Multi-media Company

Chuck Zimmerman

Southeast AgNet StaffThis happy looking group is the staff of Southeast AgNet, the company putting on Citrus Expo for the first time this year. It’s not the first time the Expo has been held but it’s the first time this company has managed it. It came along with their purchase of Citrus Industry Magazine. Pictured are: (l to r) Robin Loftin, Lee McCoy, Betty Sanders, Gary Cooper, Katherine Bush, Randall Weiseman, Carole McKenzie. Not pictured but here also are Sherry Fisher and Ernie Neff.

Southeast AgNet is a traditional media company that’s beginning to explore the new media waters. Southeast AgNet, the parent company is a farm radio network in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. They’ve long been a client of ours and owner Gary Cooper was our business partner once upon a time when we lived in Florida. Cindy produces a number of daily reports for the network. But now they own a magazine and have a large trade show.

And in addition to that they have a blog which they’re unveiling this week at AgNet Online. They’re currently directing people to it through their company homepage but it is a stand alone website. This is their start into the new media world and they’ve got lots of plans for it. I put the site together for them not long ago and have been working with them on training and development. This week they had me down to “blog” the Citrus Expo and our next step is to start podcasting. There’s no question that we’re going to see more and more of this as time goes on. I’m happy to see my former business partner, now client, taking the lead in the southeast!

You can see the Citrus Expo blogging we’ve been doing. Today we did 20 posts that contain pictures, stories and interviews. I got about 17 of them up and am working closely with Randall who will probably be doing more of this for them as time goes on.

Citrus, Media

Johanns at the ID INFO EXPO

Cindy Zimmerman

Johanns Press Second day of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture ID INFO Expo was a busy one, between the Secretary of Agriculture and the protesters. A small but vocal group gathered outside the Westin in Kansas City with signs and umbrellas saying “No to NAIS.” I figured that about 99 percent of the people passing by on Grand Avenue had no idea what they were protesting.

No doubt the implementation of a voluntary national animal identification system faces a communications challenge to get the word out to producers of all types of livestock – from birds to bison – that this is a good thing. But Secretary Johanns remains committed to the task.

I did get the opportunity for a one-on-one with Secretary Johanns – which you can hear here.Listen To MP3 Mike Johanns. (15 min MP3)

Animal Health, USDA

Seeing Old Friends In Ft. Myers

Chuck Zimmerman

Berner OilIt’s been about 15 years since Cindy and I moved to Missouri from Florida. I do miss my home state so getting a chance to blog the Citrus Expo for Southeast AgNet has been a treat. I just ate a blackened grouper supper and my dessert was a second slab of grouper! One of the cool things about Citrus Expo is running into a bunch of people I used to know and have missed. One of them is Carl Berner, Berner Oil. He’s pictured here in between his sons.

Carl is a first time exhibitor at Citrus Expo and a sponsor of today’s Beast Feast lunch. Carl says he wanted an opportunity to interact with the people involved in citrus production since his company was founded with a committment to supporting Florida agriculture.

He says his company is looking into new energy alternatives like ethanol and biodiesel and works hard at staying on the cutting edge with technology to meet the needs of his customers. You can hear my interview with him here: Listen To MP3 Carl Berner Interview (3 min MP3)

Audio, Citrus

Joseph Is New BIO VP of Comm

Chuck Zimmerman

BIOThe Biotechnology Industry Organization welcomes Jeffrey A. Joseph who will become the organization’s vice president of communications beginning on September 6.

“I am very pleased that Jeff has accepted our offer to join the BIO team,” Greenwood said. “Jeff’s passion and skill as a communicator will provide tremendous leadership for our public relations staff. Joseph is presently the Vice President of Communications and Strategic Relations at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

In 2005, Joseph was named PR Professional of the Year in the Nonprofit/Association category by PR News. Joseph also was named to PR Week’s “In-House A List” and to Dealerscope Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40 In The Consumer Electronics Industry” in 2003.

Biotech

Henderson Wins Another Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Pam Henderson Receives AwardPam Henderson has been busy winning awards recently. This time it’s the the first Plant Pathology Journalism Award from the American Phytopathological Society.

The APS Plant Pathology Journalism Award recognizes outstanding achievement in increasing public awareness, knowledge and understanding of plant pathology. Henderson was selected for her nine-article series entitled “Asian Soybean Rust Takes Root in the U.S.” This series provided a comprehensive overview of soybean rust after the disease was discovered in the continental United States in 2004. Henderson received the award during the society’s annual meeting that was held jointly with the Canadian Phytopathological Society and the Mycological Society of America, July 29 to Aug. 2 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Pam is pictured receiving the journalism award from Doug Jardine, APS Office of Public Affairs and Education director.

