Here’s some recent emails that lead us to believe we’re on the right track:

From an email follow up on my coverage of a recent Syngenta Media Day:

Through agwired, we believe we were able to reach out not only to the more technically savvy growers, but also ag business in general with our Syngenta R&D leadership message. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m extremely interested in tracking feedback and measurement of this medium — any results you receive would be welcomed. We’ll do the same from our end.

Chuck,

I really enjoy reading your blog. Great job. I really enjoy the racing coverage.
Keep up the good work. By the way, are you ever home long enough to get clean clothes?
Man, you’re on the road more than rock stars.

Chuck… keep it up. your reports are filling our field sales force with pride.

Chuck,
Old friend, I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy AgWired. I especially love your reports from various industry events. They always make me feel like I am there myself. I am enjoying your reports from Norway.

Dear Chuck
This is to praise your blog. Feel like I’m part of the congress (which I unfortunately couldnt attend) although I sit in my office in Switzerland. Thanks a lot.

Hi Chuck!
Again visited your impressing blogg!
Hope you return sound and safe after a complicated trip back to US.

Some other benefits of having you there — beyond the great coverage on agwired, included:
1. Having an experienced ag journalist on site. With you reporting on the day’s activities, we were able to focus on the event itself. You have a “nose for news,” and you came away with some great material.
2. A library of audio clips and photos. This will help us extend our coverage of the event as we work on post-event follow-ups for weeks to come and provide journalists with specific needs (photos, additional background, etc), not to mention use on Syngenta’s web sites, e-newsletters, etc. One example: we’re reaching out to farm broadcasters with a series of reports and actualities starting on Monday.
3. There are endless internal opportunities to use the interviews and photos you recorded. The Media Day included a broad scope of R&D topics and some of the company’s leading researchers — all captured on audio and in photos for internal use as well as external communications.
4. The “cool” factor. As ag communicators, we need to push the boundaries and look for new ways to reach our target audiences — using a mix of traditional media with new communications tools. And it was pretty cool to see the articles posted as the event was unfolding. Agwired has a cool factor, but we’re thinking it also has a lot more depth and potential. It will be exciting to see more of those opportunities unfold in the coming months and years!

Chuck, thanks again for the coverage and excellent work!