RFA Ethanol Podcast

Have You Been Blogged?

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s something I should have known about. It’s where you ought to go to find out if you’ve been written about on somebody’s blog. Just type in your name, company name or a keyword and it pulls up a list of posts. As of the writing of this post they claim to have listed 11,214,302 blogs! It’s run by Intelliseek and yes they do have their own blog: Blogpulse Highlights

I just did a search for AgriMarketing Pros and it came up with 31 entries. Most were our own posts but some were from other blogs that had written about us. Very interesting.

Uncategorized

Time To Fire Up The Barby

Chuck Zimmerman

The latest Talking News Release from the Missouri Beef Industry Council focuses on that essential part of summer loved by those of us who love the smell of smoke. In fact, I just finished a supper with the family that was cooked over hot coals. Later this week, I’ll be smoking a brisket for an end of the week meal!

MEMORIAL DAY
KICKS OFF SUMMER
GRILLING SEASON

(Columbia, MO) Summertime is upon us and that means it’s time to fire up the backyard grill for hamburgers and steaks.

Missouri Beef Industry Council Marketing Director Dawn Thurnau (turn-HOUR) says the end of May marks the beginning of beef grilling season.

“Memorial Day is actually the biggest beef buying day of the year. Lots of people are in their backyards grilling with their family and friends.” (:07) ( mbic-summergrill-thurnau-cut1)

Beef checkoff funded advertising has already started to generate excitement for the summer grilling season with a new campaign that started the beginning of May that stresses the enjoyment of beef on the grill.

The campaign is expected to reach 94 percent of the beef industry’s target audience with messages like the “Why Man Invented Fire” print ad featuring a strip steak over a camp fire.

You can download the complete release here: Summer Grilling

For more information contact Dawn Thurnau.

Ag Groups, Audio

HOBY Asks “How’s Your PMA?”

Chuck Zimmerman

How’s your PMA? That is “Positive Mental Attitude.” Ask that question at a HOBY seminar (that’s Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) and be prepared for the noise! Tonight I participated in my second HOBY seminar thanks to Jacob Shellebarger. With me on the panel of business people speaking, no, I should say answering questions, was Daryl Oldvader, Farm Credit Services of Missouri and Ed Varnum, CORE Ministries.

HOBY

Yes, we did a lot of clapping. You might ask what HOBY’s all about. This is what their website says:

HOBY Logo

All across the country, volunteers, schools, students and alumni have caught the HOBY spirit. In 2004, thousands of men and women have participated or volunteered in Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) programs, making it America’s premier youth leadership development program.

Started in 1958 by legendary actor Hugh O’Brian, the HOBY program nationally reaches out to every public and private high school — as well as conducting HOBY-style programs internationally including efforts in Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, China, Korea, Taiwan and Israel.

HOBY’s vision is “To motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference within our global society through understanding and action based on effective and compassionate leadership.” HOBY’s success is the direct result of its 4,000 national volunteers who plan and execute its programs — Leadership Seminars, Alumni activities and Community Leadership Education Workshops.

Here in Missouri we had almost 100 high school students from around Missouri participate in the program, which continues through the weekend. I knew it was going on when I stopped at the post office near the state capitol building earlier this afternoon and heard the roar of the HOBY gang on the steps of the building across the street.

I highly recommend your support of this organization. They’re the leaders of tomorrow. I wonder which ones will work for ZimmComm in the future.

Uncategorized

WEBS News Director Wins Zen Micro

Chuck Zimmerman

Last month we asked reporters from our database of U. S. radio stations to provide us with feedback about our Talking News Release service. We did this separately to traditional farm broadcasters as I posted earlier. We told them that if they emailed us with their thoughts they’d be entered into a contest to win a digital audio player (Zen Micro). Today we are happy to announce the winner. He’s Kevin Casey, News/Operations Director for WEBS-AM, Calhoun, GA. Congratulations Kevin!

Kevin Casey

Here’s Kevin’s remarks:

Dear Chuck & Cindy, I think you have a great idea and hope you reap in it’s rewards. As you do expand I would suggest getting clips from various athletes in all sports, I have noticed ESPN has done quite well with there line up of stations. I would also do quick feeds from celebs and maybe offer some kind of entertainment weekly or daily feed. Well that’s my two cents, if it’s worth it! Have a great day and thanks for your offerings.

Kevin Casey

Thanks Kevin. We hope to expand our service beyond agribusiness in the future!

I’ve just started on my series of articles which I’m going to categorize under “Tracking News Releases” which will include remarks from people like Kevin so keep reading.

Media

Ag Sec Going To World Pork Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Sec. Johanns is getting around. I wonder if he’ll try to get in on the Pork BarbQlossal judging when he goes to World Pork Expo? This release from NPPC says he’ll at Expo to discuss strategic investment. How much do you want to bet it’s the barbeque that’s really behind it? I’m sure they can whip us some good food at the White House but it doesn’t get much better than you’ll find it at World Pork Expo!