Publication

Announcing Demeter Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

Demeter Communications PartnersI’ve been meaning to let you know about Demeter Communications since Sharlet emailed me the announcement. These professional agrimarketers look like they’re off and running. Picture are (left to right) Linda Snell, Kathleen Erickson, Wendy Feik Pinkerton, Sharlet Teigen and Claudine Wargel.

Demeter Communications LLC, today has announced its official business launch. Based in Champaign, Illinois, Demeter Communications provides food and agricultural companies and organizations with effective communications solutions in public relations, leadership development, market research and other communications initiatives. Joining Demeter Communications as senior partners are five seasoned agricultural communications professionals: Sharlet Teigen, Capitol, Montana; Wendy Feik Pinkerton, Champaign, Illinois; Linda Snell, Oakwood Hills, Illinois; Claudine Wargel, Clinton, Illinois; and Kathleen Erickson, Clarks Hill, Indiana.

Agencies

2nd International Symposium on Agroterrorism

Chuck Zimmerman

International Symposium on AgroterrorismThe second annual International Symposium on Agroterrorism is coming up September 25 – 29 in Kansas City, MO.

FBI Director Robert Mueller, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Cargill vice president of food security Michael Robach are just a few of the invited presenters anticipated to attend the 2006 International Symposium on Agroterrorism (ISA). With a primary focus on U.S. food security and safety, the conference will encompass all facets of the food chain to foster exchange of ideas on prevention, detection and investigation of agroterrorism.

In addition, the event will feature the “Protect Our Food” Expo, sponsored by food360º, a division of Vance Publishing Corp. Designed to support interaction with decision makers across the board, the expo offers exposure to industry leaders from traditional agricultural production, food processing, government, science, education, law enforcement, and emergency response.

Food, International

The Place For NAIS

Cindy Zimmerman

NIAA SWG I have been here at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture ID INFO Expo in Kansas City working on their virutal press room. Pretty cool idea, actually. I sent out a document file to agricultural media yesterday with links to interviews I did with all the representatives of the Species Working Group for the National Animal Identification System, as well as their power point presentations and some pictures, like this one. The working press here also received a flash drive which includes the presentations and other information and allows them to download everything that is available, which is very cool.

Today, we are hearing from Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who is making a presentation to the group, taking questions and holding a press conference. Then, I have the honor of being one of two personal interviews with the Secretary and I plan to ask him about a variety of issues, including animal ID, disaster aid, farm bill, food vs. fuel.

Thanks to TRI-MERIT™, a single-source animal tracking and verification program powered by Global Animal Management, Inc. (GAM), sponsoring the pressroom at the ID INFO Expo.

Animal Health

Let’s Think Big In Dallas

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Convention 2007I’m ready to Think Big after being on a NAMA Convention Steering Committee conference call Monday. That’s the theme of next year’s conference.

I’m leading the Trade Show Committee and hope to have our first committee conference call soon. If you’re a regular exhibitor or have considered it, I’d love your thoughts and input.

Hyatt DallasThe conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

Steering committee members include: Barry Nelson, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center (Agri-Marketing Conference Chair); Jim Haist, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications (Best of NAMA Chair); Steve Tomac, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center (Careers Chair); and Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm/AgWired.com (Trade Show Chair).

By the way, the conference logo was designed courtesy of Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications.

NAMA

Cooking Up The Beast Feast

Chuck Zimmerman

Citrus Expo Beast Feast PreparationI’m posting onto Southeast AgNet’s news blog from Citrus Expo so feel free to check it out. I’m also going to be doing some posts here too.

Like this one. We’ll have some more pictures of tomorrow’s Beast Feast here at Citrus Expo but the preparations are underway now.

Here’s part of the catering crew, including Denise Sullivan (far right) getting things ready. On the left they’re making elk meat balls. The feast will include fried alligator and swamp cabbage.

Mmmm. Mmmm.

I interviewed Denise who is the wife of Buddy Sullivan, Buddy’s Kuntry Katering. She says they brought in a swamp cabbage chef from Kissimmee who makes the best in the state and they had to ship in the elk from Texas. You can hear my interview with Denise here: Listen To MP3 Denise Sullivan Interview (3 min MP3)

Audio, Citrus