Remembering Sonja Hillgren

Chuck Zimmerman

I just learned that Sonja Hillgren, senior vice president/editorial for Farm Journal Media, just passed away after a battle with cancer. This is sad news. All of us involved in agricultural communications will sincerely miss Sonja.

Since I’m sure many of you knew Sonja I’m posting the obituary that was forwarded as well.

SONJA HILLGREN of Philadelphia on December 19, 2006, she was the loving wife of Bruce T. Downs, also survived by her sister Annette M. Bray (William L.) of Richfield, MN, brother John A. Hillgren (Shirly J.) of Sioux Falls, SD and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 11:30 A.M. on Friday, December 22, 2006. Int. Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD. In her memory, donations to the Church (address above) would be appreciated. Oliver H. Bair Co. 610-446-8585

Publication

World Ag Expo is 40

Chuck Zimmerman

World Ag Expo is 40In case you didn’t know it, the World Ag Expo is turning 40. That’s not old though, I’m here to tell you.

The 40th World Ag Expo is just around the corner! The largest agriculture exposition in the world has something to offer every farmer, rancher, dairy producer or agribusiness professional. For the latest information and media resources, please visit our website at www.worldagexpo.com.

2007 World Ag Expo

Where: International Agri-Center- 4450 South Laspina Street, Tulare, CA 93274 (Located in California’s Central Valley, 45 miles south of Fresno and 60 miles north of Bakersfield, just off Highway 99. Airfields are located in Tulare, Visalia, Fresno and Bakersfield.)

When: February 13,14,15, 2007 (the second Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of February)

Cost: $9 General Admission; $24 for 3-Day Pass

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact: (800) 999-9186; Fax (559) 686-5065; email info@farmshow.org

Farm Shows

You Can Feed Your Zune

Chuck Zimmerman

Feed Your ZuneFor those of you (like me) who were wondering why Microsoft would spend millions pushing a digital audio player that doesn’t let you auto subscribe to podcasts – wonder no more. Now you can FeedYourZune.

FeedYourZune is the perfect companion software for your new Zune Player from Microsoft! And it’s 100% FREE to download and use! FeedYourZune is a full featured RSS reader and Podcast Media Player.

I wonder why they didn’t do this to start with and bundle it in the software that comes with the Zune. Whatever the reason there’s now more choices for the consuming and farm public to get their podcasts. It’s getting easier every day folks.

Podcasts

My Niche is Barbeque

Chuck Zimmerman

NichePorkTo me, barbeque is a niche product and one I really enjoy. I’m not sure that’s exactly what NichePork has in mind though. But to find out I could attend the NichePork Pork Producer Conference on Jan. 23, 2007, at the Ramada Conference Center in Bryan-Montpelier, Ohio.

“This conference provides pork producers with an opportunity to learn from and share ideas with industry experts as well as other producers who are having success marketing niche pork,” according to Rick Pfortmiller with the National Swine Registry and member of the Niche Marketing Committee. “If producers have any interest in niche pork production at all, this is the place to be.”

The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pre-registration fee is $30, while registration at the door is $35 Download a registration form at http://www.nichepork.org/ProducerHome.asp. Interested producers are asked to pre-register by Jan. 16, 2007. For more information, call Florian Chirra, Ohio State University Extension, at (419) 636- 5607 or email Chirra1@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu or call Beth Franz, Cass County Extension Office, at (269) 445-4438 or email franzeli@msu.edu.

Ag Groups, Pork

Midday News On Brownfield

Chuck Zimmerman

Brownfield Proving that they haven’t had enough programs to produce at Brownfield, they’re going to start something new.

Effective January 1, 2007, Brownfield will add a midday state specific program to the Monday through Friday program offering. The new program will be available in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Brownfield already features a Midday Agribusiness News report in Indiana.

“We are adding the Midday Agribusiness News to our Brownfield program offering because several affiliate radio stations requested another state-specific news program,” said Brownfield Farm Director Cyndi Young. “The program will feature state news, markets and weather information relevant to farmers and agribusiness listeners. We believe it will be a good fit and compliment to local programming.”

Media

Cotton Board Members Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAIt’s a job keeping up with all the appointments to all the commodity organizations that USDA is involved with. Here’s the latest on the Cotton Board. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the appointment of eight members and eight alternate members.

The Cotton Board consists of 36 representatives of cotton producers and importers, their alternates and one consumer advisor. The members and alternates named today will serve a three-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2009.

The re-appointed members are: Kevin G. Rogers, Mesa, Ariz.; Tom J. Gary, Greenwood, Miss.; Roger L. Blackwelder, Rotan, Texas; Janet C. Ydavoy, Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Sonja Chapman, Boonton, N.J. The re-appointed alternate members are: Walter A. Heiden, Arlington, Ariz.; William E. Harris, Benton, Miss.; and Carlos F.J. Moore, Naples, Fla.

The newly appointed board members are: James M. Lucas, Chester, Ga.; Mark D. Williams, Farwell, Texas; and Anderson D. Warlick, Gastonia, N.C. The newly appointed alternate members are: Benjamin O. Boyd, Sylvania, Ga.; Randy L. Braden, Midland, Texas; Linda F. Taylor, Wolfforth, Texas; Robert J. Mele, Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Teresa M. Nersesyan, Long Beach, Calif.

Ag Groups, Cotton, USDA

Farm Aid Holiday Greetings

Chuck Zimmerman

Happy Holidays From Farm AidHow about another holiday card?

We can’t have enough holiday cheer now can we?

This one is from Farm Aid.

You can still find information about their 2006 concert.

Anyone else have a card they’d like to share?

Ag Groups

Message From Mari

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ Congress 2006 Group ShotI just heard from Mari Bjørke, head of the organizing committee for this summer’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Norway. She sent along a bunch of photos too like this one featuring a bunch of us Americans.

Mari sent along a holiday message to all the IFAJ Congress participants.

In Hamar, Norway we have not got our snow yet, but are anyway hoping for white Christmas this year, too. Most of the people here are celebrating Christmas, that means we are soon having a week off just caring for family and friends and a lot of traditional good meals! Merry Christams and happy new year to all of you, and thank you for being such good guests last august!

IFAJ

The Appaloosa Blog Spot

Chuck Zimmerman

Appaloosa Blog SpotSay hello to one of the newest blogs in the agricultural world. The Appaloosa Blog Spot is the official blog of the Appaloosa Horse Club. This is the international breed association and the blog is for the CEO of the organization, Steve Taylor.

Steve has just started his horse breed blogging career out there in Moscow, Idaho. He learned right away that having a “blog policy” might be a good thing.

This is the newest example of a ZimmComm New Media project. You may ask why Steve wanted a blog. He says it best in his blog policy, “Our goal is to provide an informal resource for Appaloosa Horse Club news and information. A primary reason for establishing this news channel is to give technically challenged staff people (like me) the opportunity to post from events, meetings and activities without shuffling information and waiting in line to have items posted on the website.” For those of you who don’t get it, Appaloosa horses are spotted. That’s where the name comes from. Duh.

Contact me for a free consultation on your next new media project (blog or podcast).

Horses