That’s A Lot of Garden Writers

Chuck Zimmerman

Garden Writers AssociationI don’t think I’ve ever written about these writers before. In fact, I didn’t know there was a Garden Writers Association. I found them while looking at a news release for All-America Rose Selections.

The Garden Writers Association (GWA) is an organization of over 1800 professional communicators in the lawn and garden industry. No other organization in the industry has as much direct contact with the buying public as GWA. The GWA is comprised of garden professionals including book authors, staff editors, syndicated columnists, free-lance writers, photographers, landscape designers, television and radio personalities, consultants, catalog publishers, extension service agents and more.

It’s interesting to see that they include communicators from all types of media (they’ll add online/web soon I’m sure). That makes sense to me. It kind of makes me wonder when the AAEA, LPC and NAFB will get together. Think of what that would look like if we had just one organization in traditional agriculture. You may say it’ll never happen. I have learned not to say never though.

The Annual Symposium of the Garden Writers Association is September 28 – October 2 in Oklahoma City.

Media

Happy New Year

Chuck Zimmerman

I’d like to welcome you all to a brand new media year. I can’t wait to see what new techniques and technologies will pop up in the agricultural communications business. ZimmComm New Media is planning on continuing to develop various forms of social communications platforms like blogging and podcasting and we’ve got some exciting announcements coming up in the next week or so.

It’s hard to believe we’re nearing our 3rd year anniversary and it is only possible because of all the wonderful people we work with. We hope you have a fantastic 2007.

Uncategorized

Corporate Podcasting Summit – Europe

Chuck Zimmerman

Corporate Podcasting Summit EuropeHow many of you are doing communications work in other countries? Have you ever wondered how you’re going to get your message into those markets? Here’s another reason to think about podcasting. And to learn more about it while you’re in another country add the Corporate Podcasting Summit Europe to your calendar.

This conference will be in London Kensington, UK, March 19 – 20 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel. Anita Yaa has a great program lined up.

New media tools like podcasting are not only a great way to communicate with your domestic audience but your international one as well. Agriculture is a global business so you need to keep that in mind when you publish your blog or podcast.

International, Podcasts

Burgerize Your New Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Red RobinYou may not be thinking hamburgers today but just in case you have a real desire for a big burger you might want to check out Red Robin and their new website. I haven’t been to one of these yet. The key word is “yet.”

On their site you can not only find locations and menus but some very unique sections like the Bugerizer. Here you can build your own custom burger and print out the ingredients. That makes it very handy when you walk in and place your order.

They also have a nice feature called Unbrideled Acts of Kindness, or UBA’s. These are stories of random acts of kindness performed by their employees with guests. Very cool idea.

Via Meatingplace.com.

Food

What’s Been Up

Chuck Zimmerman

This past week Cindy and I went on a family trip that was pretty much an all day, every day adventure. It made keeping up with email and posting a challenge. Many of you have noticed that AgWired had a news feed problem and internal link problem. Well, that’s been fixed now. Thanks to all of you who brought it to my attention.

I mentioned that we’re moving to a new web host but that hasn’t taken place yet. There was just too much to do at the end of 2006. However, we have survived two website attacks in the last month and hopefully have put in place a shield against that. We’re assuming they were a random thing but if it happens again then we’ll know someone is targeting us directly and it’ll be time to bring in some legal help. I doubt that’s what’s been happening though. Unfortunately I’ve had to disable commenting for the time being.

If you’d like to make a comment on anything please go ahead and email me.

Uncategorized

Remembering Ed Slusarczyk

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck with Ed SlusarczykI really do not like having to report that my good friend Ed Slusarczyk has passed away. Agricultural communications has lost another good friend and one of the best. I will update this post when I have more details but I want to thank Pam Jahnke for helping keep us up to date since we learned that Ed wasn’t doing well.

I’m sure that a lot of you have a favorite Ed story. How many of you remember Ed as an NAFB cheerleader at a NAMA convention? I know Gary Cooper and I won’t forget going in with Ed to pay for the wine and cheese at a reception at the house of the U. S. Ambassador to the FAO in Rome, Italy. Ed was a good listener and always willing to offer advice when asked.

Cindy and I remember Ed for the time when he almost obtained a private audience for us with then Pope John Paul II in Rome. Ed was a friend of the Pope and unfortunately it was at a time when the Pope became sick and couldn’t see anyone. Post update: Cindy found a picture of Ed and me on St. Peters Square in Rome on this trip which I thought I’d share with you.

