Team NAMA offers student chapters an opportunity for a professional review of their Executive Summary prior to the submission deadline. This year, 18 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 to provide feedback to the teams.

Jim Bansen, CNH
Michael Berry, SFP
Meg Brodman, archer>malmo
Tiffany Bronson, AdFarm
Beth Burgy, Broadhead
Mindy Dale, Paulsen Marketing
Alicia DeGeest, Paulsen Marketing
Amber Harrison, Bratney Companies
Brenda Hilfiker, Water Street Solutions
Josh Hushon, Bader Rutter & Associates
Patricia Lawson, The Hondo Group
Greg Leaf, Group Leaf, LLC
Ali Mahaffy, Sullivan Higdon & Sink
Rebekah McCurdy, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Steve Mercer, U.S. Wheat Associates
Kristi Moss, Paulsen Marketing
Elizabeth Smith, Rhea + Kaiser
Susan Wright, Osborn & Barr Communications

Special thanks also goes to Janelle Buxton, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc. and member of the NAMA Careers Committee, for coordinating the project.

Donations are needed for the 2011 ABEF Silent Auction held in the Connection Point, April 13-14, in Kansas City, as well as the ABEF Online Media Auction, held March 30-April 6, online.

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.

Please join your agri-marketing peers in supporting this worthwhile effort by donating to the auction. Please donate by March 11 to be included in the Auction Catalog.

Any worthwhile product or service will be gratefully accepted. Some of the most popular items auctioned in past years include:

* Framed and limited edition artwork
* Media packages for broadcast, print & Internet
* Professional services
* Premiums and wearables
* Collectibles
* Sports tickets and memorabilia

The success of the ABEF Silent Auction proves our association is eager to contribute to the growth and enhancement of the profession of agri-marketing. Please show your support and donate what you can (minimum of $50 value suggested). All proceeds from the Silent Auction support the NAMA Student Careers Program which involves 30 collegiate chapters across the US. This program provides scholarships, careers fairs, the Student Marketing Competition in conjunction with the Agri-Marketing Conference, and the Outstanding Student Chapter and Advisor awards. Please note that all media and service packages will be auctioned On-line.

To donate to the auctions please access the pledge form at http://www.nama.org/abef/silentauction/pledgeform.htm.

For more information contact Jenny Pickett in the ABEF/NAMA office at [email protected].

The ABEF Century Club raised $3,500 at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference. Investing in the 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 and sponsored by Adayana Agri Business Group, Inc.  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. The list below contains professionals who have recently joined the Century Club. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/abef/centuryclub/signup.htm.

Angela Skochdopole, AdFarm
Lynn Henderson, Agri Marketing Magazine
Tom Smull, Associations, Inc.
Vernon Benes, Beck Ag, Inc.
Vicki Henrickson, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Leigh Ann Cleaver, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Lyle Orwig, Charleston/Orwig, Inc.
Mike Gustafson, Deer’s Landing Communications
Jeff Lapin, Farm Progress Companies
Don Tourte, Farm Progress Companies
Bill Howard, Fastline Publications
Tom Taylor, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Jane Hillstrom, Hillstrom Communications, Inc.
Kyle Bauer, KFRM Radio
Daniel Lamoureux, La Terre de chez nous
Stan Koenigsfeld, Learfield Communications, Inc.
Tom Davis, Meredith Corporation
Marvin Kokes, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council of America
Allen Barkve, Penton Media, Inc.
Dave Knau, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Eldon White, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Jim Emanuel, Water Street Solutions
Larry Hertz, Western Producer Media

Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with our Student NAMA Chapters. Visit the latest edition of NAMA On Campus at http://www.nama.org/student/winter11.pdf, for what’s happening with the chapters.

Through the NAMA Student Careers Program, ABEF provides students with the opportunities to apply text book lessons to real world situations. Through programs like the marketing competition, NAMA challenges these career-track minded young people and gives them a taste of the real life decision-making process. Student NAMA chapters provide many chances for students to serve in leadership roles, build valuable communication skills and gain confidence in their ability to make decisions.

Breakout session information for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, 2011, is now available. Please visit http://www.nama.org/amc for dates and times.