NPPC Logo

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY JOHANNS
TO ATTEND WORLD PORK EXPO

WASHINGTON, D.C.—May 20th, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns, will visit with pork producers at a Strategic Investment Program luncheon hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at the 17th Annual World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, June 10th.
This is the first time that Johanns, a high-profile member of President Bush’s cabinet, will attend Expo.
Secretary Johanns’ agricultural roots stretch back to his childhood in Iowa, where he grew up doing chores on his family’s dairy farm. Prior to his appointment as Agriculture Secretary, he served as Nebraska’s Governor.
NPPC’s World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork exhibition in the world, will be held June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. To register to attend World Pork Expo or for more information, visit the Expo’s official website, www.worldpork.org.

For more information contact Kara Flynn.

Ag Groups

Beef Grilling Season Is Here

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s MBIC Report Cindy Zimmerman interviews Dawn Thurnau about grilling beef this season. Of course with the weather the way it is you could say the season is upon us!

MBIC Grilling

You can listen to the report here: MBIC Report

The most recent MBIC Report is always available in our “Audio Programming” sidebar. It’s set up as a podcast too, so you can subscribe to it. For more information on how, look at our FAQ’s page.

Ag Groups, Audio, Podcasts

Garst Supports FFA Collegiate Program

Chuck Zimmerman

We certainly like hearing about companies that support our youth, especially for college. Maybe that’s because I’ve got 2 of my own at that age. It certainly isn’t getting any less expensive. A local newspaper editorial cartoon today showed a graduate getting their diploma while the parent behind them was handed a bill. I didn’t think it was funny. At least Garst is helping out!

Garst Logo

Garst Seed Company Donates $12,000 to FFA’s Collegiate Scholarship Program

Company Continues Its Tradition of Investing in Youth Involved in FFA

SLATER, Iowa, May 18, 2005 — Garst Seed Company continues its tradition of investing in youth involved in FFA with its recent donation of $12,000 to the organization’s 2005 National Collegiate Scholarship Program. Twelve students each received a $1,000 scholarship funded by Garst. This is the second year the company has participated in the program.
“Garst realizes the importance of investing in young people’s futures and we’re proud to help these students achieve their dreams of pursuing a career in agriculture or an ag-related field. The scholarships are just one way Garst gives back to the ag industry and our customers,” says Steve Klein, director of marketing.

For more information contact Lori Thomas or Linda Leydens.

Agribusiness

Brownfield Podcasting

Chuck Zimmerman

I know I just posted an article about Brownfield Network and here’s another one already but I think this is cool! I’ve been waiting for someone in the farm broadcasting community to “get it” when it comes to podcasting. I actually discovered this after making my last post. Hey Lane, mention your podcasts in your releases! It is something to brag about because the ag world is just starting to wake up to the new realities and you’re on the cutting edge.

Brownfield Network Podcasts

You can subscribe to several programs that Brownfield’s podcasting here: Brownfield Podcast Page

The programs you can subscribe to are:

Hoofbeat
Managing for Profit
Rural Issues Forum
American Countryside
Derry Brownfield Report

Audio, Media, Podcasts

The Hoofbeat of America

Chuck Zimmerman

Hoofbeat, a Brownfield Network program will be heard once again. Lane McConnell just sent me the latest from one of my former homes.

Brownfield Network Logo

Brownfield Re-launches Hoofbeat

Jefferson City , Mo. May 17, 2005– Brownfield has re-launched the Hoofbeat program in an effort to better serve the equine industry and our web readers. The revised program retains some of the original format, but with a few new added features on the air as well as our special Hoofbeat webpage. This equine-specific program has broad audience appeal, explains Brownfield Farm Director Cyndi Young.

“We introduced Hoofbeat to Brownfield radio listeners 2 ½ years ago. Josh St. Peters has picked up the pace of the program, keeping the listener engaged and informed with more of a news format,” said Young. “We continue to serve the needs of the traditional farmer-listener, but appreciate the needs of our growing non-traditional listening audience as well.”

Hoofbeat focuses on equine health, news and event coverage, every Saturday (check for an affiliate near you) by Brownfield farm broadcaster Josh St.Peters. To serve our web users a Hoofbeat blog has been established on the Brownfield website. Each day St.Peters posts equine news and horse humor to the blog.

For more information contact Lane McConnell or Cyndi Young.

Media

New Marketing Manager At Dupont

Chuck Zimmerman

I just got this announcement from Dupont.

Dupont Logo


DuPont Professional Products Names Brenda Franke
as Marketing Manager

WILMINGTON, Del., May 19, 2005 – DuPont Professional Products today announced that Brenda Franke has been named to the position of marketing manager.

Franke joins the Professional Products team to lead marketing efforts across the pest management, lawn care and golf industries. She brings over a decade of experience in sales, marketing and management across both the agricultural and specialty chemical markets. Franke’s responsibilities will include strategic positioning and new product launches.

“Brenda is a great addition to our team,” said Mike McDermott, global business leader, DuPont Professional Products, “and she will play a critical role as we introduce new products and innovation to our customers.”

For more information contact Curtis Orrben or Erin Kretzschmar.

Agribusiness