2010 NAMA Boot Camp Covers all the Bases

Written by NAMA on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 , 7:20 am

The ag industry is constantly changing. New channels. New strategies. New information. After hearing from seasoned agri-marketers and candid producers, attendees at the 2010 NAMA Boot Camp (August 17-19) are now at the top of the agri-marketing learning curve.

Boot Camp kicked off with the traditional Ag Tour where some of the attendees actually got to see a litter of pigs being born at Oetting Hog Farms! The tour also included stops at a grain elevator and an ethanol plant.

That night, a networking reception—where attendees were given pointers on how to meet new people and form new contacts— preceded the evening’s dinner. Dave Mehlhaff demonstrated how to listen and look for common ground with colleagues and co-workers. To maintain and continue to develop the relationship, he emphasized, it’s essential to stay in touch.

A full day of sessions began the next day with a producer panel of representatives from row and cattle production operations as well as a wine producer. Moderated by Janelle Buxton, Successful Farming & Agriculture Online, a forthright Q&A session shed light on how producers use the Internet and the challenges they face juggling work, record keeping and staying on top of the latest innovations on the market. Conversations touched on everything from iPhone apps to YouTube and everything in between.

“The panels are always a big hit,” shared Jenny Pickett, NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO. “They provide such an inside view of what’s really going on within the industry and how marketers can best reach their audiences.”

Other sessions covered a wide range of topics, including building a communications plan, marketing to the animal health industry, using digital media, understanding target audiences, managing crises and marketing to the row crop industry.

Attendees had high marks for the in-depth research presented by Jack Semler, president of Readex Research, on the impact of digital media on farmers and ranchers.

Boot Camp also offered some stellar networking opportunities. Panelists and attendees mingled between sessions and attended a social hour at Kansas City’s famous Boulevard Brewing Company. Plenty of one-on-one Q&A sessions were conducted over drinks and appetizers.

First-time attendee Kassi Williams, Public Relations/Account Coordinator for Swanson Russell, was thrilled with her inaugural Boot Camp experience.

“I would recommend NAMA Boot Camp to anyone looking to jumpstart a career in the agriculture marketing industry,” she shared. “The networking opportunities were immense and the sessions were highly beneficial.”

Boot Camp came to a close with the Advocating for Ag Panel. Attendees were challenged to do their part to tell the real story of American agriculture and given concrete steps to help them achieve that goal.

There’s Still Time To Register

Written by NAMA on Monday, August 2, 2010 , 12:31 pm

There’s still time to register for the NAMA Boot Camp, August 17-19, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Check out the program below and get registered today!

Tuesday, August 17

5:00 p.m. – Boot Camp Registration
mehlhaff_david5:00-6:00 p.m. – Welcome Reception
6:00-7:30 p.m. – Opening General Session – Dinner – Networking Activity
Dave Mehlhaff – Session Moderator
Kick off the Boot Camp with a networking activity designed to help you get to know fellow attendees.

Wednesday, August 18

8:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
buxton_janelle8:30-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Producer Panel
Learn how to communicate effectively with producers. The producer panel has become a Boot Camp favorite and attendees won’t want to miss the valuable insights from producers. The panel will be moderated by Janelle Buxton, Sales Executive, Successful Farming and Agriculture Online. Three producers will be joining Janelle to share their insights.burgy_beth

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Break
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Little Red Writing Hood ~ Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co.
The client has asked you to write a communications plan. Don’t despair! Developing a communications plan with concrete objectives, strategies and tactics is a lot like planning a trip in thefirkins_todd land of fractured fairy tales. You have to know where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and what to expect when you arrive. This session will provide some useful hints to give you the upper hand in the plan development process.

Marketing to the Animal Health Industry ~ Todd Firkins, Bayer Animal Health; Lonny Duckworth, cattle producer, Butler, MOduckworth_lonny
Do you market to the animal health industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the animal health arena.

12:00 Noon-1:30 p.m. – Luncheon w/ speaker
semler_jackThe Impact of Digital Media on Farmers and Ranchers ~ Jack Semler, Readex Research
ABM’s Agri Council and Readex Research have joined forces to conduct a major agricultural research study that explores the impact of digital media on farmers and ranchers. Its findings are based on the responses of more than 1,200 owners, operators, and/or managers of farms or ranches.

Jack Semler, president of Readex Research, will be presenting a summary of key findings from this important market research.

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Marketing to the Row Crop Industry ~ Shane Rourke, John Deere; Ken McCauley, corn/soybean grower, White Cloud, KS
Do you market to the row crop industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the row crop industry.

williams_darenRecalls, Oil Spills and the Media – Oh My! ~ Daren Williams, Natl. Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Every organization will eventually face the “moment of truth” when something goes wrong affecting your people, products or reputation. Public relations and marketing professionals play a critical role in managing communications during a crisis which can affect the outcome for better or worse. This session will offer practical tips for managing a crisis before, during and after the moment of truth based on the real-life experiences of an ag communicator who has helped manage product recalls, oil spills and the media onslaught that accompanies a crisis. Daren Williams is executive director of communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and former senior vice president of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., where he specialized in crisis communications for clients in the food, agriculture and health care industries.

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Break
3:00-4:00 p.m. – General Session
Marketing to Key Influencers
All boot camp attendees will be together for this last session of the day to hear from an Ag Retailer and a Large Animal Vet. Learn their perspective on the business.

4:30-6:30 p.m. – Reception at Boulevard Brewery
A shuttle will take attendees to a special reception at Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewery. Founded in 1989, Boulevard osmundson_erikaBrewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. The reception will take place in the beautiful Heim Room that features a unique view of the Kansas City skyline.

7:00 p.m. – Dine Around (optional)
Attendees can attend an optional dine-around. This is a great way to get to know your peers and learn about NAMA. This event is optional and dutch treat.acklin_melanie

Thursday, August 19

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
9:00-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Career Builder Session ~ Erika Osmundson, AgCareers.com
Learn how to do the best possible job for your employer and enhance your career.

10:00-10:15 a.m. – Breakhempler_mindy
10:15-11:30 a.m. – Closing Session
Advocating for Ag Panel ~ Moderator: Melanie Acklin, SFP; Daren Williams, NCBA; Mindy Hempler, Syngenta Crop Protection; Charlie Arnot, CMA Consulting
There is a distance between most Americans and the farms that produce their food. It is a gap being filled more and more by detractors that have farmers and big agribusiness as the enemy. Producers, their suppliers and the ag industry are trying to raise arnot_charlieawareness of the truth about American agriculture. Join these panel members as we examine what we can all do to advocate for our industry.

Please note: The Hyatt Regency is sold out on August 16 & 17. If you are in need of a room at the Hyatt, please contact Kathi Conrad at 913-491-6500 or at [email protected].

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.

To register for the NAMA Boot Camp and/or the MoKan Ag Tour, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Sign Up Today for the MoKan Ag Tour

Written by NAMA on Monday, August 2, 2010 , 12:31 pm

Register today for the 2010 MoKan Ag Tour on Tuesday, August 17, prior to the NAMA Boot Camp.

The tour is an on-farm experience where attendees will tour as well as learn about different operations. The morning begins with a tour of an Ag Retailer, who is an aerial applicator, to check out the plane/equipment. There will be a short presentation from the pilot. The group will visit a rural meat market and will  tour a 20,000 acre row crop facility as well as a livestock operation.

The schedule for the Ag Tour is as follows:

Schedule:
7:45 a.m. Leave the Hyatt Regency Crown Center

8:30 a.m. Tour a row crop and cattle farm operation in Richmond, MO

11:00 a.m. Tour Pence Aerial Service, an Aerial Applicator’s Operation at the Carrollton Airport (including plane) and discussion about what Aerial Applicators do for Agriculture and what the National Agriculture Aviation Association does to promote safety and stewardship.

http://penceaerialservice.com/

http://www.agaviation.org/aboutuspage.htm

12:30 p.m. lunch on bus while commuting to Ray Carroll County Grain Growers at just outside Carrollton, MO

1:15 p.m. Tour a large and progressive Ag Retailer, Grain Elevator, and Ethanol Plant which is a Coop (owned by growers)

Ray Carroll County Grain Growers

http://www.ray-carroll.com/EZWeb/SiteWizard/index.cfm?FuseAction=DisplayPage&PageID=733&ExpandDepartment=401&Spg=733

ethanol plant:

http://www.showmeethanolllc.com/

3:00 p.m. – Return to Hyatt

Cost for the MoKan Ag Tour is $50 and includes a boxed breakfast & lunch as well as beverages.

To register for the MoKan Ag Tour, visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Boot Camp Sponsorships Still Available

Written by NAMA on Thursday, July 15, 2010 , 1:35 pm

Get your company the recognition it deserves by sponsoring an event at the NAMA Boot Camp.

Available sponsorships include:

Dinner on Tuesday, August 17
Luncheon/Speaker on Wednesday, August 18
Opening General Session – Tuesday, August 17
General Session – Wednesday, August 18
Continental Breakfast – Thursday, August 19
Breakout Sessions – Wednesday, August 18
Closing General Session – Thursday, August 19
Breaks (2 available)
Banner ad on NAMA Boot Camp web site

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at the NAMA Boot Camp, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

NAMA Boot Camp Program

Written by NAMA on Thursday, July 15, 2010 , 1:34 pm

10bootcampThe NAMA Boot Camp will take place August 17-19, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Check out the program below and get registered today!

Tuesday, August 17

7:15 a.m. – MoKan Ag Tour (optional) Registration
8:00 a.m. – MoKan Ag Tour (optional)

The tour is an on-farm experience where attendees will tour as well as learn about different operations. The morning begins with a tour of an Ag Retailer, who is an aerial applicator, to check out the plane/equipment. There will be a short presentation from the pilot. The group will also visit a rural meat market where they will have lunch. Also, the group will  tour a 20,000 acre row crop facility as well as a livestock operation. The group will return to the Hyatt by 4:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – Boot Camp Registration
mehlhaff_david5:00-6:00 p.m. – Welcome Reception
6:00-7:30 p.m. – Opening General Session – Dinner – Networking Activity
Dave Mehlhaff – Session Moderator
Kick off the Boot Camp with a networking activity designed to help you get to know fellow attendees.

Wednesday, August 18

8:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
buxton_janelle8:30-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Producer Panel
Learn how to communicate effectively with producers. The producer panel has become a Boot Camp favorite and attendees won’t want to miss the valuable insights from producers. The panel will be moderated by Janelle Buxton, Sales Executive, Successful Farming and Agriculture Online. Three producers will be joining Janelle to share their insights.burgy_beth

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Break
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Little Red Writing Hood ~ Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co.
The client has asked you to write a communications plan. Don’t despair! Developing a communications plan with concrete objectives, strategies and tactics is a lot like planning a trip in thefirkins_todd land of fractured fairy tales. You have to know where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and what to expect when you arrive. This session will provide some useful hints to give you the upper hand in the plan development process.

Marketing to the Animal Health Industry ~ Todd Firkins, Bayer Animal Health; Lonny Duckworth, cattle producer, Butler, MOduckworth_lonny
Do you market to the animal health industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the animal health arena.

12:00 Noon-1:30 p.m. – Luncheon w/ speaker
semler_jackThe Impact of Digital Media on Farmers and Ranchers ~ Jack Semler, Readex Research
ABM’s Agri Council and Readex Research have joined forces to conduct a major agricultural research study that explores the impact of digital media on farmers and ranchers. Its findings are based on the responses of more than 1,200 owners, operators, and/or managers of farms or ranches.

Jack Semler, president of Readex Research, will be presenting a summary of key findings from this important market research.

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Marketing to the Row Crop Industry ~ Shane Rourke, John Deere; Ken McCauley, corn/soybean grower, White Cloud, KS
Do you market to the row crop industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the row crop industry.

williams_darenRecalls, Oil Spills and the Media – Oh My! ~ Daren Williams, Natl. Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Every organization will eventually face the “moment of truth” when something goes wrong affecting your people, products or reputation. Public relations and marketing professionals play a critical role in managing communications during a crisis which can affect the outcome for better or worse. This session will offer practical tips for managing a crisis before, during and after the moment of truth based on the real-life experiences of an ag communicator who has helped manage product recalls, oil spills and the media onslaught that accompanies a crisis. Daren Williams is executive director of communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and former senior vice president of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., where he specialized in crisis communications for clients in the food, agriculture and health care industries.

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Break
3:00-4:00 p.m. – General Session
Marketing to Key Influencers
All boot camp attendees will be together for this last session of the day to hear from an Ag Retailer and a Large Animal Vet. Learn their perspective on the business.

4:30-6:30 p.m. – Reception at Boulevard Brewery
A shuttle will take attendees to a special reception at Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewery. Founded in 1989, Boulevard osmundson_erikaBrewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. The reception will take place in the beautiful Heim Room that features a unique view of the Kansas City skyline.

7:00 p.m. – Dine Around (optional)
Attendees can attend an optional dine-around. This is a great way to get to know your peers and learn about NAMA. This event is optional and dutch treat.acklin_melanie

Thursday, August 19

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
9:00-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Career Builder Session ~ Erika Osmundson, AgCareers.com
Learn how to do the best possible job for your employer and enhance your career.

10:00-10:15 a.m. – Breakhempler_mindy
10:15-11:30 a.m. – Closing Session
Advocating for Ag Panel ~ Moderator: Melanie Acklin, SFP; Daren Williams, NCBA; Mindy Hempler, Syngenta Crop Protection; Charlie Arnot, CMA Consulting
There is a distance between most Americans and the farms that producer their food. It is a gap being filled more and more by detractors that have farmers and big agribusiness the enemy. Producers, their suppliers and the ag industry are trying to raise arnot_charlieawareness of the truth about American agriculture. Join these panel members as we examine what we can all do to advocate for our industry.

Please note: The hotel cut-off date is July 23 and the Hyatt is projected to be sold out on August 16 and August 17. Please make your hotel reservations today by calling the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 816-421-1234. Make sure you mention “NAMA” to receive the special rate. Reservations made after July 23 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.

To register for the NAMA Boot Camp and/or the MoKan Ag Tour, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Upcoming Chapter Events

Written by NAMA on Thursday, July 15, 2010 , 12:45 pm

Mark your calendars to check out an upcoming chapter event for the summer!

If you have any write-ups or photos from your previous events, please send the information to Kathi Conrad at [email protected] to get it in the NAMA e-News.

North Central NAMA ~ July 26, 2010

This year’s North Central NAMA Golf event is being held in conjunction with the 2010 Ag Media Summit Golf outing that is being held in St. Paul. We encourage NAMA members and guests to enjoy a day of golf and to participate in the Ag Media Summit events. For a full schedule visit this link 2010 Agricultural Media Summit.

The Golf Outing will take place at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood, MN. Cost for the outing is $125 per player ($500 per foursome) and includes: golf, cart, range balls, lunch and great prizes.

To register online please go to the following link Golf Registration and you’ll find the golf registration toward the middle of the page or download the registration form (Microsoft Word format) and send or email it to me. If you have questions about registration please contact Bill Pool at [email protected] or at 763-257-6877.

Great Plains NAMA ~ August 9, 2010

Join Great Plains NAMA for their Summer golf outing on Monday, August 9, at Terradyne Country Club in Andover, KS.

The outing begins with registration at 11:00 a.m. and the tournament kicks off at 12:30 p.m.

Cost for the golf outing is $110 each or $400 for a foursome. Cost includes:
Green fees, cart & range balls
Two beverage tickets
Boxed lunch to start you off
Cash prizes to the Terradyne Pro Shop
Entry into the Hole-In-One contest
Special gift for the member who signs up the most new members for the Great Plains Chapter
BBQ dinner provided by the Hereford House after the outing

Call, fax or email Shirley Harrold-Albright at 316-522-3000; fax – 316-522-2827; or email [email protected].

MoKan NAMA ~ August 17, 2010

The MoKan NAMA chapter is once again hosting the MoKan Ag Tour prior to the NAMA Boot Camp kick-off on Tuesday, August 17.

The bus will leave the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 7:45 a.m. and the first stop on the tour is a row crop and cattle farm operation in Richmond, MO. The next stop is a tour of the Pence Aerial Service, an Aerial Applicator’s Operation at the Carrollton Airport. Attendees will learn about what Aerial Applicators do for agriculture and what the National Agriculture Aviation Association does to promote safety and stewardship. Lunch for the tour will be provided on the bus as it heads to the third stop at Ray Carroll County Grain Growers, just outside Carrollton, MO. Attendees will tour a large and progressive Ag Retailer, Grain Elevator, and Ethanol Plant which is a Co-op (owned by growers). The bus will return to the Hyatt by 4:00 p.m. in time for the NAMA Boot Camp kick-off.

For more information on the Ag Tour visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.

To register for the MoKan Ag Tour visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Cost is $50 and you do not need to be registered for the NAMA Boot Camp to take part in the Ag Tour.

NAMA Boot Camp Registration Now Open!

Written by NAMA on Thursday, June 17, 2010 , 10:52 am

The NAMA Boot Camp will take place August 17-19, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Enlist in the Boot Camp to learn more about agri-marketing! Did you attend last year? If so, we want you back! This year’s program is a perfect continuation of the previous programs. Topics will include:

Producer Panel
Marketing to the Animal Health Industry
Little Red Writing Hood
Marketing to the Row Crop Industry
Crisis Management Case Studies
Social Media Research Study
Advocating for Ag Panel

Come in early and attend the optional MoKan Ag Tour! All Boot Camp attendees will receive a notebook packed with ag terminology and facts as well as case studies and speaker presentations.

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.

To register for the NAMA Boot Camp and/or the MoKan Ag Tour, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at the NAMA Boot Camp, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

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