The Agri-Marketing Conference committee has been busy finding speakers for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17 in Atlanta.

The committee has chosen our opening, second general session, and closing session speakers. Take a look!

Opening General Session
The Collapse of Distinction
Scott McKain, Obsidian Enterprises

Scott McKain has proven that the concepts he presents actually work in the real world! He is the Vice Chairman of Obsidian Enterprises, a company he helped found just a few years ago that now generates $100 million in annual revenue. Obsidian has been named as one of the “fastest growing companies” in the United States. He is the co-founder of the Value Added Institute, a “think tank” exploring the role of customer experiences in creating enhanced client loyalty and revenue for visionary organizations.

Second General Session
Innovation in Marketing: Challenge Assumptions
Andy Cohen, Exposed Brick

Andy Cohen empowers the world’s global brands to think differently and generate innovative solutions in leadership, marketing and customer service. These companies include American Express, HSBC, Charles Schwab, Unilever, Pfizer, Novartis and Nestle. He is the founder of the award winning advertising agency, Exposed Brick. He is also a global advisor, educator, motivational speaker and magician. His book Follow The Other Hand combines magic as metaphor with business case histories to instantly unlock innovative thinking everyday.

Closing Session
Managing the Margins of Greatness
David Okerlund

David Okerlund grew up in a rural, midwestern town of Manchester, Iowa, where as a young teenager he saved up money for college by working on the town’s garbage route. Till this day he still says that, “It was the best job I have ever had in my entire career. He has been a salesperson, college administrator, teacher at Oxford University, and an administrator of a 350 bed trauma center hospital. In 1983 he gained national attention when he finished in the final three of the World Championship of Public Speaking; a contest that includes over 20,000 contestants from over 45 different countries.

To register for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference visit http://nama.org/amc/register.html.

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 2009, the conference will be held in the beautiful, newly renovated Atlanta Marriott Marquis, conveniently located in Peachtree Center. If your target audience includes agrimarketers, you can’t afford to miss the 2009 Connection Point.

In today’s world of voice mails and e-mails, the Connection Point offers a unique opportunity for face-to-face contact. Something every business can use!

Research shows a single, personal sales call can cost $500 or more. In some industries—such as ag—that can go much higher, both because of technical expertise needed and because the market is so geographically dispersed. Your participation in the Connection Point will enable you to make sales calls much more economically!

And it is a sales opportunity. In a recent study, 91% of respondents ranked trade shows as an “extremely useful” source for product purchasing information and nearly half had purchased products or services at a trade show.

What happens in the trade show?

Receptions
On Wednesday, April 15, immediately after the Best of NAMA Ceremony, the Connection Point opens with a Celebration Reception. The Thursday evening reception offers attendees the chance to unwind after the first full day of conference activities.

Lunch & Refreshment Breaks
On Thursday, April 16, lunch will be served in the Connection Point as well as refreshments during the afternoon break, offering additional opportunities to mingle.

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 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 e-mail a brief description, company logo and a link to your website to [email protected]. . .we take care of the rest!

Connection Point Hours

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Best of NAMA Celebration/Trade Show Grand Opening

THURSDAY, APRIL 16
12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Luncheon
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Closing Reception/ABEF Silent Auction

For more information on the Connection Point visit http://nama.org/amc/ts/connection.htm.

To sign up for booth space now visit http://nama.org/amc/ts/signup.htm.

Note: Exhibitors who sign up for a booth by February 4 will receive a complimentary registration for NAMA’s February 5th webinar on Maximizing Your Trade Show R.O.I. with Scott Hanna, Skyline Displays.

The registration for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, Hot Ideas. Sizzling Solutions. is now open. The conference will take place April 15-17 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Register now to get the payment in your 2008 budget year! Registration rates remain the same as in 2008! Early registration rates will end on March 25, 2009. After that, late rates apply.
For registration information visit http://www.nama.org/amc/registration.html.

To register online now for the conference, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/register.html.
In addition, hotel reservations can now be made online. We are pleased to have this year’s conference at the beautiful Atlanta Marriott Marquis, which has just completed a $185 million renovation.

Hotel rates are $115 single/double (that’s not a type-o folks, it’s really $115!). The hotel cut-off date is March 17, 2009. Reservations made after March 17 will be subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.

Once again, we will be offering two room blocks, one for the professionals and one for the students.

To make your hotel reservations under the professional block, visit http://www.marriott.com/professionals.

To make hotel reservations under the student block, visit http://www.marriott.com/students.

We look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is January 15, 2009. Both awards will be presented at the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Agribusiness Leader of the Year
The Agribusiness Leader of the Year is NAMA’s highest honor. The award honors an outstanding leader in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas. Nominees do not need to be NAMA members.

Fill out the nomination form on-line now at http://www.nama.org/awards/agribusinessform.htm. Or download the Agribusiness Leader Nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format by visiting, http://www.nama.org/awards/agbusapplication.pdf.

Note: The Agri-Marketer of the Year Award was changed to the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award in 2001. Below is an honor roll of the past Agri-Marketer/Agribusiness Leader of the Year awards.

