and marketing for new products and communication effective June 1, 2007.

Miller brings extensive experience in the agriculture equipment sector. Most recently, he served as Montana Tractors CEO, where he helped launch the company in 2004. He guided the fledgling compact and utility tractor company to sales of more than $70 million and established a dealer network of 300-plus independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada.

Miller’s initial responsibility will be to focus on all aspects of new product sales and marketing for both the McCormick and Landini tractor brands in the United States.

Agribusiness, Tractor

Hondo Group Formed

Chuck Zimmerman

The Hondo GroupI’ve been meaning to alert you to The Hondo Group if you’re not already aware. I saw Lynn Balinas, President, at the NAMA convention. Later in the day I got a nice cigar that was wrapped with a code to text to them. Once you did, they texted back directions to their website to enter a contest to win a pair of Twisted X Boots. I have been so busy I didn’t get entered in time. I’m not sure who won but if I find out I’ll post it here (or they can leave it in comments).

If you’re wondering what a Hondo is, it’s “the eye at the end of a rope through which the opposite end passes to close the loop.” It’s also the title of one of my favorite Louis L’Amour western novels. John Wayne starred in the movie version too.

It’s also an integrated marketing and communications agency located in Ft. Worth, TX.

Agencies

Indy Racing, Monsanto and EPIC

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-117 - Promoting Ethanol With IndyI’m fresh off another on-location adventure with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. This season I’ll be covering about 6 IRL races. The next one is the big one in Indianapolis. This past week it was in Kansas City and so the ZimmCast this week features some interviews from that event.

Tom Slunecka and Robert WhiteWe had a lot of fun there. We in this case being Tom Slunecka, EPIC Executive Director (left) and Robert White, EPIC Director of Operations. They actually got to have the “Indy Experience” and ride as passengers in an Indy car that cranked it up for a few laps. Me, I got to take pictures and shoot video of it. But that’s not who I interviewed.

In this week’s program I have interviews with Indy Racing League Public Relations Director, Amy Konrath who talks about what the relationship with ethanol has meant to the League. Then I spoke to Monsanto’s Biofuels Lead, Troy Hobbs, who explains why Monsanto is a member of EPIC and what the company is doing to support agriculture and ethanol production.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 117 (15 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast117-4-30-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes.

Audio, Ethanol, ZimmCast

Country Living Association Strikes Gold

Chuck Zimmerman

Country Living AssociationThe Country Living Association has a new sponsor and has started a one minute radio show which they’re trying to syndicate nationally. You can read the radio show script on their website but you can’t listen to it. Seems like it might have made a good podcast, especially considering the target audience.

Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, a leader in animal nutrition products and the largest feed manufacturer in the United States, joins Fastline Publications as a gold-level sponsor of the Country Living Association.

In addition to announcing a new sponsor, Country Living Association’s “Country Living Minute,” began in early April. The program is a one-minute, daily radio feature which provides information on topics of importance to people who live the country life.

Topics for daily features range widely, from taking care of animals on the farm and when to call a vet to purchasing equipment and hiring contract labor. The radio program and subject matter continue to expand and questions or comments are welcomed. It’s anticipated that “Country Living Minute” will be airing on 100-plus radio stations by July 1 with a reach of 2 million people.

Uncategorized

New Michael Peterson Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael Peterson WebsiteMichael Peterson has a new website. His agency called today and asked if I would do a post about it and I said, “Sure.” I like Mike.

As I’m sure you must know by now, Michael has been involved with a CD promotion for over a year now. So that’s why when you visit his site you’ll see a little blue tractor pulling text across the top of some of the pages. Nice.

I’ve had the privilege to work with Michael on a number of occasions that include New Holland-sponsored coverage on AgWired. We’ll be doing it again here soon at the CMA Music Fest. That’s going to be fun. I’ve already got my hotel and credentials lined up for that one.

New Holland

IFAJ Trailer on YouTube

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJYou know I’m a big fan of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) so when I saw a link to an “IFAJ Trailer” I had to YouTube it for you.

Cindy and I just made our reservations for the IFAJ Congress this fall in Japan. The early registration deadline is today. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, eh? One of my event coverage sponsors again this year is Pioneer Hi-Bred. I’m still looking for one or two more sponsors so if you’re interested please let me know.

IFAJ, International, Video

RSS is Simple, Really

Chuck Zimmerman

Are you still one of those people who don’t understand what RSS is? Wonder no more. The people at Commoncraft have made understanding very easy (I think).


Click To Play

I have tried my best to describe this to many people and I find that it works best to show it in action, which I do in many of my workshops and presentations. These guys have put together a great video though and it’s worth watching even if you are a pro since you may find it helpful in trying to describe RSS to the un-enlightened.

Uncategorized

Pam’s Selling Her Hams

Chuck Zimmerman

Pam's HamsNo. This is not about the hams on Pam but the hams that Pam sells. It’s Pams-hams.

According to her website, she’s the retired marketing director of Honeybaked in Michigan. So in her retirement she’s still selling hams. This time for herself. You’ve got to love that spirit and how the web allows us to do things that years ago might not have been possible.

I like ham and I like this idea. Besides it’s Monday, I’m playing catch up (archiving the 900 pictures I took in the last 4 days, 40 video files and 11 interviews). So this story got me into my posting mode.

Thanks to meatingplace.com for the idea.

Food

Dan Wheldon Wins Kansas City Indy 300

Chuck Zimmerman

Dan Wheldon Wins AgainEthanol wins another Indy car race. Actually, driver Dan Wheldon won the race. He’s getting to be regular at this. It was a great race with very little incidents. The ethanol car driven by Jeff Simmons came in tenth so way to got Jeff.

I didn’t post much here this weekend since I’ve doing a lot of photography and interviews. Those are being used mostly on Domestic Fuel and for a number of other purposes, including by my sponsor, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

I’m looking forward to heading on home and sorting through hundreds of photos, many of which you can find in the photo album.

2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 Photo Album

Ethanol

Jeff Simmons After Qualifying

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff SimmonsIt’s the end of the day for me here at Kansas Speedway. The Indy car qualifying is over now and Jeff Simmons got through it okay. His qualifying time is 210.994 MPH. That ethanol fuel definitely has a kick.

After they qualify the drivers all come by the IRL Bull Pen for pics and interviews. Of course I interviewed Jeff. He’s our ethanol champion out there and we’re definitely rooting for him tomorrow.

Jeff wishes he had done a little better in qualifying but says the car races better than it qualifies. I guess we’ll see tomorrow.

Here’s my interview with Jeff:

kansas-city-07-jeff.mp3

2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol