NAMA Helping Members Lead The Way

Chuck Zimmerman June 19, 2005

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has prepared some chapter leader support materials that were just mailed out last week. The materials include a CD with images, forms and lots of information about the various chapter leadership positions. Also included is a booklet that contains a description of each leadership position.

NAMA president, Tom Smull, sends along a cover letter that says, “As you know, a focus area that we’re stressing is supporting chapters in development, growth and delivering value.” These materials are definitely a big help. I know I’ll use them in support of the Gateway chapter.

I’m still kind of wondering about the “Leading The Way” image. It looks like a bunch of rainbow colored people figures. At our Region II Leadership Workshop one participant said they looked like the guys on a “men’s room” sign. I’m sure they’re supposed to be people who have stepped up to the plate to lead others in this business we call agrimarketing.

Besides these leadership materials NAMA also has a number of materials available to recruit new members. These are under the banner of the “Cultivating Connections” program and include flyers and brochures which are available from the NAMA office.

NAMA

BarbeQlossal Winners

Chuck Zimmerman June 19, 2005

I’ve been meaning to let you know who won the Pork BarbeQlossal since this is important. I mean we’re talking food of the finest kind and what these chefs come up with has an impact on society such as what kind of food we’ll find at restaurants. Have I ever mentioned that I like food?

There’s just too many winners to post them all here. You can find them on the National Porkboard website.

New York’s Adam Perry Lang Wins Pork Checkoff’s 18th Annual Great Pork BarbeQlossal™

Adam Perry Lang of New York, N.Y., earned Grand Champion honors June 11 in the Pork Checkoff’s 18th annual Great Pork BarbeQlossal™ contest. Lang, of Daisy May’s BBQ, was awarded cash and prizes including the grand prize of $3,000 and a Kingfisher Kooker valued at $2,300.

Other winners include:

Whole Hog
1st Place – $1,000 Steve Bryant, Meadow Valley BBQ–Ames, Iowa
Ribs
1st Place – $1,000 Adam Perry Lang, Daisy May’s BBQ – New York, N.Y.
Shoulder Category
1st Place – $1,000 Jim Woodsmall, Jumpin’ Jim’s BBQ– Johnston, Iowa
Loin Category
1st Place – $1,000 Darren Warth, Smokin’ Clones – Des Moines, Iowa

For more information contact Cindy Cunningham.

Ag Groups

ABM Announces First Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

American Business Media announced its first “podcast” today. You can follow this link to the audio file. These ABM folks are certainly to be praised for taking advantage of all the cool new information technology. They’re blogging, using RSS, streaming conferences, conducting webcasts and now podcasting. Well almost podcasting.

It’s a great idea for ABM to offer this type of information online but . . . I really don’t think a link to an audio file is a podcast. Here’s part of the definition of podcast on Wikipedia: “Podcasting, a portmanteau of Apple’s “iPod” and “broadcasting”, is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically. ” The key here is the word “subscribe” and “automatic.” True podcasting means creating an RSS feed that contains an audio file enclosure. Once a consumer subscribes to the RSS feed they don’t have to go back to a website to click on and download an audio file.

ABM OFFERS PODCAST OF RICH DATA OPPORTUNITY
Beta test highlights technology and delivers increased access to vital content

NEW YORK, June 17, 2005—American Business Media has launched its first podcast (downloadable audio transmission via the Internet) in a continuation of its commitment to provide valuable information to members through the latest e-media technologies.

Generated from “Rich Data Opportunity” held June 9 in New York, the podcast offers presentations by keynote speaker F. Michael Reilly, president and CEO of Randall Publishing, and master of ceremonies Gregg Robins, managing director, Netburn McGill.

“Not only is this an important advancement in our use of media technology, but it helps us disseminate important information to our membership. By aggressively pursuing e-media avenues, ABM can offer more content to members across the world,” said Gordon T. Hughes II, president and CEO of American Business Media. “Hopefully it will also promote awareness of business-to-business media to a new, expanding audience.”

This spring, ABM has instituted RSS feeds, on-demand video, and MediaPace, a blog for discussion of critical business-to-business issues, to serve its members’ information needs. On June 29, ABM will further its e-media efforts with a Webcast of its Agri Council study on agricultural media usage.

For more information contact Steve Ennen.

Media, Podcasts, Publication

Tune In To Monsanto Financial Webcast

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

Want to learn how Monsanto is doing? Here’s your chance to find out directly.

Monsanto Company Sets Webcast and Analyst/Media Call For 2005 Third-Quarter Financial Results

ST. LOUIS, June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) today announced it will issue the company’s financial results for its fiscal year 2005 third quarter on Wednesday, June 29, 2005, prior to market open.

In conjunction with the announcement of its results, Monsanto will hold a conference call at 8 a.m. CDT (9 a.m. EDT). The call will focus on these results and future expectations. The call may also include a discussion of Monsanto’s strategic initiatives, product performance and other matters related to the company’s business.

