Announcer Max Armstrong

Chuck Zimmerman

Max ArmstrongToday’s tractor race was announced by Max Armstrong, This Week In Agribusiness.

You can see that Max has his Frogg Togg on. He had to introduce each contestant and announce their results. He also had to entertain and inform by letting people know things like the fact that these tractors were running on biodiesel and what that means.

Besides his towel, Max had a fan but I’m telling you it was a scorcher out today. He held up through it all and headed on home to take part in the Heritage Tractor Adventure.

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Frogg Toggs Relief

Chuck Zimmerman

MemarieThe New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race is history and I’ve got a ton of material to post. Before I get started I want to point out the blue towels you’ll see around a lot of people’s necks like the one modeled here by Memarie.

They’re Frogg Toggs and on a hot day these things are wonderful. You dip them in ice water, wring them out and hang ’em around your neck for Frogg Toggscool relief. I highly recommend them.

I wish I’d had one of these on many a hot day on the golf course for example.

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Race Setup

Chuck Zimmerman

Tractor Race Course SetupHere we are on a beautiful Sunday morning in Nashville. The New Holland team is setting up the race course for today’s celebrity tractor race. I just spoke with Michael Peterson. He’s already out here to make sure everything is ready. The race isn’t until after noon. I think he’ll be available to sign autographs here at the New Holland booth.

I’m in the Hilton hotel lobby across the street. Not just because it’s air conditioned but because I can get online here (for $9.95/day). I think someone needs to sponsor a “media room” for reporters here in the convention center and provide us with high speed internet access. I know I’m not the only one who needs it and there’s over 500 reporters here!

I’ll have lots more to come later today.

Tractor

Marketing Boomers To Country Music Fans

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast72 - Marketing To Country Music FansThe ZimmCast is coming to you from Nashville, TN this week. It’s country music time at the CMA Music Festival. I’m here blogging the event for New Holland and Michael Peterson. They’re hosting the first ever New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Boomer Tractor Race.

This is an interesting venue for an agribusiness company to market their brand don’t you think? My sense is that they’re going to consider this a very successful investment. We hear talk about how to reach the lifestyle farmer and here’s one way to do it!

To find out more I interviewed Rick Murray, Country Music Association V.P. of Strategic Marketing. Rick tells us about why the CMA Music Festival is a great brand marketing venue for a company like New Holland.

Listen here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 72 (11 min 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.

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Tractor Race Coming Up

Chuck Zimmerman

Tractor Race BannerThis is why we’re here.

On Sunday we’ll have a first for the CMA Music Festival. The music will be the sound of a New Holland tractor being driven by celebrity after celebrity.

It all starts at 1pm and ends about 3pm.

I’ll have pics, interviews and of course the winner right here.

Tractor

Mr. New Holland West Kentucky

Chuck Zimmerman

Mr. New HollandHere’s Mr. New Holland himself, Robert Hendrix. I think he’s a very distant relative of Jimi.

He was hard at work in the New Holland booth here at the CMA Music Festival today. I got him to talk about what he does. He’s the New Holland Area Sales Manager for western Kentucky. I watched him in action and wonder how many sales he made today. I can vouch for the fact that several people who just stopped by to enter the iPod contest walked away with materials to look at and think about.

You can listen to our interview here: Listen To MP3 Robert Hendrix Interview (3 min MP3)

Robert is also very adept at filling up balloons as you’ll see in this short video clip: Watch wmv file New Holland Booth Action (2 min WMV)

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The Blue Booth

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland BoothThe New Holland booth crew here on Saturday.

It’s a little warm inside the tent but they have a fan and the fans are coming by.

They’re selling Michael Peterson, “Down on the Farm” CD’s and you can enter a contest to win a video iPod.

Tractor

Freddie The Bear

Chuck Zimmerman

Freddie BearMy man Freddie Bear was singing up a storm off Broadway here today.

I would like to see him onstage at the Coliseum. He should be opening things up at least.

Let’s get this guy a sponsor. Maybe compete on Nashville Star?

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Future Starting Pitcher

Chuck Zimmerman

BaseballI’m sure the reason Major League Baseball sets up a pitching cage at events like this is to search for those future stars.

Here’s one letting go of at least a 100mph fastball.

I would try it but since I have to protect my blogging arm. I wouldn’t want to throw it out don’t you know.

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A Legend At The Riverfront

Chuck Zimmerman

Mel TillisMel Tillis was hot. No, I don’t mean that way. I mean it was hot down by the Riverfront today and Mel Tillis performed with his band and daughter Pamela.

The crowd didn’t really care about the heat though. They wanted to hear a country music legend and that’s what they got.

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