From Beef to Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from San Antonio, location of this year’s National Biodiesel Conference. I just got in and am using the Internet Cafe here in the convention center. It’s sponsored by BioEnergy of America, Inc., giving everyone a convenient place to check email or as in my case, post onto their blog. It was snowing when I left Nashville this morning but not here where it was 61 degrees when I got in.

I’ll be cross posting from here primarily on Domestic Fuel and the Biodiesel Conference Blog. My sponsor is John Deere and I’m sure I’ll find some things to post for you here too. There are a number of celebrities on the docket and I’m sure they’ll get some media attention.

Right now a lot of people are getting checked in or attending one of the opening sessions like the one on membership in the National Biodiesel Board. Later we’ll all go off site to a Super Bowl party and I’m looking forward to that. I’m going to be collecting pictures and hopefully some interviews this afternoon before the party and will try to get some of them posted later this evening.

Biodiesel

Super Dairy Bowl

Chuck Zimmerman

Super BowlIt’s Super Bowl time and the dairy industry is ready for it.

Regardless of whether the Colts or the Bears win Super Bowl 41 in Miami, dairy producers have already scored big thanks to another successful year teaming up with the National Football League to increase milk, cheese and yogurt sales. Brian Baxter has more in this report.

Download and listen to Brian’s report here: Dairy Checkoff Super Bowl News (2 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

dairy-checkoff-news-nfl.mp3
Audio, Dairy

From Alice To Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Betsy FrancoeurSometimes it pays to be Alice in Dairyland.

Betsy Francoeur has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as an account executive in the agency’s Public Relations Group. Prior to joining the agency, Francoeur was a marketing communications manager for Landmark Services Cooperative. She was also named Wisconsin’s 2004 “Alice in Dairyland.” A Merrill, Wis., native, Francoeur earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse majoring in communication studies, with an emphasis in public relations and organizational communication.

Agencies

Gary Schulz Is All WET

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary SchulzIt looks like Gary Schulz is keeping busy these days after so many years with World Ag Expo. I just hope he can stay dry.

Central Valley Business Incubator CEO Craig Scharton has announced the hiring of Gary Schulz as Program Director for the new Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator program located on the campus of California State University, Fresno. The 13,000-square foot WET Incubator will be home to five start-up or early-stage businesses specializing in water or energy technology. The developing businesses will have a wide variety of services available to them to dramatically increase their potential for growth, success and job creation.

For 15 years Schulz served as General Manager of the International Agri-Center in Tulare, home of the World Ag Expo. During that time, the expo grew to host over 1,500 exhibiting companies, was served by over 1,200 volunteers and visited by trade teams from over 60 foreign nations. The World Ag Expo has become known as the world’s largest farm equipment exposition.

Agribusiness

IRON Solutions Has Canadian Agreement

Chuck Zimmerman

IRON SolutionsIt looks like IRON Solutions is making inroads in Canada.

IRON Solutions, LLC, Wheel & Deal and The Big Dealer have signed an agreement to work together to bring one-step marketing solutions to Western Canadian equipment dealers. This new partnership takes the next step in used equipment marketing, which is the combination of software systems, internet technology, and print media. By working together, this new partnership offers dealers the ability to take control of their marketing programs in ways never offered before. One entry into the IRON Solutions system can result in used equipment inventory control, equipment listings going directly to online search sites, and print ads going directly to Wheel & Deal and The Big Dealer, allowing dealers to make use of the technology available to them. This reduces the usual time consuming tasks of creating lists, working on different ad formats, and doing the same tasks over and over again.

Agribusiness

Wrapping Things Up in Nashville

Chuck Zimmerman

Online Photo AlbumThings are wrapping up here at the Cattle Industry Convention. It’s on to the National Biodiesel Conference tomorrow where we will kick things off at their Super Bowl Party.

I wanted to remind you that there is an online photo album of all the pictures I’ve taken here which you may feel free to visit. You can find it using this link: 2007 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album. I think I’ve got almost 250 photos in there.

It’s been my pleasure to be the Beef Board Blogger again this year. Besides my pictures and interviews one of the key functions of Beef Board Meeting.com is a section where each committee has a page on which agendas, reports and minutes are posted. Those reports will trickle in over the next several days but a number of them have already been posted. This makes finding information about what the Beef Checkoff is doing very easy.

Cattle Industry Conference

Meet The New Beef Board Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Ken StielowThe new chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is Ken Stielow. Ken is a cattleman from Kansas.

Ken took over at this morning’s business meeting. I interviewed him afterward.

Ken says that making sure the money invested in the Checkoff is goal number one and he’s going to make sure that’s done successfully again this year. Ken says increasing demand is also going to be high on the priority list.

Listen to my interview with Ken here: Ken Stielow Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-22-stielow.mp3
Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Beef Backer Award Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

BuckhornsOne of the annual Beef Backer Award winners is Buckhorn Steak and Roadhouse and attending the convention are John and Melanie Pickeral, proprietors. They won their award for the independent category.

I interviewed them about what this award means to them and their restaurant.

Listen to my interview with Melanie and John here: Buckhorn Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-19-buckhorn.mp3

John Pickerel, owner of Buckhorn Steak and Roadhouse, couldn’t be happier with his restaurant’s achievement. In 2003, the restaurant collaborated with its servers to create a beef training program, where they learned about the cooking, aging and cutting processes, marbling characteristics and beef tenderness, to help educate customers and promote beef, which accounts for 80 percent of the menu. “Cow School” has since evolved into a mandatory training program for all restaurant employees. According to John Pickerel, “When the server is explaining the tenderness of our 2 ½-inch Baseball Cut, the flavor in our Bob Taylor Cut or the juiciness of our Bone-In 20-oz Rib Eye, they know the why’s and how’s. The customers truly believe we are steak experts, and leave spreading the word. Our best advertising tool is our knowledge and expertise with beef.”

Full Release

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Honoring Monte Reese

Chuck Zimmerman

Monte Plaque PresentationAt the joint business meetings this morning, retiring Beef Board COO, Monte Reese was presented with a plaque in appreciation for his service to the organization.

Presenting the award are Ken Stielow, new chairman of the Beef Board and Vice chairman, David Bateman and immediate past chairman, Jay O’Brien.

I’m sure Monte will be receiving some more awards. In fact, later in the meeting NCBA presented him with a recognition plaque as well.

I have known Monte since he started in this position and will offer my personal thought that he’s been one of the most enjoyable people I’ve ever worked with in the industry. I don’t know of anyone who has been more passionate about the industry and who can more clearly discuss the Checkoff and its activities. I’ll miss him and I’m sure I’m not alone saying that. Good luck Monte and I hope to see you many more times in the future.

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

NCBA Media Room Mania

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle Industry Convention - Grace & JoeIt’s near the end of the Cattle Industry Convention here in Nashville.

Grace (Yard-O-Beef Spokesmodel) and Joe Schuele are starting to pack things up.

To see how much progress they’ve made you’ll need to watch the video.

We may not have been able to sample Grace’s Yard-O-Beef but it’s not like we haven’t been well fed here in the media room. Breakfast this morning was a kind of tamale/burrito/omelet sort of thing. Very good. Please note that media are in a better mood if you provide them with something to eat. We often don’t have time to do it otherwise.

Thanks a lot Grace and Joe for running one of the best commodity organization media rooms I’ve ever worked out of.

Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Video