One of the only people out on the bold, cutting edge of information delivery is Blair Fannin, with Texas A&M University. Listen to Cindy in this week’s ZimmCast talk about his weekly programming which is podcast so you can subscribe and download just like our ZimmCast! ZIMMCAST
Rest In Peace Holy Father
You may wonder what the Pope has to do with agrimarketing. Trust me there’s a connection here.
In February of 2001, when I was still farm director for the Brownfield Network, I was able to participate in a seminar at the FAO in Rome on International Farm Broadcasting, specifically in undeveloped countries. That gave me the opportunity to bring along my family for a visit to Rome prior to the seminar. Through the efforts of a wonderful priest and our local bishop we were invited to meet Pope John Paul II. First my two oldest daughters were able to greet him at a Wednesday general audience and then Cindy, myself and our youngest daughter got to meet him in his apartment on a Saturday morning! I’m including the pictures because they are some of my most treasured that I’ll ever have.
Pope John Paul II is already a saint in my mind. He had a tremendous impact on my life and on my family. I have to take this opportunity to honor him for all he did in his life. I know he reached out and touched millions of people of all faiths and he will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on for centuries to come.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Mathew 25:21)
The Zimmerman family (Chuck, Cindy, Chelsea, Carly and Caitlin) and Pope John Paul II
-photos taken by Vatican photographer-
Commodity Group E-Newsletters
Most commodity organizations have good e-newsletters. I’ll try to provide links to them as time goes on. I invite you submit a link to yours in case I don’t have it. I’d like to know what you like or don’t like about them too. How can they be improved or changed?
One that I’ve been getting for some time is a weekly news wrap-up from the National Association of Wheat Growers. You can subscribe to it on their website. One of the nice things about this e-newsletter is that it’s weekly and usually only contains a few news headlines of important stories. I can scan it quickly and link to the full stories if I want to. Now if they had some audio in there . . .
Tell Us What You Think By Commenting
If you see anything on AgriMarketing Pros that stirs your emotions use the comment feature!
That means that you read a post and want to say something about it you just click on “Comments” at the bottom of the post and enter your thoughts. A little form pops up which you fill out and then you hit the submit button and you’re done. Simple.
Then your thoughts are there for other readers of the post to see and they can comment on your comment. It’s a great system!
Agribusiness News & Notes
Anderson Joins Valent U.S.A. Corporation’s Sales Team
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (March 31, 2005)- Valent U.S.A. Corporation is pleased to announce the addition of Brad Anderson to their Midwestern sales team. Anderson, a 20-year veteran of the agricultural industry, will serve as a sales representative for the state of Nebraska.
For more information contact Lauren T. Daniel, (901) 523-2000 or
Lori L. Theine, (847) 968-4719
A Gaggle Of Blags?
You know “blog” really isn’t a very pretty word. But what else are you going to call it? What if it’s an ag-related blog?
Would it be a “blag?” (Sent in by the oh so creative Steve Mays)
And would a bunch of blags be a blaggle?
Writing Our Way To Switzerland
Actually I hope we can eat some good cheese and chocolate and sample some great wines!
I’ll be in some excellent company on my trip this fall to the IFAJ Congress in Thun, Switzerland. At this point I know that John Walter, editor, Agriculture Online/Successful Farming, Mike Wilson, editor, Farm Futures, Kelly Schwalbe, BCS Communications and Greg Lamp, editor, The Corn And Soybean Digest will also be going.
I’ll be writing more about this trip as we get closer. It’s not until the end of August.
A New Angus At Hard Rock Cafe
I love beef and I love the idea of Certified Angus Beef at a rock and roll restaurant! My middle name begins with an “A.” It could stand for Angus. Can I have one free too? Please . . .
A NEW LEGEND IN BURGER HISTORY
Hard Rock Cafe Introduces New Legendary Burger Made with Certified Angus Beef®
Orlando, Fla., March 29, 2005 – Get ready AC/DC . . . there’s a new Angus in town! For more than 33 years, Hard Rock Cafe has been known for great American food and its unparalleled collection of memorabilia from the world’s greatest rock legends including Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, U2 and Nirvana. Today, Hard Rock Cafe announced the addition of the world’s next great icon – the Legendary Burger, the company’s tastiest burger yet, made with 10 ounces of Certified Angus Beef®, the world’s premium brand of fresh ground beef.
And
ANGUS EATS FREE!
Hard Rock Cafe Offers Complimentary New Legendary Burger To
Anyone Named Angus
Orlando, Fla., March 29, 2005 – Hard Rock Cafe is calling all those “branded” with the name Angus to try its new Legendary Burger, made with Certified Angus Beef®, for free! From April 3rd through April 4th, 2005, anyone with the name Angus, first, middle or last, is invited to stop by their local Hard Rock Cafe in the continental United States to enjoy the company’s most succulent burger yet . . . on the house.
For more information contact Crystal Meier at Certified Angus Beef.
Publication News & Notes
1. I got the following note from Robert Jan Fernhout, updating me on his re-location and new duties.
Dear Chuck,
thanks for your e-mail re: the blog, much appreciated.
I wanted to let you know I was transferred from The Netherlands to Chicago to represent various global agri magazines such as World Poultry, Feed Mix, Avicultura Profesional and Pig Progress. I will send you a press release soon on this.
Companies like Cargill, Novus International, Schering Plough, DSM, Pfizer, Alltech, Trouw Nutrition etc. etc. use our books as an integral part of their international communication. If you know of other US/Candadian based companies that want to target an international audience, I would be happy to advise them.
For more info go to Reed Business Information Inernational Agri- & Horticulture or AgriWorld.
I will keep you updated, attached is my latest newsletter.
Kind regards,
Robert
You’ll have to contact Robert about his newsletter. It’s a great looking piece but I just couldn’t publish it here.
Commodity Group News & Notes
1. Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator for R-CALF USA has been busy! I’ve received several releases announcing mtgs., fundraising results and more. Here’s excerpts from them. Please contact Shae for more information.
Billings, MT ~ Cattlemen who gathered at Northern Livestock Exchange in Minot, ND on February 25, 2005, raised $6,000 for R-CALF USA. Roger Sundsbak and Marilyn Hagen, owners and operators of Northern Livestock Exchange said, “We appreciate R-CALF USA for the work it is doing to support the ranches we do business with. We want to support the organization taking care of our customers.”
Fort Scott Livestock Market in Fort Scott, Kan., will host an informational meeting and fund-raiser for R-CALF USA and Kansas Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) on Tuesday, April 5. A dinner at 6:30 p.m. CST kicks off the event, followed by speakers from each organization and then a rollover calf auction.
Billings, MT ~ In an innovative way to integrate seedstock production sales into the fund-raising effort for R-CALF USA, the Lucky 7 Angus Ranch of Wyoming donated 10 percent of the proceeds from 10 bulls sold during its recent sale at Riverton Livestock Auction in Riverton, WY. The Jim Jensen Family, owners of Lucky 7 Angus, raised $4,535 in cash and memberships for R-CALF USA.
Billings, MT ~ Two sales held at Platte Valley Livestock in Gering, Nebraska on October 4, 2004, and February 28, 200,5 generated $5,500 for R-CALF USA. Jerry and Sally Weekes, owners/operators of the auction market said, “We believe the position that R-CALF USA has taken on critical issues in the cattle industry is right, and we’re happy to do what we can to help support the organization.”
2. From Lori McCubbins with Illinois Corn Growers Association:
March 29 – SPRING IS THE TIME TO TALK TRADE: Spring has arrived and so have Congressmen and Senators. Like a Robin they return to their Districts for Easter break. Spring is a time for new beginnings; so please take advantage of speaking with your representatives on Corn Grower issues while they are at home.
3. The Missouri Sheep Producers Executive Director, Doug Gehring sent this in:
(MARSHALL, Mo.)—Supporting the future of the Missouri sheep industry is a key strategy for the Missouri Sheep Producers (MSP) organization. Offering four $750 scholarships to current and former 4-H and FFA members involved in the sheep industry is one way the organization accomplishes this strategy.
For more information about the Missouri Sheep Producers Scholarship, please contact Sarah Shultz at 573-522-9213.