The Best of NAMA Call for Entries deadline is October 10!

The Best of NAMA awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Actually, the best of the best, since companies/agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level. The national awards ceremony will take place April 15, 2015, at the Sheraton Crown Center in Kansas City.

Make sure you enter your best work to compete for top honors. Visit the Call for Entries website at http://nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm to view the categories and print off a pdf.

Thank you to AdFarm for donating the creative on the Call for Entries.

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation is continuing the sale of select packages. For convenience, the auction is available on-line.

The Media auction is available through the NAMA Web Site. To view media packages and bid on-line, visit http://www.nama.org/abef/silentauction/bidco.htm.

If you have any questions call the NAMA Office at 913-491-6500 or email [email protected].

ST. LOUIS (April 30, 2014) – In 2013, Deltapine wanted to celebrate the dedication and hard work of the American cotton farmer in a big way. As a result, the song “Where Heroes Are Made” was written and produced as a special tribute to America’s cotton producers and Deltapine New Product Evaluators, a large group of growers who evaluate the performance potential and geographic fit of precommercial Deltapine cotton seed. The song was made available for purchase on iTunes last summer, and to further applaud cotton farmers for their hard work, Deltapine decided to contribute the funds raised by sales of the song to the future generation of agriculture.

All proceeds from the sales of “Where Heroes Are Made” were recently donated in the form of a $2,500 scholarship to the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF). The backbone of Student NAMA, ABEF serves to ensure a strong future for the agri-marketing industry by providing students with the tools, education, and experiences they need to succeed.

“On behalf of ABEF, I am extremely grateful for the contribution from Deltapine cotton to our student scholarship program,” said Russ Parker, ABEF volunteer chair. “ABEF relies on the generosity of ag leaders to invest in the future of agri-marketing, and this gift enables us to continue helping students build leadership skills and networks that will help them advance their careers in agrimarketing.”

The $2,500 scholarship from Deltapine cotton was awarded to Sarah McKay, a junior at Virginia Tech, on April 9, 2014 at a luncheon hosted for student NAMA members at the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference in Jacksonville, FL. Sarah is majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics, International Trade and Development Option and Animal Science, and Livestock Management Option. She is minoring in Civic Agriculture and Marketing.

For more information about Deltapine cotton or to view the “Where Heroes Are Made” music video, please visit www.Deltapine.com/Heroes.

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

Deltapine® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Monsanto Company.

Plan ahead! Mark your calendars today for upcoming NAMA Agri-Marketing Conferences!

2015 – April 15 – 17 – Kansas city

2016 – April 13 – 15 – Kansas city

2017 – April 26 – 28 – Dallas

2018 – April 11 – 13 – Kansas city

2019 – April 10 – 12 – Kansas city

We look forward to seeing you!!

Only 16 days left to save!

Save on your trip to Jacksonville with NAMA’S early bird registration rates for the Agri-Marketing Conference , April 9-11.  Early bird rates end March 20th, so register today.

When you join NAMA in Florida for the conference, you’ll be surrounded by leaders and decision-makers in the agri-marketing industry.  You’ll hear from experts and trendsetters in agri-marketing, business development and branding.  For details visit http://www.nama.org/amc/index.php

Florida Ag Tour

Join us for a guided tour of some of the finest farms, ranches and agri-business facilities in the Sunshine State, Wednesday, April 9 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Florida boasts 9.2 million acres of farmland and ranks 2nd in U.S. production of fresh vegetables, providing 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the nation during the winter months. Florida’s cattle industry is one of the 15 largest in the United States, centered around birthing and raising calves. You will see fresh market potato and onion harvesting and packing; commercial vegetable production on plastic; a sod farm, blueberry farm, peach orchard, cattle ranch; and a very special Fresh From Florida lunch prepared by the University of Florida’s Chef David Bearl. Chef Bearl is an inductee of the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation, representing the highest standards of professionalism in the industry. His efforts to support culinary education through ‘Farm to School’ initiatives encourages the use of fresh, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients. The lunch, prepared by Chef Bearl, will feature specially selected items grown in Florida.