Presentation slides, supplemental data and a simultaneous audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed by visiting the company’s web site at http://www.monsanto.com/ and clicking on “Investor Information.” Visitors may need to download Windows Media Player(TM) prior to listening to the webcast. Following the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Monsanto web site for three weeks.

For more information contact either Media, Bryan Hurley, +1-314-694-8387, or Investors, Scarlett,Foster, +1-314-694-8148.

Agribusiness

Agricultural Relations Council Summer Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

The Agricultural Relations Council is gearing up for a good time in Milwaukee. If you’re a public relations professional you should consider attending. It coincides with the Ag Media Summit so you can get two meetings in one trip! Here’s a little bit of information from the meeting brochure.

It all starts on Saturday, July 30, with a program that will look closely at today’s energy issues and the positive impact biofuels
are having on agriculture. From ethanol and biodiesel to handling the public relations challenges of wind farms and stray
voltage, you’ll have a chance to hear from the experts. Then comes an in-depth look at Ethics in Public Relations with
a panel discussion featuring some of the industry’s leading public relations practitioners. You will want to hear this group as they discuss real and theoretical situations involving ethics in the real world of PR. (This program will count for .5 maintenance points for Accredited Members who need to maintain accreditation.)

You can download the full meeting brochure here: ARC Meeting Brochure (pdf file)

For more information contact Jeri Omernik.

Ag Media Summit, ARC

Retail Chemical Security Testimony

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

I’m guessing that this is an attempt to be ahead of the curve publicly on the food safety issue as it relates to chemicals. It’s amazing what all the new “security” concerns are forcing businesses to have to deal with!

THE FERTILIZER INSTITUTE TESTIFIES ON RETAIL CHEMICAL SECURITY

ASMARK, Inc. Describes Fertilizer Retailers’ Efforts to Secure Facilities

Washington, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today testified before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity regarding steps fertilizer retailers are undertaking to ensure their facilities and products remain secure. The testimony, provided on TFI’s behalf by Allen Summers of ASMARK, Inc., cited the extensive steps that the nation’s fertilizer retailers are undertaking to ensure the security of chemicals they store and apply.

“Our strong commitment to security can be seen in the many steps already taken to secure our facilities, our farms and our food supply,” said Summers who co-owns a retail farm supply outlet and farms over 800 acres of corn, soybean and wheat. Retailers across the country have voluntarily conducted security assessments and developed security plans in response. The agricultural community has done so much to improve security and must receive credit for the voluntary actions we have already taken.”

For more information and to obtain the full testimony contact Corey Henry at 202-515-2721.

Agribusiness

ABM Agri Council 2005 Media Usage Study

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

There’s new research available from the American Business Media- Agri Council and you can see it unveiled next week.

The ABM Agri Council invites you to participate in a free Webcast on Wednesday, June 29 at 11:00 am EST when the findings from its new Media Usage Research Study will be unveiled.

The study garnered 2,717 responses from farmers and ranchers — a whopping 34% response rate — and will highlight the following:

* Which information sources are considered most credible?
*Which forms of ag media are used most frequently?
* What role does ag media play in the decision-making process?
* How much time is spent with ag media?
* How much time is being spent online?

Gain free market research on the growing agricultural space!

Go here to register.

Media, Publication

MoKan Golf Classic Was Great

Chuck Zimmerman June 17, 2005

These people had a really good time yesterday at the Missouri-Kansas NAMA chapter Golf Classic. The weather was perfect and the fellowship, food and beverage was excellent. This is my team. We finished 2nd in our flite!

We have to thank Osborn & Barr and Pony Express for the kegs! A special thanks to St. James Winery as well. They donated a bottle of wine for each golfer. The committee that headed this tournament up did a great job.

NAMA

NAMA Interview With Clear Channel’s Don Schultz

Chuck Zimmerman June 16, 2005

These guys were in charge at last night’s Region II NAMA Leadership Workshop. One of the key themes that we heard over and over (KEN) was not to become “stagnant” (KEN). You know what I mean Ken? Ask Ken Dean (not pictured) sometime about becoming “stagnant.”

Anyway, if you want to know more about a leadership workshop I interviewed Don Schultz, Clear Channel Ag Networks and Regional Director for NAMA (he’s the guy with the surprised look on his face on the right in the picture) about our workshop. Don talks about programs, membership and some of the interesting questions that came up in our discussion.

You can listen to my interview with Don here The interview is about 21 minutes (10MB).

Audio, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast

NAMA Region II Leadership Workshop

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2005

This evening leaders from several chapters of the National Agri-Marketing Association gathered for the Region II Leadership Workshop in Kansas City. The workshop is designed to provide information to new NAMA leaders and to facilitate a discussion on ideas for membership, programming and other aspects of running a successful chapter.

Tomorrow morning I’ll post an interview I did with the Region II director, Don Schulz, who works for Clear Channel Ag Networks. So look for that sometime before golf tomorrow (MOKAN Classic).

NAMA

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