Ethanol Car Leaving The Pits

Chuck Zimmerman

Media TentAt the moment it’s cool inside the overflow media tent which where I got assigned to. My little spot is right in front on the end of the table. It was the last place open when I got here yesterday. You can’t escape the word ethanol here as the logo is everywhere and it’s on the “suggested stories” list handed out to all media.

Here’s an update on how things are going with the Ethanol Car. After last night’s qualifying session the car’s time was disqualified due to failing a post qualification technical inspection. This happened to both Jeff Simmons in the #17 car and Scott Sharp in car #8. Both are Rahal-Letterman Racing entries. This means that Scott will start the race this evening in the #19 position and Jeff in the #20 position. Tough break but hopefully they’ll overcome it during the race.

Just to stoke up a little excitement I thought I’d share a short YouTube video with you of the Ethanol Car heading out of the pits to take practice laps.

Ethanol, Video

Interview With Ethanol Car Driver Jeff Simmons

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Simmons HelmetIt has been a hot sunny afternoon in south Florida. Fortunately the Indy cars get to do qualifying for race start position tonight under race time conditions since the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 is a night race tomorrow. Jeff Simmons has a new helmet this year which I think is pretty cool looking.

This afternoon I caught up to Jeff at the Rahal-Letterman hospitality area and interviewed him to get his thoughts on running a race that Paul Dana didn’t get to run last year. As you may recall it was just a year ago that Paul Dana was killed in practice prior to this race when it was run on Sunday. I had conducted the last media interview with Paul the evening before. So for some of us, Jeff included, this is an emotional race. As you’ll hear him say, he’s got to put that behind him and focus on racing.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here (4 min MP3): homestead-07-simmons.mp3

Audio, Ethanol

XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Time

Chuck Zimmerman

XM Satellite Radio Indy 300In case you’re wondering where I am, I am in Homestead, FL. Yesterday was travel day. So here I am just as the practice laps are completed at the Miami-Homestead Speedway the day before the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300. That’ll take place tomorrow evening at 8pm eastern time and you can see it on ESPN2.

I’m getting ready to attend a Rahal-Letterman press conference in a few minutes where I’ll get a chance to interview Jeff Simmons and find out how the car’s running today. This is the kickoff of the IRL season and I’m looking forward to it.

Team Ethanol Car on a Practice LapI’ve started a photo album for the event which already has quite a few photo in it. You can find it here: XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Photo Album

This is the first time these cars will be competing using 100% ethanol for fuel. In his practice today Jeff Simmons in the #17 Ethanol Car clocked a 209.302MPH on his 9th practice lap which puts him in position 15 for the practice best times today. Dan Wheldon in Car #10 was fastest with a speed of 213.014.

I’ll have a lot more over the next couple days so stay tuned. Just for clarity’s sake, I’m working with coverage sponsor, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Ethanol

Farm Aid Spring e-Cards

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Aid e-CardsNow that it’s spring Farm Aid wants you to send someone you know an e-Card. I’ll tell you what, these Farm Aid people have the social media thing going pretty good. I’d love to see this from more organizations.

We’re excited to celebrate spring with our second annual e-card campaign. Please spread the joy of spring by sending a Farm Aid e-card to your friends and family.

Here’s where you can find them.

Ag Groups

Jim Dickrell Moves Up At Dairy Today

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim DickrellI can’t wait until I celebrate 17 years of editing AgWired. Way to go Jim.

Jim Dickrell, long-time editor of DAIRY TODAY, has been promoted to Associate Publisher. In his new position, Dickrell will work closely with Farm Journal Media Livestock Group Publisher Bill Newham in the development and execution of information products targeting the dairy industry. In addition to his new responsibilities he will continue serving as editor of DAIRY TODAY and ELITE PRODUCER magazines. Dickrell, a 17-year veteran of Farm Journal Media, was named editor of Dairy Today in 1989 and has since been the prime force in directing its success. In 2001, he was instrumental in the creation and launch of ELITE PRODUCER, a demographic insert into DAIRY TODAY.

Dairy, Publication

Sacha Is Canadia Creative For O&B

Chuck Zimmerman

Sacha Lai-SvirkSacha Lai-Svirk is now the Creative Director for Osborn & Barr Canada.

In this role, she will be responsible for managing creative strategy and execution for the agency’s blue chip client list.

“Sacha is a huge asset to our creative team agency-wide,” said Joe Osborn, president, Osborn & Barr Communications. “Her signature is work that involves the audience both emotionally and intellectually. It’s very compelling and persuasive. She has a real talent for taking complex technical messages and turning them into understandable and desirable sales propositions.”

