It sure doesn’t look very busy here at the registration desk in Reno.
However, I didn’t stop by for a picture until the meetings were all underway. I’m sure it was busy early.
Beef Promotion Plans
The ZimmCast is coming to you this week from Reno, Nevada and the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. For your listening pleasure I interviewed the Chairman of the Beef Board, Jay O’Brien. Jay is a cattle producer from Texas.
I asked Jay to explain what the Beef Board hopes to accomplish at this meeting. He says the budget is one of the main jobs they get done. Looking ahead to the new year he says that reaching young people with a message about beef is a priority since research has shown that their awareness level isn’t as high as adults.
Listen here: 
ZimmCast 75 (14 min 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.
Blueberry Council Alternate
Our Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced one importer alternate to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, for a term of office beginning immediately and ending on Dec. 31, 2006.
The newly appointed importer alternate is Keith D. Mixon from Haines City, Fla.
We used to go to blueberry u-picks in north central Florida. Mmm, mmm. Now I want some vanilla ice cream topped with a pile of blueberries.
The Dude Had A Dell (Power Supply)
Hello from Reno. Tomorrow I’ll start blogging the Cattle Industry Summer Conference so stay tuned. After checking in and unpacking I realized I didn’t bring my computer’s power supply.
Hard to believe and I was thinking, “Now what am I going to do?” Actually I used some additional words that are not fit for print here. A road warrior needs to have 2 power supplies for his notebook for this very reason.
So I called the audio/visual department and Dave told me there was nothing he could do. Right before hanging up though he mentioned that he had a box with a bunch of adapters, cables and some power supplies from people who have left them here. I eagerly asked him to let me bring my Dell down and see what was in the box. What did I have to lose? When he pulled this box off the shelf the very top power supply was the exact duplicate of mine. The only one even close to what I needed.
I’m charging and Dave has my eternal thanks. That’s the kind of customer service I like.
ARC Breakfast At AMS
If you’re involved in agricultural public relations are you involved in ARC? If not, why not? If not, then maybe you should learn more about the Agricultural Relations Council. You can do this by attending the ARC breakfast at the Ag Media Summit.
For the first time, the Agricultural Relations Council will be recognized as a participating organization at this year’s Agricultural Media Summit, July 23-26 in Portland. The recognition comes following unanimous approval from the steering committee of the Agricultural Media Summit LLC. “We’re excited to obtain this recognition and formally strengthen our ties with this premier agricultural communications event,” said Jeri Omernik, president of ARC, a service organization founded in 1954 to serve the unique needs of professionals in agricultural public relations. Omernik noted that as a result of the partnership, ARC members will be able to attend the event at Ag Media Summit member rates. In addition, ARC is being asked to provide one or more representatives to serve on the three Summit committees: Program, Sponsorship and InfoExpo. Read More
Blogging From The Cattle Industry Summer Conference
A “Country Swing” evening event with Joni Harms is just one of the activities on the agenda for the Cattle Industry Summer Conference that gets kicked off this weekend in Reno. I’m heading back to the city I just drove through for a few days of event blogging here on AgWired and on Beef Board Meeting.
Looking forward to bringing you all the action from the “biggest little city in the world.”
Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation License Tag
I’ve not been too fond of vanity license tags, especially since they cost more and then everyone knows where you’ve been. However, this is different and something that I think is a neat way to raise money for a good cause. I’m sure there are other states and groups where this kind of thing is available.
Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation is happy to offer cattle producers and beef enthusiasts the opportunity to show their support for the beef industry and help MCF to insure the future of Missouri’s most vital natural resource … OUR YOUTH! The proceeds from the sale of Missouri’s first-ever livestock-specific vehicle license plate will directly benefit the programs of the Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation: Cattlemen’s Children’s Fund; Farm Safety and youth education; and scholarships. For a minimum $25 donation to MCF (in addition to the standard $15-per-year Department of Revenue reservation fee) you can be among the first in the state to proudly display a Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation license plate. You also get to personalize your plate with a unique letter and/or number combination of up to 6 characters. The plate’s colors and design depict the rich heritage of Missouri’s cattle industry and the dawning of a new day in Missouri with a cow silhouetted on the horizon. For more information or to request the paperwork to order your plates, contact Darla Eggers at (573) 449-4923 or darla@mocattle.com.
150 Wines A Day
Here’s a competition that I would love to be a judge for. It’s the 15th annual Indy International Wine Competition which will be held July 27-29 in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
“This is the third largest wine competition in the United States,” said Jeanette Merritt, wine marketing specialist for the Indiana Wine Grape Council, located at Purdue University. More than 3,600 wines will be tasted and evaluated by eighty judges from all over the United States, Canada and Europe. Each judge will taste approximately 150 wines a day.
150 wines a day? Oh my. Jeannette, I hope your days as a farm broadcaster prepared you well for this event! I do have the right Jeannette Merrit? Wish I could be there blogging this one!
New Deere Gear Store Contest
AgWired is sponsoring the newest contest at the Deere Gear Store. If you’ve got a John Deer memory, now’s the time to make it known. You’ll have to go to their website to enter. Here’s some more details:
We all have our favorite John Deere memories. Maybe it’s a special romance. Maybe it’s great piece of John Deere machinery that helped you get through some tough times or that has served you well for many years. Maybe it’s a favorite item of clothing. Maybe it’s a heartfelt family memory of great times on the farm. If it’s a special memory somehow related to John Deere products we want to know. And we’ve got some great prizes for the best memories and photos! The Grand Prize draw is October 1, 2006, just in time for the holiday shopping season! Here’s what you can win!
FIRST PRIZE: $500 Gift Certificate for The Deere Gear Store
SECOND PRIZE: $300 Gift Certificate for The Deere Gear Store
THIRD PRIZE: $200 Gift Certificate The Deere Gear Store Read More
Management Changes At Premium Standard Farms
Premium Standard Farms, Inc. has some significant changes made to its management structure. They just announced that Robert Manly has resigned as President and Chief Operating Officer and that Chief Executive Officer, John Meyer, will assume the additional responsibilities of the President. There are no plans to name a new Chief Operating Officer. In addition:
Mr. Meyer will expand the responsibilities of industry and company veterans, Calvin Held, to Vice President of Process Improvement and Milan Operations and Blake Day, to Vice President of Business Development.
“This restructuring will flatten our organizational structure and streamline our decision making process, and further our commitment to improving PSF’s operational performance. As a result of these changes, we will be able to intensify our focus on both operational improvements and cost structure efficiencies,” commented John Meyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Standard Farms.