Boot Camp 2015

Written by NAMA on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 , 10:53 am

ButtonBigThe 2015 NAMA Boot Camp is a great way to cap off your summer. Boot Camp will take place on August 18-20; mark your calendars now so you don’t miss it!

The Hotel:

The Sheraton Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. The room rate is $137.00 and the cut-off date is August 3, 2015. Call the hotel to make a reservation, (816) 841-1000. The online reservation website is now available, click here to reserve your room today!

 

2015 Boot Camp Rates:  REGISTER NOW!

On or Before August 3 After August 3
Members $295 $345
Non-Members $345 $395

 

Schedule-At-A-Glance:

Tuesday, August 18
TBD MoKan Ag Tour
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Opening General Session/Dinner/Networking Activity
Wednesday, August 19
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 a.m. General Session
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 – Noon General Session
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon Session
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Offsite Reception –
Boulevard Brewing Company
Thursday, August 20
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. General Session
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. General Session
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Closing General Session

Save the Date: 2015 NAMA Boot Camp

Written by NAMA on Friday, April 24, 2015 , 12:22 pm

ButtonBigThe 2015 NAMA Boot Camp is a great way to cap off your summer. Boot Camp will take place on August 18-20; mark your calendars now so you don’t miss it!

Register Today!

The Hotel:

The Sheraton Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. The room rate is $137.00 and the cut-off date is August 3, 2015. Call the hotel to make a reservation, (816) 841-1000. The online reservation website will be available soon.

Take a look at the Schedule-At-A-Glance:

Tuesday, August 18
TBD MoKan Ag Tour
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Opening General Session/Dinner/Networking Activity
Wednesday, August 19
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 a.m. General Session
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 – Noon General Session
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon Session
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Offsite Reception
Thursday, August 20
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. General Session
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. General Session
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Closing General Session

11th Annual NAMA Boot Camp Covers Communication on Every Front

Written by NAMA on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 , 8:57 am

After the dust from the ag tour settled, attendees from across the country gathered at the Sheraton Crown Center in downtown Kansas City for two days of intense agri-marketing education courtesy of NAMA.

Gail Calhoun of Calhoun Consulting kept the crowd on their toes during the General Session of the first full day with case studies and a fast-paced presentation of different communication styles. She explained how to assess one’s own communication style and those of others to create cohesive teams that deliver stellar projects. Calhoun also broke down the best methods for memorable presentations and explained how to capitalize on individual communication strengths as well as counter weaknesses.

The Boot Camp favorite—The Producer Panel—was next and didn’t disappoint. This year’s panel featured two row crop producers and a purebred bull breeder. Each panelist gave candid, honest answers to questions about how they prefer to receive information important to their operations. A big takeaway across the board was the importance of relationships and trust when it comes to buying decisions. Panelists also commented on the necessity of testing seeds, chemicals and equipment on their own farms and the effectiveness of testimonials in advertising.

Even those familiar with ag learned something new at Boot Camp.

“As an agricultural public relations professional, NAMA Boot Camp was a great event for me,” shared Nora Nolden, Assistant Account Executive with PadillaCRT. “Even with a background in agriculture, I still found the sessions and topics relevant and useful to my everyday work life. The most beneficial part to me was definitely the producer panel. They gave us great insight into how growers interact with their products and make their decisions.”

First-time Boot Camper Carrie Sears echoed the kudos shared by Nolden. “My compliments and sincere thanks to all the 2014 NAMA Boot Camp organizers and presenters,” she said. “Every session had practical, timely and relevant information. Combined with the invaluable networking sessions, I not only increased my industry knowledge, I have creative ideas and useful solutions I can employ immediately.”

Day one was capped with breakout sessions. After a luncheon that included the presentation of an ag media usage study from Readex Research, attendees could choose from several breakout topics: crisis management, Ag 101, new tech in creative and a deeper dive into ag topics with Ag 201.

The conversations continued at Snow & Co in the KC Crossroads Art District where Boot Campers gathered for a reception and some great networking.

Everyone returned for day two and an opening session on how farmers use radio. Even as other traditional media usage declines, America’s farmers still rely on radio for information and news.

Before ending Boot Camp with an insider’s look at “Farmland—The Movie,” a panelist of digital marketing specialists shared their views on keeping up with trends and developments in marketing technology.

Boot Camp Chair, Amanda Sollman, Senior Account Executive at broadhead., was pleased with this year’s event.

“I think we had a great lineup of speakers at this year’s NAMA Boot Camp,” she shared. “I hope that attendees – whether they are new to ag or not – were able to glean at least a couple of nuggets of information that will help them in their careers.”

Thank you to all the speakers for sharing great information with all attendees. And thank you to everyone who attended Boot Camp this year. We hope to see you all next year!

To see photos of the Boot Camp festivities, visit the NAMA Flickr site.

MoKan Ag Tour: Both Educational and Fun!

Written by NAMA on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 , 8:56 am

Participants of the MoKan Ag Tour, August 19, had a unique opportunity to experience the diversity of Midwest agriculture first-hand.  The event is the annual kick-off to the NAMA Boot Camp in Kansas City, where new and seasoned ag professionals alike spend the day experiencing the many different nuances of agriculture in the Kansas City area.

First stop on the tour was Wade Farms in Clinton County, MO—a second-generation, 15,000 acre, row crop family farm. The Wade’s currently grow 100% waxy corn for Ingredion, Inc. in Kansas City and seed beans for Pioneer as well as commercial soybeans.  At the farm, the group not only learned what it takes to manage a well-oiled modern-day row crop operation, they also had an up-close opportunity to see the farm’s state-of-the art equipment and farm management system.

Next, the tour took in the sights, smells and tastes of Shatto Milk Company, a working dairy operation in Osborn, MO.  Currently milking 400+ cows, Shatto prides itself on bringing the best dairy product to the Kansas City market.  With award-winning flavors such as Root Beer, Cookies and Cream and Cotton Candy (seven flavors in all), as well as cheeses, ice creams and butters, the group had plenty of items on-hand to sample.  Shatto hosts more than 100 people each day, Tuesday through Saturday, for their tours, which includes a visit to the bottling facility and the milking barn, for a lesson on hand-milking.

The final stop on the 2014 MoKan Ag Tour was at Jowler Creek Winery and Vineyard in Platte City, MO.  Owners (and former NAMA members) Jason and Colleen Gerke treated the group to a tour of Missouri’s first green and sustainable vineyard, complete with mowing sheep and a taste of all seven wines in production.  The Gerke’s shared their story on how their dream came to be, including the marketing and branding that went into getting their business off the ground.

View all the photos on the NAMA flickr site.

Boot Camp 2014 Is Almost Here!

Written by NAMA on Friday, August 15, 2014 , 8:19 am

Boot Camp LogoBoot Camp LogoBoot Camp LogoBoot Camp LogoBoot Camp Logobootcamp 170 buttonThe 11th Annual NAMA Boot Camp is just a few days away! This year’s Boot Camp will take place on August 19-21 in Kansas City at the Sheraton Crown Center. And you can still register! We still have rooms available at the Sheraton, or if you live in town you can come and register right before it starts.Boot Camp Logo

This event is filled with great opportunities whether you are just starting out in the working world or you’ve been through Boot Camp many times before. If this is your first time in the agriculture business, then you are in luck; you will get a beginner’s course about the business including a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts and case studies. If you are a more seasoned veteran, you can choose from a variety of different breakout sessions and pick the one that interests you most.

Aside from the great speakers lined up for you this year, we also have some fun scheduled into the program. The first night of Boot Camp will have a networking reception where you will have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. In today’s working world, meeting the right people can make a huge difference in growing your career – you never know who you could meet! The next night we will have an off-site reception at Snow and Company. Located in Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District, this frozen cocktail bar will quench your thirst and cool you off on a hot, summer night.

Find a complete schedule of this year’s activities here.

And be sure to sign up today so you don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities, register online.

MoKan NAMA Ag Tour

Written by NAMA on Friday, August 15, 2014 , 8:18 am

The 2014 MoKan NAMA Ag Tour is the first day of NAMA’s Boot Camp. We will be starting bright and early on Tuesday, August 19th, to make sure we can fit in all the great activities before the Boot Camp Welcome Reception that night. Our first stop will be Wade Farms in Stewartsville, MO. We will learn about new technologies and equipment while touring this 15,000 acre corn and soy operation. You will have the opportunity for a hands-on farm experience like none other.

Next, we will head to Shatto Milk Company for a full tour of the dairy operation and lunch will be provided on-site. Finally, we will finish at Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery. Here we will learn about their unique process that focuses on sustainability. Plus, we will get some samples of their award-winning wines! You do not want to miss out on these great stops filled with agriculture, learning and wine!

Please note: The MoKan Ag Tour is prior to the NAMA Boot Camp. While we hope you’ll attend both, you do not need to be registered for the NAMA Boot Camp to attend the Ag Tour.

To get the full schedule and to register for this event visit the NAMA Boot Camp website.

NAMA Boot Camp 2014: It’s Not Too Late!

Written by NAMA on Monday, August 4, 2014 , 8:28 am

bootcamp 170 button

We are just two weeks away from the 11th Annual NAMA Boot Camp, but don’t worry it’s not too late to register!

The 2014 Boot Camp will take place August 19-21 in Kansas City at the Sheraton Crown Center. This event is filled with great opportunities whether you are just starting out in the working world or if you’ve been through Boot Camp many times before. If this is your first time in the agriculture business then you are in luck; you will get a beginner’s course about the business including a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts and case studies. If you are a more seasoned veteran, you can choose from a variety of different breakout sessions and pick the one that interests you most.

Aside from the great speakers lined up for you this year, we also have some fun scheduled into the program. The first night of Boot Camp there will be a networking reception where you’ll have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. In today’s working world, meeting the right people can make a huge difference in growing your career – you never know who you could meet! The next night we will have an off-site reception at Snow and Company. Located in Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District, this frozen cocktail bar will quench your thirst and cool you off on a hot, summer night.

Find a complete schedule of this year’s activities on the Boot Camp website

And be sure to sign up today so you don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities. Register online or call the NAMA office at (913) 491-6500.

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