Before joining O&B, Lai-Svirk was a senior art director at Marketforce in Cambridge, and was central to the agency’s work on Bayer, Eli Lilly and Allergan, including Web design, print and television advertising and collateral. Prior to that, she spent 10 years with Quarry Integrated Communications where her duties exposed her to all aspects of marketing communications for clients such as BASF, Advanta Seeds and Elanco Animal Health.

Agencies

4 Questions for The Iraq People

Chuck Zimmerman

Paul McKellipsIt looks like Paul McKellips, Global Outreach Officer, US Embassy Baghdad, The Green Room – Public Affairs GO Team, is going to get a little rest and relaxation after his latest posting into Iraq. Here’s his final report.

You can listen to his last audio report here.

In this report he asks some Iraqi’s that he’s been working with 4 questions: four-questions.mp3


Dear Friends,

Today is Day 47 of my 45 day assignment (government math) and this is the last radio report I’ll be filing from the Independent Radio & Television Network outside of Ba’qubah in Diyala Province in Iraq. Sunday we officially launch our radio station as our UHF TV station finally goes on the air with their first ever “live” news show, including a Farm Report segment. Our listening audience is estimated at 11 million Iraqis.

As IRTN moves forward I’d ask you to consider promoting their website (www.IRTNiraq.com ). They are hoping that eCommerce sales, air time sales and the foreign concept of advertising revenue will lead them toward sustainable revenue.

Last night I sat down with Rafed (Shia) and Samir (Sunni) and asked them four questions. The interview runs just under 5-minutes and it’s uncut. I asked them what they thought about 9/11. I asked what they thought about President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair. I asked them if they were glad that the Coalition Forces removed Saddam Hussein from power. And I asked them what they’d say to the mothers and fathers of nearly 3,200 Americans who have died on Iraqi soil for their freedom. Read More

Audio, International

Adachi’s Trying To Get The Glass

Chuck Zimmerman

Get The GlassThere’s a new online game from the “Got Milk” people called Get The Glass. It’s really worth a look if you have a few minutes. I think the animation and sound is some of the best I’ve seen.

It features the Adachi family who are bound and determined to steal a glass of milk from Ft. Fridge.

You’ve got to be careful though or you can get caught and be thrown into Milkatraz.

This is entirely different than the last aliens campaign. To support it they’ve got a tv campaign started. You can watch the first tv spot for the campaign on this YouTube video. I like the game way better than the spot.

Advertising, Ag Groups, Dairy

A South Dakota Dairy Star

Chuck Zimmerman

Katie NorlingI just love seeing these stories. With all the junk that’s on tv with stars who have no moral compass or sense of personal responsibility it’s good to see young people like this out there who I think are the real stars. There’s a new dairy princess in South Dakota. She’s Katie Norling of Beresford and she’s the 53rd South Dakota Dairy Princess.

Kathryn (Katie) Norling, 18, of Beresford was crowned the 53rd South Dakota Dairy Princess in a ceremony Wednesday night (March 21, 2007) during the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. Norling was chosen from a field of seven candidates for the title, which carries with it a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, Midwest Dairy Association – South Dakota Division.

Norling is the daughter of Jeff and Jane Norling and is a student at South Dakota State University studying dairy manufacturing and nutrition. During the next year, Norling will represent the state’s dairy farmers at events and appearances to help explain dairy farmers’ commitment to good stewardship, animal care and wholesome products.

Norling’s first duty as princess is to assist with the Dairy Kids Zone on Thursday (March 22, 2007), where 115 fifth grade students will learn more about dairy products and the dairy industry during a visit to Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls.

Ag Groups, Dairy

Show Time for the NAMA Bombers

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA BombersHere’s your latest NAMA Bombers update courtesy of Jerry Povenmire.

Members of the NAMA Bombers Motorcycle Club are busy preparing for their national run in Dallas. With the date rapidly approaching, we take a sneak peek at how they are getting ready for their adventure on the road.

Darkness falls over the Minneapolis skyline. Most local residents are headed home for the day. For NAMA Bombers Sergeant at Arms, Dave Dibb, the best part of the day is just starting. It is time for the meeting of the “Fight Club” in the basement of Farm Industry News.

“Bare knuckle boxing has always kept me in good shape. It also improves my sales skills and keeps my mind clear. Being the Sergeant at Arms of a group like the NAMA Bombers is not easy. It forces me to hone my fighting skills to keep my edge,” Dave says. Read More

NAMA