Here’s what the NAFB website has to say about Ed:

NAFB has received word that Ed Slusarczyk passed away on Friday December 29 at approximately 6:00 a.m. eastern time. Ed had been struggling with recovery after surgery for a recently discovered brain tumor. When funeral arrangements are made and more information becomes available it will be posted for members. Ed’s family has requested that no cards be sent at this time.

Ed, you and your family will be in our prayers.

Second Post Update: Here’s the information on the funeral arrangements for Ed.

Tom and Holly are requesting that any financial gifts be made to the NAFB Foundation in Ed’s name. Sympathy cards are welcome.

Visitation will be: Sunday 2-4 and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams and Edmunds Funeral Home
40 Whitesboro St., Whitesboro, NY 13649

Funeral will be: Tuesday, Jan. 2nd – 11 a.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
201 Main St, New York Mills, NY 13417 (315) 736-4432

Obituary will be on line at www.uticaod.com.

NAFB

New Media For Agribusiness

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast99 - Wayne Hurlbert InterviewI was a guest on Blog Business Radio recently with Wayne Hurlbert and decided you might want to hear what he’s got to say about using blogs and podcasts as business marketing tools. Wayne knows a lot about it and has been doing it longer than I have.

So this week’s ZimmCast is a Skype conversation we had late last week. Wayne has some great ideas for ways to use new media tools in agricultural marketing. I think he’d like to have an agribusiness client even!

By the way, the next ZimmCast will be episode 100. What would you like to hear? I’d like your creative ideas on what the centennial episode of the only podcast on agricultural marketing should be about. Send them along.

To listen to my complete interview with Wayne you can download the ZimmCast: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 99 (34 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast99-12-28-06.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, Podcasts, ZimmCast

Family Time For ZimmComm

Chuck Zimmerman

Since this week is such a slow week as far as most business is concerned, ZimmComm is taking it easy too. Cindy and I decided on a trip to see family in multiple states so posting will continue to be light until we get back. It’s interesting to see who’s still working and who’s not based on emails. One thing is for sure, the email spammers are not taking the week off. I’m still getting my full daily amount of spam. In fact, over last weekend it was all spam.

January is going to be a very busy month as most of you know. Road tripping will pick up very shortly after the new year gets started and I think I’ll have some great stuff to bring to your blog and feed reading attention. I’ll still be looking for posting ideas until next week though. Don’t be shy. Send me your thoughts and ideas and I’ll pass them along.

Uncategorized

You’ll Like Lane’s Home Cooking

Chuck Zimmerman

Lane McConnellI remember posting a picture of Lane McConnell here on AgWired and saying, “Lane, now you can really say you’ve been blogged!”

Well not only has she been blogged but she’s a very accomplished blogger. You can find Lane at “Home Cooking is What I Like.” Here’s what Lane’s blog is all about, “I’ll provide recipes from family, friends and cooking shows, plus my own little family specialties. So, hang on for a ride down the only way to truly cook- the Home Cooking Way.” Lane is pictured with her husband Charlie. I’m not sure of the puppies names.

I bring this up since Lane’s blog is getting a lot of attention. She was just featured in an article in Iowa Farmer Today for example. In the article it says that 113 other websites now link to her blog. Lane obviously has a passion for cooking but it’s not the only reason she’s blogging about home cooking.

But, she doesn’t limit her site to recipes. She also writes about rural and personal issues. A driving force behind the blog is McConnell’s desire to pass down the legacy of agriculture and cooking to future generations.

Food

Organic Vegetable Farmers Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’ve always wondered about organic vegetable farming there’s a farm apprenticeship available at Old Shaw’s Farm in Vermont. The link will take you to the farm blog which was started by the former attorney owners who decided to get away from all that stuff and move out into the country.

It’s also interesting to note how well their blog is doing. According to a newspaper story, farmer Peter Griffin says they receive a couple hundred visits a day and emails from people all over the world. “There are a lot of farmers out there who have blogs,” he said. “For us it is a couple of things. I don’t view it as a marketing tool, but we do have CSA (community supported agriculture) customers, and CSA members read the blog. People send e-mails to us (saying), ‘I’ve always wanted to have a farm and I can live vicariously through you.’ ” Other farmers send them e-mail to inquire about unusual vegetables or how to find seeds.

Of course the story about this was posted onto LexBlog where “real lawyers have blogs.” Thanks to Smays for the alert.

Farming