Take a trip through the Connection Point before you arrive at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference. Determine where booths will be located and find out more about the companies participating before the event.

Visit the Virtual Trade Show at http://nama.org/amc/ts/virtual.htm.

You know what sessions you will attend to help you Lead the Charge, but what are some fun things you can do at the conference? Below are a list of events to help you network and have some fun with your peers in Kansas City.

The Connection Point
Celebrate the best of the best with the Best of NAMA Celebration Reception. The reception kicks-off the opening of the Connection Point and is courtesy of DTN/The Progressive Farmer. You’ll also be able to view the winning entries from Best of NAMA Awards. You don’t want to miss out! The DTN/The Progressive Farmer reception will take place after the Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony on April 16, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

In addition, each exhibitors’ booth will have a place to drop off your business card so you can have a chance to win a 7″ digital picture frame. These drawings will happen at the end of each session of the Connection Point. In addition to the digital picture frames, there will be a grand prize drawing for an iPod NANO. This iPod is perfect for your trip home from Kansas City.

BINGO! That’s right, Bingo! Pick up a bingo card at the Connection Point Luncheon, Thursday, April 17 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. and make your way around the trade show booths to get your bingo. Exhibitors will have 2 bingo numbers each and will mark your cards just for coming by their booth! If you have a bingo, drop your winning bingo card in the drawing for a Best Buy Gift Card worth $250! Individual booths may be doing drawings of their own, so don’t miss visiting any booths!

In addition to bingo, meet your peers for a Kansas City barbecue luncheon in the Connection Point, courtesy of Truffle Media Networks. The luncheon will take place from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. In addition, you can meet some of the students in an informal setting and explore possible mentoring opportunities during the Mentor Luncheon also in the Connection Point. This luncheon will provide students with an avenue to gain information from professionals about careers and opportunities. Special thanks to MoKan NAMA and Technekes for sponsoring the Mentor Luncheon.

Win a Wii! Stop by the afternoon break in the Connection Point courtesy of Gibbs & Soell and enjoy an ice cream treat courtesy of Hoard’s Dairyman magazine. The Nintendo Wii is a hot item that is hard to come by, so don’t miss your chance to win! We will draw the winner from the business cards that were dropped in the boxes at each booth for the picture frame drawing.

In addition to the prizes, have some fun getting your picture taken with your face in sheriff and saloon girl cutouts. Also, try your hand at roping. Hop on a metal horse and try to rope the metal calf that shoots out.

Don’t forget, when visiting the Connection Point, to stop by the ABEF Silent Auction and place your bid on any number of items. All proceeds will benefit the Student NAMA Careers program.

Another way to support the Careers Program is to buy a raffle ticket from a student. Students will be selling raffle tickets which will put you in a drawing for a 50″ TV. Don’t pass up on your opportunity to win! Special thanks to Penton Media for sponsoring the raffle.

Any time you’re at the Connection Point, you can quench your thirst at the Farm Business Communications refreshment station. After you quench your thirst, take some time to relax at the Nicholson Kovac Relaxation Station.

Your First Agri-Marketing Conference
Is this your first time at the Agri-Marketing Conference? If so, members of the NAMA Leadership want to welcome you and other first-timers at Skies Restaurant on top of the Hyatt Regency Crown Center on Wednesday, April 16, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. This is a great way to network with NAMA Leaders and your peers. Special thanks to John Deere for sponsoring the Leader/First-Timer Reception.
Dine-A-Round
On Thursday, April 17, join members of the NAMA Executive Committee for dinner. Executive Committee members will be at Milano’s in the Crown Center mall at 7:30 p.m. Join NAMA leadership and other conference attendees for dinner, dutch treat. It’s a great way to get to know other members and leaders. Stop by the NAMA registration desk to sign up!

If you are unable to attend the Agri-Marketing Conference, don’t feel left out. Stay connected to the conference right here at the NAMA e-News blog (www.namaconnect.org). Special thanks to Successful Farming/Agriculture Online for sponsoring the Conference blog.

We’ll also keep you connected with “Postcards from Kansas City” courtesy of VML. Check your email inbox to see what’s going on in Kansas City.

Stay tuned to the blog after the conference to view the photo albums from conference.

You only have until April 7 to recruit new members and take home a new iPod NANO after the conference!

New members who join NAMA between January 1 and April 7, 2008, will be entered into a drawing for an 8GB iPod NANO.

In addition, existing NAMA members who recruit these new members will also be entered into the drawing. Just make sure when you recruit a member that they put your name in the “referred by” space on the membership application.

The drawing for the iPod will take place at the Connection Point Closing Reception on Thursday, April 17 at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, but you need not be present to win.

Just a reminder that the Agri-Marketing Conference early registration deadline and hotel cut-off date is Tuesday, March 25. There are quite a few folks that have hotel reservations but have not yet registered for the conference, please make sure you register by March 25 to ensure you receive the early rate. Below is a helpful check list of things you may need to do to ensure your conference experience runs smoothly:

1. Did you make your hotel reservation? Call the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 816-421-1234 to make your reservation. Reservations made after March 25 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Additional rooms have been added to our room block today! If you have any trouble with your Hyatt Reservations please contact Kathi Conrad at [email protected].
2. Did you register for the conference? In addition to making your hotel reservation, you must also register for the conference with the National NAMA Office by March 25 to ensure the early rate. After March 25, the registration rates increase. You can register on-line at http://www.nama.org/amc/register.html or call the NAMA office at 913-491-6500. You may want to call the NAMA office just to make sure that you have registered. If you have registered, you should have received an email confirmation letter from Linda Schaefer at the NAMA Office.
3. Did you register for the ABEF Golf Outing? If you want to enjoy some networking time with your peers on the golf course, remember to register for the ABEF Golf Outing. This registration is separate from the conference registration. You can register for the ABEF Golf Outing at http://nama.org/amc/golfregister.htm.
4. Did you sign-up for the Senior Management Workshop? Created specifically for senior management, this session is a detailed, drilled-down extension of the Second General Session. Participants must be registered for the full Agri-Marketing Conference. Separate registration is required, but there is no additional registration fee. Registration is limited to the first 100 attendees who sign-up. To sign up for the Senior Management Workshop, please visit http://www.nama.org/amc/seniorworkshop.html.
5. Did you sign-up for the Pre-Conference Workshop? If you are coming in early to attend the Agri-Marketing Conference, then you’ll want to attend the Pre-Conference Workshop. Participants must be registered for the full Agri-Marketing Conference. Separate registration is required, but there is no additional registration fee. To reserve your spot for the Pre-Conference Workshop visit, http://nama.org/amc/reserveworkshop.htm.

Dave Keepper, Colle+McVoy and Jim Myers, Rhea & Kaiser have been added to the Pre-Conference Workshop panel discussion on Ag Advertising: How The Best Was Won. Tim Naylor, Chief Creative Officer, Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie, will moderate this workshop.

Join your fellow agri-marketers for an interactive panel discussion of the current state of ag advertising. These award winning NAMA creative directors will reveal the secrets behind their respective campaigns. You’ll get the inside scoop on concepting, strategic development, media options and client participation.

There will also be lots of great work on display and lots of time to get your specific design and implementation questions answered by the experts.

Note: Participants must be registered for the full Agri-Marketing Conference. Separate registration is required, but there is no additional registration fee. To reserve your spot for the Pre-Conference Workshop visit, www.nama.org/amc/reserveworkshop.html.

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will again be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 15. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf before the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at the Falcon Lakes Golf Club. A chartered bus will leave the hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course. A boxed lunch will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. A golf awards ceremony and reception will follow the outing at the golf course. The price is $125 per golfer.

Falcon Lakes is the newest premiere public course in the Kansas City area. Located 5 miles North of I-70 and ¼ mile West of Highway 7, it is conveniently located to downtown Kansas City and Overland Park. This beautiful design is owned and operated by Falcon Golf Management. Designed by Carter Morrish, this championship layout was sculpted out of the subtle rolling terrain that is so familiar in the Kansas plains. Various mogals strategically placed throughout the course, the always manicured zoysia fairways, tees and bentgrass greens challenge golfers of all skill levels and their shot-making ability.

Falcon Golf Management has created a facility with the many aspects of golf and clubhouse activities in mind. Their premiere practice facility provides the dedicated or warm-up player with a zoysia grass hitting area, bentgrass chipping green with green side bunkers and a large multi-teered putting green to hone your skills.

Falcon Lakes is a pleasure to play over and over again. The non-threatening environment of the golf course and friendly service and amenities creates an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone to experience. We look forward to seeing you at Falcon Lakes.

ABEF Golf Outing Sponsorship Information
Show your support and sponsor a hole. Hole sponsorships are now available.

To sign up for a sponsorship on-line visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/golfsponsor.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].