Cost for the Florida Ag Tour is $60.

To register for the Florida Ag Tour and for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=59. If you’ve already registered for conference but want to add the Florida Ag Tour or if you just want to register for the Ag Tour and not the Agri-Marketing Conference, please visit www.nama.org/amc/floridareg.php.

ABEF Golf Outing

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 8. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf in beautiful Jacksonville before the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at the Amelia National Golf Club. A chartered bus will leave the hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course and a boxed lunch and beverages will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony and reception will cap your day on the greens. Cost for the outing is $195 per golfer.  For more information visit http://www.nama.org/amc/golf.php

Register today and get your official ABEF/NAMA Golf Shoes, only $25.  Check out website for more details!

Social Media Analytics For Business

No doubt, social media provides a viable channel for ag businesses, customers and consumers to interact with each other. Jay Harrison, of evolve24, shared how Cornhusker NAMA members can take advantage of social media during the chapter’s February meeting.

Mr. Harrison shared how evolve24 is using unique algorithms to filter through more than 2 million pieces of online content per topic.  He explained the PRECISE™ methodology of analyzing social media conversations. This includes uncovering what is in the message and sentiment; who is moving the message; how fast the issue is moving and what is the emotion. Each item is statistically weighted and then measured to expose early warning signs for companies and industries.

According to Harrison, “When corporations have these metrics available, they can make smart business decisions because the data helps them understand what direction they should be moving in next.”

Take a look at our fantastic 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference Breakout Lineup:

• Next Level Leadership: Managing for Breakthrough Performance

• Measuring Social Media Marketing ROI

• Public Relations:  The Evolution Continues

• cre-a-tive (kre-a-tiv):  Relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas

• Food for Thought:  An In-Depth Ag-Marketing Case Study

• How to Get What You Want…The Right Way.  The Power of  Persuasion and Purpose

• Branding from the Inside Out:  Engaged Associates Drive Your Brand

• Marketing to Multiple Generations at the Same Time, From the Same Budget:  Producer Panel

• The Power of Consumers to Shape a Business Model

Visit http://www.nama.org/amc/breakouts.php for Breakout details and schedule.

Florida Ag Tour

Join us for a guided tour of some of the finest farms, ranches and agri-business facilities in the Sunshine State, Wednesday, April 9 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Florida boasts 9.2 million acres of farmland and ranks 2nd in U.S. production of fresh vegetables, providing 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the nation during the winter months. Florida’s cattle industry is one of the 15 largest in the United States, centered around birthing and raising calves. You will see fresh market potato and onion harvesting and packing; commercial vegetable production on plastic; a sod farm, blueberry farm, peach orchard, cattle ranch; and a very special Fresh From Florida lunch prepared by the University of Florida’s Chef David Bearl. Chef Bearl is an inductee of the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation, representing the highest standards of professionalism in the industry. His efforts to support culinary education through ‘Farm to School’ initiatives encourages the use of fresh, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients. The lunch, prepared by Chef Bearl, will feature specially selected items grown in Florida.

Cost for the Florida Ag Tour is $60.

To register for the Florida Ag Tour and for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=59. If you’ve already registered for conference but want to add the Florida Ag Tour or if you just want to register for the Ag Tour and not the Agri-Marketing Conference, please visit www.nama.org/amc/floridareg.php.

ABEF Golf Outing

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 8. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf in beautiful Jacksonville before the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at the Amelia National Golf Club. A chartered bus will leave the hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course and a boxed lunch and beverages will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony and reception will cap your day on the greens. Cost for the outing is $195 per golfer.  For more information visit http://www.nama.org/amc/golf.php

Connection Point

Looking for opportunities to place your company’s products and services before decision-makers in the ag marketplace?  NAMA’s Connection Point is for you.  Click here for details or contact Jan Cichello at 913-491-6500.

Sponsors

Looking for other ways to get noticed?  Get in touch with Jenny Pickett about terrific sponsorship opportunities.

Register today to save money and get a jump on your 2014 calender!