The trade show here at the NCBA convention is huge. Producers have lots of opportunities to talk to company reps or here at the Novartis booth, they can compete in a computer quiz for prizes that are awarded each day to the 2 highest scorers. 
Impromptu Press Conferences
Although there’s a formal press conference room, impromptu press conferences pop up everywhere. Here’s Phil Seng (USMEF President) holding court with reporters in the news center.
Even The News Room Is Sponsored!
I know it’s not a very exciting picture but you can see how everything is sponsored. Reporters at the news center will leave this convention weighing several pounds more due to the large quantities of food bestowed upon them. Thursday’s breakfast included large steaks! After all we have to get our beef quota.
Farmers Getting High Speed Internet Access
Thanks to the USDA Rural Development Broadband program more and more rural communities are getting access! Listen to my interview with Gill Gonzalez, Undersecretary for Rural Development with USDA as he talks about the loan program that’s helping bring broadband to the countryside.
Listen here: ZimmBlog Podcast
South Florida Biodiesel & Texas Cattle
What do they have in common?
I’m at the NCBA/CBB convention in San Antonio and just sent a Talking News Release out for the National Biodiesel Board simultaneously with their live press conference going on at their annual convention in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It’s amazing what you can do with computers and the internet today!
So, here I am covering the convention in Texas as a way to demonstrate how you can use a blog for your company and/or client. At the same time we have clients like the National Biodiesel Board who are having us do release projects for them. We’re about as mobile as you can get.
I think we’re also going to create a new blog just focusing on farm news and directed to farmers. What do you think of that? It just makes sense to have a couple of reporters who are running their own public relations company create a source for news and information which we’re helping produce. Of course it has to be transparent and we’ll be up front about what they will read.
Free Beer – How Can You Go Wrong With This?
At the Schering-Plough booth a friendly bartender poured a free beer and you could enter a contest to win a new John Deere Gator! I spoke with Dan Ellsworth, Senior Product Manager, Cattle about new products from his company.
You can hear our next podcast here: ZimmComm Podcast.
Keep checking in for more from the Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show.
Booth Activity
The first stop was the Merial booth, where I spoke with Jim Gibb, Sr. Manager, Beef Segment Development about new dna testing products from Igenity.
You can listen to our next audio interview here: ZimmComm Podcast.
Later this week, new U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, will be making a speech. We’ll bring you audio from his remarks.
It Was Trade Show Opening Day
Over 6,000 people involved in the cattle industry are expected to attend this year’s Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show. The trade show kicked things off Wed. evening and was very well attended.
Beef Demand Is Sizzling!
The first interview is with Cattlemen’s Beef Board CEO Monte Reese. He’s the better looking one talking into the mic. Beef demand increased more last year than any year recently and Monte talks about what that means in our next podcast available here: ZimmBlog Podcast.
All the usual press conferences are going on and the trade show’s about to start so while you listen, I’ll go wander around.
The convention is underway.
I’m Sitting In The Media Room With Gary Cooper
Just got into the convention center and getting registered. Heading to the trade show momentarily.