2008 Rick Tolman, National Corn Growers Association
2007 Dale Ludwig, MO Soybean Assn. & MO Soybean Merchandising Council
2006 George Thornton, Agriliance, LLC
2005 James Irwin, Case IH
2004 Bernie Staller, National FFA Organization
2003 Richard Clauss, Hilmar Cheese Company/Clauss Dairy Farms
2002 A. Charles Fischer, Dow AgroSciences
2001 Emmett Barker, Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers
2000 R.W. “Bud” Porter, Deere & Company
1999 Bruce Bickner, DeKalb-Monsanto Global Seed Group
1998 William Kirk, DuPont Agricultural Enterprises
1997 Arnold Donald, Monsanto
1996 H.D. “Harry” Cleberg, Farmland Industries, Inc.
1995 Edward McMillan, Purina Mills
1994 Dwayne Andreas, Archer Daniels Midland Company
1993 Robert Wichmann, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
1992 Gary Parker, Lindsay Manufacturing Co.
1991 William Griffith, American Cyanamid
1990 Thomas Dille, Rhone-Poulenc Ag
1989 Nicholas Babson, Babson Brothers Co.
1988 Olin Andrews, Farmers Hybrid Companies
1987 David Garst, Garst Seed Co.
1986 Leo Bontempo, Novartis Seeds
1985 Dr. Kenneth Bader, American Soybean Assn.
1984 John Churchman, Ford Tractor Operations
1983 Owen Newlin, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
1982 Nicholas Reding, Monsanto Ag Group
1981 Robert Lanphier, AGMED, Inc.
1980 Joe Ecker, Gehl Co.
1979 Robert Book, Elanco Animal Products/Eli Lily Co.
1978 Roland Hendrickson, Pfizer Ag Division
1977 Donald Fritz, Farmers Hybrid Co.
1976 Harold Noren, DeKalb Ag Research
1975 E.W. Cook, Cook Industries
1974 Walt Buescher, Allis Chalmers
1973 Bill Bricker, Diamond Shamrock Chemical
1972 Fred Stines, Successful Farming
1971 Del Walker, Funk Brother Seed Co.
1970 Dr. James Affleck, American Cyanamid
1969 Lyle Yost, Hesston Corp.
1968 Dr. Robert Spitzer, Murphy Products
1967 Emory Dearborn, Ford Tractor Operations
1966 Maurice Turner, Amchem Products
1965 George Varnes, Eli Lily Co.
1964 Morris Reid, J.I. Case
1963 W.J. Jensen, Butler Manufacturing
1962 Don Murphy, Wallace’s Farmer

NAMA Marketer of the Year
NAMA recognizes its active members with senior management of marketing and/or sales responsibilities with the NAMA Marketer of the Year award. This award is the most prestigious honor awarded to an active member of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing directly to ag producers. Nominees MUST be NAMA members.

Fill out the nomination form on-line now at http://www.nama.org/awards/namamarketerform.htm or download the NAMA Marketer of the Year nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format by visiting, http://www.nama.org/awards/mktrapplication.pdf.

Please note: This award was created in 2001. Below are the past NAMA Marketer of the Year award recipients.

2008 Dave Rhylander, Delta & Pine Land – Division of Monsanto Co.
2007 Phil Johnson, Colle+McVoy
2006 Tom Davis, Meredith Corporation
2005 Rick Turner, Gustafson, LLC
2004 Raymond Hoyum, IMC Global
2003 James Seaver, AGCO Corporation
2002 Donald Hecht, Elanco Animal Health
2001 Wendell Knehans, Monsanto-Corn States

The Best of NAMA Call for Entries deadline is today, October 10.

The Regional Judging of the entries takes place November 10-11, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center and you can check out the Hot Ideas and Sizzling Solutions of the first and merit winners at the Welcome Reception of the Trends In Agriculture fall meeting on Tuesday, November 11, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Can’t make it to the entire Trends In Agriculture meeting? No problem, you can just join us for the Welcome Reception/Entry Viewing/ABEF Sports Night! Just visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm to register!

There’s not much time left to submit your most choice work for consideration for a Best of NAMA award! The Best of NAMA awards program honors the most prime work in agricultural communications. You might say it recognizes la crème de la crème, actually, because companies/agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level.

Best of NAMA operates on a regional judging format. Entries are sent directly to the national NAMA office and judged by industry professionals at a regional level for possible advancement to national competition. A minimum point standard will be used at the regional level. If you place first or merit at the regional competition and score above the minimum point standard, you are eligible to advance to the national competition.

Your local chapter receives $25 per regional entry. So, enter your work in Best of NAMA and nourish your local chapter at the same time.

If you’re a NAMA member you’re eligible to serve up your company’s sauciest communications materials, prepared for first use in 2008.
To view the Best of NAMA Call for Entries visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Would you like to see the industry’s best work? If so, take part in the Regional Best of NAMA Judging, November 10-11, 2008. If you have 3 or more years of experience in the agribusiness industry and are a NAMA member, you’re eligible to be a judge.

The judging will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This will be convenient for those of you attending the 2008 Trends In Agriculture at the Hyatt and/or the NAFB Convention at the Westin.

Judging Schedule
Monday, November 10 from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Travel arrangements are to be paid for by the judge, but NAMA will cover one night’s hotel stay. The deadline for signing up to judge is Friday, October 10. If you are selected as a Best of NAMA judge, you will be notified by October 15.

To sign up to be a regional Best of NAMA judge visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/judging.htm.