Team NAMA offers student chapters an opportunity for a professional review of their Executive Summary prior to the submission deadline.  This year 14 student chapter teams took advantage of this opportunity.  NAMA and the student chapters thank the following professionals who volunteered their time to review the plans and provide feedback to the teams.

Jim Bansen, CNH

Sally Behringer, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe

Meg Brodman, archer>malmo

Tiffany Bronson, AdFarm

Jodi Carreon, Rhea + Kaiser

Laura Cunningham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds

Dave Furbeck, Great Salt Lake Minerals Corp.

Channing Gardiner, Farm Journal Media

Steve Grana, Novus International, Inc.

Stephanie Hoult, Broadhead

Josh Hushon, Bader Rutter & Associates

Justin Johnson, MANA Crop Protection

Sharon Larson, Martin | Williams

Rebekah McCurdy, Pioneer Hi-Bred

Brian Rund, Nufarm Americas, Inc.

 And special thanks to Janelle Buxton, Pioneer Hi-Bred and a member of the NAMA Careers Committee, for coordinating the project!

ABEF Silent/Online Media Auctions

Find a home for that special edition wildlife print or even those sports tickets and surplus company logo jackets. Or give a media package or services, and support the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) at the same time. How? By contributing to the annual ABEF Silent Auction.

The primary goal or mission of the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) is to provide today’s agri-business students the tools they will need to succeed tomorrow.

Century Club

Investing in the Century Club provides the opportunity to step forward and help advance the future of agribusiness. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and the Century Club support is totally dedicated for investing in scholarships for tomorrow’s leaders.

The Century Club’s goal is to have today’s agribusiness leaders contribute $100 for today’s youth.

Membership in the Century Club is on an annual basis.

Club members who renew prior to the Agri-Marketing Conference will have an “ABEF Century Club” sticker on their name badge and be recognized on the Century Club sign in the Silent Auction area and in other conference materials.  You will also receive an invitation to attend the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Recognition Luncheon hosted by the ABEF.  The annual membership contribution is $100.

You can be a part of this select group of individuals committed to enhancing the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=6&pg=1.

The AgriBusiness Educational Foundation (ABEF)  is pleased to announce that Osborn & Barr has made a major contribution to the Foundation’s current fundraising program targeting Ag advertising agencies — A.S.A.P. (Agencies Supporting ABEF Programs). Osborn & Barr’s $5,000 gift will be used to help support ABEF college student scholarships, the National Student NAMA Marketing Competition, and other programs benefiting students and young professionals in Ag marketing. A.S.A.P. is an on-going program in support of the Foundation’s VISION2020 initiative to raise $4 million by the year 2020.

 “A wealth of employment opportunities exist in agribusiness, and it’s promising to see so many talented students who are serious about pursuing a career in this industry,” says Michael Turley, CEO, Osborn & Barr. “It’s rewarding to be involved with farm tours, summer internships and scholarship programs that not only educate, but spark in our youth a true appreciation for agriculture. Our involvement with A.S.A.P. is one more way we can do our part to support agribusiness and its future leaders.”

 Mick Sibbel, Chair of the Board of Trustees for ABEF, commented, “The A.S.A.P. initiative was developed to bring Ag ad agencies together to build financial support while becoming advocates for ABEF. Osborn & Barr’s commitment to the program is very much appreciated and will help us continue much-needed programming to develop the Ag marketing and communications leaders of tomorrow.”

 Agencies who sign up for A.S.A.P. follow certain guidelines in support of ABEF. In addition to an unrestricted gift to the Foundation ($500 to $100,000), agencies agree to provide information about ABEF to clients, employees, and suppliers, asking for their financial support of the Foundation. Agencies may also match employee contributions.

 “The agricultural landscape is ever-changing, and while we may not know the challenges that will come in 2020, we do know that our future depends on what we do today,” says Turley. “At the end of the day, we all want agriculture to thrive and prosper for years to come. We are proud to form an alliance with other Ag marketing and advertising agencies through ABEF and A.S.A.P.”

 Interested agencies can get more information about ABEF and A.S.A.P. by contacting Michael Gustafson, Deer’s Landing Communications, at 217-251-3659 ([email protected]) or Jenny Pickett at NAMA office at 913-491-6500 ([email protected]).

VISION2020 is a new initiative that seeks to raise up to $4 million over the next 10 years for college student scholarships, student and young professional development programs, and support of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Student Program. Funding may also be made available for outreach to high school juniors and seniors, promoting careers in Ag business, marketing and communications.

The Badger NAMA Board of Directors has been working hard over the last few months to create new and innovative ways to show its chapter members value for their membership dollars. From relevant speakers and networking sessions to interactions with student members, 2012 is going to be a great year for Badger NAMA.

Badger members have been offered a unique opportunity to share their expertise with the future of our profession – the NEW Badger NAMA Mentor Program. They have developed a program that will benefit students and professionals in a directed, yet flexible way.  It’s designed with the busy professional in mind, and the program can also be considered a recruitment tool.  Interested Badger members should send a request for additional information and/or application materials to [email protected].

Students hungry for advice (and lunch) need you!  This event has been an annual success and we plan to improve it even more this year.

Don’t miss your chance to come face-to-face with topnotch employee candidates!  In an effort to provide students with an opportunity to connect with professionals about careers and job opportunities, we are organizing this event during the Thursday, April 19, luncheon from 12:30 – 1:30 in Kansas City.  It will be held along the windows in the Connection Point (Exhibit Hall A).

All you need to do is click here by Friday, March 23, to sign up http://www.nama.org/amc/student.htm.  Then, come to the luncheon and chat your heart out with the students for 60 minutes.  For this effort, you’ll gain the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped a young person along his/her way and you will gain one more special ribbon on your NAMA badge when you check in at registration.  In addition, students have been encouraged to share their résumé with us electronically.  We will provide you with a free CD containing all of the résumés that we collect – no extra paper to carry!

When you arrive at the Connection Point, a member of the Careers Committee will tell you which numbered table to go to.  We will also provide a list of questions at each table to help initiate your conversations.

Organized by the NAMA Careers Committee, the luncheon is intended to:

• Provide professionals with an opportunity to interact with students and answer student questions.
• Provide students with the opportunity to share their résumés.
• Mentors and students are welcome to keep in touch, however, there will be no specific responsibilities designated for the mentors after the meeting.

The primary goal or mission of the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) is to provide today’s agri-business students the tools they will need to succeed tomorrow.

Century Club

Investing in the Century Club provides the opportunity to step forward and help advance the future of agribusiness. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and the Century Club support is totally dedicated for investing in scholarships for tomorrow’s leaders.

The Century Club’s goal is to have today’s agribusiness leaders contribute $100 for today’s youth.

Membership in the Century Club is on an annual basis.

Club members who renew prior to the Agri-Marketing Conference will have an “ABEF Century Club” sticker on their name badge and be recognized on the Century Club sign in the Silent Auction area and in other conference materials.  You will also receive an invitation to attend the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Recognition Luncheon hosted by the ABEF.  The annual membership contribution is $100.

You can be a part of this select group of individuals committed to enhancing the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=6&pg=1.

ABEF Silent/Online Media Auctions

Find a home for that special edition wildlife print or even those sports tickets and surplus company logo jackets. Or give a media package or services, and support the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) at the same time. How? By contributing to the annual ABEF Silent Auction.