Workshops Include:

Pre-Conference Workshop – Becoming an 800-Pound Gorilla: How to Dominate Your Market ~ Bill Guertin

Senior Management Workshop – Crossing the Generational Divide: Making the Four Generations in Your Workforce a Competitive Advantage in Any Economy ~ Jason Dorsey

Breakout Sessions include:

Economic Predictions in an Era of Unpredictability (Note: There will be an encore presentation of this session.)

Black Swans – The Risk of Humanizing Animals in Advertising

Ag’s Place in the Sustainability Conversation

What Exactly Makes Your Company Fascinating?

Bringing Social Pillars to Life to Drive Communications

Measuring Social Media: Where’s the ROI? (Note: There will be an encore presentation of this session.)

Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations

Field to Fork: What’s Happening in Your Company

At Home on the Platform (Presentation Skills)

Make your hotel reservations today and register before March 18 to receive the special rate. Hotel reservations made after March 18 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Register for the conference by March 18 to receive the early rate. After March 18, registration rates will increase.

To make your hotel reservations online visit:

Professionals’ Room Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/Professional

Students’/Advisors’ Room Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/student1

To register for the conference visit – http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=28

Every year at the Agri-Marketing Conference, professionals involved with selling products and services into the agricultural marketplace gather to explore the latest in techniques, trends and practices.

In 2011, the conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. If your target audience includes agri-marketers, you can’t afford to miss the 2011 Connection Point.

Approximately 1,200 people attend the Agri-Marketing Conference each year to explore the latest ideas and insights and share what’s working for them. The Connection Point is an integral part of this event and gives you the opportunity to see—and be seen by—a high concentration of individuals who make and/or influence ag-related buying decisions.

A number of key conference activities are scheduled to take place in the Connection Point, ensuring conference attendees have ample opportunities to acquaint (or re-acquaint!) themselves with your products or services.

Receptions
On Wednesday, April 13, immediately after the Best of NAMA Ceremony, the Connection Point opens with a Celebration Reception. The Thursday evening reception offers attendees the chance to meet new people and share ideas after the first full day of conference activities.

Lunch & Refreshment Breaks
On Thursday, April 14, lunch will be served in the Connection Point as well as refreshments during the afternoon break, offering additional opportunities to network.

Drawings
Prize drawings at the end of each session (four) and a grand prize drawing at the Thursday evening reception help encourage conference attendees to leave their business cards at booths in the Connection Point. A bingo activity during Thursday’s luncheon helps generate additional booth activity.

Virtual Trade Show
As an exhibitor at the Connection Point you will also be featured as an exhibitor in the Virtual Trade Show at no additional charge. Trade show attendees can determine where you will be located and find out more about your organization before the event. Simply email a brief description, company logo and a link to your website to [email protected]. . .we take care of the rest!

Register for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference today and reserve your booth at the same time by visiting http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=28.

If you want to reserve booth space without registering for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/signup.htm.

Download the Trade Show brochure at http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/brochure.pdf.

Sponsorship Opportunities

A number of special events and activities offer additional opportunities to draw attention to and enhance your company’s image among this highly select group of key prospects.

Please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected] to find out what opportunities are available.

NAMA has gathered some of the most innovative thinkers in marketing for the 2011 conference. Delve into the science of how your customers’ behavior and choices are influenced. Learn proven strategies for attracting and keeping customers from younger increasingly powerful markets. Unlock the secrets of the “seven triggers of fascination” that add a strategic marketing approach to the art of influence.

Our 2011 keynoters will challenge your thoughts on sales and leadership…and maybe even make you laugh out loud.

The best idea right now is to get to Kansas City, April 13-15, 2011!

Registration Information

Registration for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference is now open! Register for the conference by December 31 to be entered to win a $200 Apple Gift Certificate.

To register for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=28.

Hotel Information

The room blocks at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center are now open. Two room blocks are available for the 2011 Conference, one for Students and one for Professionals.

The hotel deadline for making reservations is March 18, 2011. Reservations made after this date are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Make sure you mention “NAMA” when making reservations. All reservation requests will require a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit. Deposits will be refunded by the hotel for rooms cancelled more than three (3) days prior to arrival.

Room rates are $145 for single/double rooms. Please call the Hyatt at (816) 421-1234 to make your reservations or reserve a room online by clicking on one of the links below:

Student Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/student1

Professional Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/Professional

For more information on the conference, visit http://www.nama.org/amc.