The Agri-Business Educational Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is pleased to announce that Charleston/Orwig is the first to make a major contribution to the Foundation’s recently developed fundraising program targeting Ag advertising agencies — A.S.A.P. (Agencies Supporting ABEF Programs). The $5,000 initial 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. “We’re very pleased to play a part in helping this Foundation that continues to support so many in the ag marketing industry,” said Lyle Orwig, Charleston/Orwig CEO.

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. Charleston/Orwig’s commitment to the program is a great first step.”

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.

“We’re challenging all other ag marketing and advertising agencies to join us with A.S.A.P. We truly need to develop the next leaders in ag. ABEF is great way to do so,” states Orwig.

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 the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) office at 913-491-6500 ([email protected]).

ABOUT ABEF

Established in 1991 by members of the National Agri-Marketing Association. ABEF – the Agribusiness Educational Foundation – is a 501(c))3 non-profit foundation with the mission to help provide financial support, learning opportunities, and professional networking experience to students and entry-level employees in marketing and communications for agri-business.

We do this by working exclusively with and through the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), the nation’s largest professional association for professionals in marketing and Agri-business. With our focus on NAMA and NAMA Student Chapters, we can provide college scholarships, financially support a national Student Marketing Competition, provide materials and seminars for leadership training, and offer support and guidance for internships, all with a primary focus on the business of agriculture.

ABOUT ABEF VISION2020

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.

NAMA introduces the new Young Professionals Membership. This membership category offers a discounted membership to recent graduates and new hires under the age of 25, who are already engaged in an agri-marketing business – agency, media, company, etc.

Dues for these Young Professionals would be half the amount paid by regular members until they reach the age of 25 – this is half of national dues as well as half of chapter dues. Once they reach 25, they will pay the full membership dues.

Many businesses pay dues for their more seasoned employees. This will provide a cost-effective means for businesses to provide development and networking opportunities to their entry level employees. The development and networking opportunities would naturally help the younger employees become a bigger asset to their employers.

Send the following link to someone you know who’s under 25 and would like to become a NAMA member! https://www4983.ssldomain.com/nama/register.aspx

The Dairy Farmers of America has Lunch and Learn programs for their summer interns, who come from a variety of schools with varying majors.

During the June 8 Lunch and Learn, the interns were introduced to NAMA.  Kristen Marshall, AgCall U.S.A., Inc., Vice Chair of NAMA’s Careers Committee and Chair of the Marketing Competition and Debbie Brummel, NAMA, gave them an overview.  This included some of NAMA’s history, its mission, and an overview of both professional NAMA and also the student NAMA Careers Program.

Vicki Henrickson, National NAMA President, attended the chapter meeting of the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Student NAMA chapter on Wednesday, March 23, 2011.

Students from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo took first place at the Student Marketing Competition sponsored by Monsanto. The competition was held April 13-15 in Kansas City, MO.

The Cal Poly marketing team had 15 students involved with this year’s project to market seedless lemons. The team spent the last several months doing market research, writing the marketing plan, and developing a presentation.

The top six marketing teams this year were: First place, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo; Second place, Purdue University; Third place, Kansas State University; finalists include: The Ohio State University; Texas A&M University – College Station; and Michigan State University.

Students decide on a project and develop a plan to successfully bring the product or service to the marketplace. In developing their marketing plan, students follow the same practices and principles used by today’s marketing professionals. Teams submit a written plan summary prior to the competition and then make a formal presentation of their marketing plan to a panel of judges at the competition. The judges’ panel consists of marketing and agribusiness professionals.

Overall, 30 student NAMA chapters participated in the marketing competition. The competition is part of the annual Agri-Marketing Conference. Over 300 student members attended the conference.

For a list of the Student Marketing Competition Winners/Finalists and to view their Executive Summaries visit http://www.nama.org/student/marketing.html.

For a list of the Scholarship Recipients visit http://www.nama.org/student/scholarship.html.

For a list of the winners of the Outstanding Student Chapter Competition visit http://www.nama.org/student/outstanding.html.

ABEF GOLF OUTING
The ABEF hosted its annual Golf Outing during the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference to help raise money for the Student NAMA Careers Program. The ABEF Golf Outing took place on Tuesday, April 12, at WinterStone Golf Course in Independence, MO.

Golfers enjoyed a beautiful day for the golf outing. Taking third place in the golf outing was Jason Weil, Kansas Agriculture Network; John Shostak, Kansas Farm Bureau; and Dennis Miner, Penton Media. Second place went to Troy Schroeder, Broadhead; Randy Groff, Mosaic Company; Heidi Nelson, Harvest PR & Marketing; and Heather Rossow, Penton Media. First place winners were Bob Bunker, J.L. Farmakis; Chet Slump, iNet Solutions; Ted Haller, Teddy Media; and Bill Farmakis, J.L. Farmakis.

There were also 2 closest to the hole contests which were won by Steve Custer, Farm Journal Media and John Shostak, Kansas Farm Bureau.

Special thanks also to the sponsors of the ABEF Golf Outing: Penton Media, Bock & Associates, Successful Farming and Mosaic Company. We look forward to another successful Golf Outing next year in Kansas City!

ABEF AUCTIONS
The ABEF Silent Auction and Online Media Auction raised over $25,700 for the Student Careers Program. Items in the auctions ranged from wine to media packages to iPods. Special thanks to all who donated and bid on items in the Auctions this year!

ABEF STUDENT RAFFLE
Attendees had a chance to win a Vizio 55″ Flat Screen TV courtesy of Penton Media at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference. NAMA Student chapters sold tickets in advance as well as at the conference for a chance to win the TV. The winning raffle ticket was sold by Jacklyn Schroeder with Delaware Valley College to Tim Kantz.

Over $5,110 was raised from the Student Raffle and schools received $5.00 for each ticket sold, meaning $2,555 of that money will be returned to the student chapters to help cover expenses to next year’s conference. The school that sold the most raffle tickets received $100 and the second place school received $50. In addition, the student who sold the most tickets received an additional cash prize of $100. This year’s top selling school was University of Florida and second place honors go to Delaware Valley College. The student selling the most raffle tickets was Bethany Coon, University of Florida.

During the 2011 NAMA Student Marketing Competition, held April 13-15 in Kansas City, the NAMA Careers Committee honored Dr. John B. Riley’s 25 years of tireless service to NAMA and his dedication to the student experience by renaming the Outstanding Advisor Award in his name.

It is now the “Dr. John B. Riley Outstanding Advisor Award.”  This was an emotional surprise for both Dr. Riley and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville NAMA students who were with him during the awards ceremony on Thursday evening.

The Committee had been looking for a way to recognize Dr. Riley for his service and decided it was fitting to do this in his 25^th year of advising NAMA marketing teams.

Taking home the Dr. John B. Riley Outstanding Student Advisor Award was Dustin Bass with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

For a list of all recipients of the 2011 Outstanding Student Chapter competition visit http://www.nama.org/student/outstanding.html.