Sponsorships are available for the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference. Get your company noticed! The theme of the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 18-20, is “Acres of Innovation.”

There are many different sponsorships available. Companies with marketing budgets of all sizes can participate. The higher your support, the more benefits you’ll receive….Sustaining Partner, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. In addition, you can get more company visibility by claiming one or more of the sponsorship opportunities. These opportunities are available on a first come, first serve basis, with first right given to last year’s sponsor.

Please review the benefits and opportunities of sponsorship at the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference and confirm your interest to Jenny Pickett at (913) 491-6500 or email to [email protected] or fill out the online sponsorship form at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/form.htm. In-kind sponsorships, e.g., printing, can be considered.

The primary goal or mission of the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) is to provide today’s agri-business students the tools they will need to succeed tomorrow.

Century Club

Investing in the Century 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.  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. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=6&pg=1.

ABEF Silent/Online Media Auctions

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.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is January 20, 2012. These awards will presented at the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 18-20, 2012, in Kansas City.

NAMA Marketer of the Year

NAMA will recognize an active member 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.

Nominees are solicited from agribusiness and related companies with overall marketing and/or sales responsibilities. Nominees must be NAMA members.

To nominate someone for the NAMA Marketer award, download the application in an Adobe .pdf format at http://www.nama.org/awards/mktrapplication.pdf or fill out the online application at http://www.nama.org/awards/namamarketerform.htm.

Agribusiness Leader of the Year

The Agribusiness Leader of the Year award recognizes leadership achievement in agriculture and the food and fiber industry. This award is for agribusiness leaders and leaders in private, public or academic service. Nominees do not have to be NAMA members.

The Agribusiness Leader of the Year award is NAMA’s highest honor. The award honors an outstanding leader in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related area. Solicited from senior level position holders in private, public or academic service, nominees should exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

To nominate someone for the Agribusiness Leader of the Year award, download the application in an Adobe .pdf format at http://www.nama.org/awards/agbusapplication.pdf or fill out the online application at http://www.nama.org/awards/agribusinessform.htm.

The 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference planning is underway and it’s time to sign up to be an Exhibitor in the Connection Point! The conference will be held April 18-20, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center (formerly the Hyatt Regency Crown Center).

The social epicenter of the conference, the Connection Point is the place to meet new faces, reconnect with old friends and forge new relationships. Schedule plenty of time in your conference plan to visit the over 60 exhibiting companies and mingle with industry leaders. You’ll get a first look at the latest products and services entering the industry. Plus, most booths host drawings for door prizes and other giveaways. Expand your network, peruse new technology and services and win cool stuff—see you there.

Put your company front and center in the Heartland. With nearly 1,200 professionals in attendance, there’s no better way to get noticed. Influencers and decision-makers will take note when you purchase booth space on this tradeshow floor. Lunch and refreshment breaks are scheduled to maximize traffic and draw the clients and customers you want to meet!

The Connection Point will be open Wednesday, April 18 from 6:00–7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 19 from 12:30–2:00 p.m., 3:00–4:00 p.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Booth space price (10’ x 10’ space) is $475 (includes one exhibit hall only pass). Trade in your exhibit hall only pass and receive $100 off one full conference registration. Additional exhibit hall only passes are $250 with a maximum of two per booth space.

Multiple space discount:
2 spaces = 10% off of the single booth price for a total of $855
3 spaces = 15% off of the single booth price for a total of $1,210
4 spaces = 20% off of the single booth price for a total of $1,520
5 or more spaces—call for price

Exhibitor Fees Include:
• One 10’ x 10’ exhibit space
• Uniform back wall and side rails (both draped)
• One-line company identification sign

To sign up for a booth in the Connection Point, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/signup.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected] or call 913-491-6500.

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.

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 18, at the Hyatt Regency, Kansas City.

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 and enforced at the regional level. Work that is not above a certain point standard will not be eligible to be advanced. 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.  The NAMA office will notify you by February 1, 2012, regarding entries eligible for advancement.   An entry fee at the regional and national level is required.  If your entry advances to national, however, it will not be necessary to create another entry.

The deadline for submitting your entries is Friday, October 7. Submit your entries into the Best of NAMA Competition today. For more information on the Call for Entries, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of long time NAMA member and friend, Denny Eilers, Iowa Photo Farm, Inc.

A Cornbelt NAMA member since 1990, Denny has been the photographer for many NAMA Agri-Marketing Conferences and will be greatly missed.

The Iowa Photo Farm was operated by Denny and Gwen Eilers. Denny served as chief photographer and Gwen was the business and production manager. They were located on a working farm in scenic northeast Iowa, raising corn, soybeans and a variety of locally grown vegetable crops.

Denny died Sunday, June 26, 2011, at Central Community Hospital, Elkader.

Visitation hours are this Thursday, June 29, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Monona, IA. Friends may call one hour before service at the church on Friday. Private burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Guttenberg, IA.

If you would like to share your thoughts and memories, Leonard Funeral Home will deliver your message to the family. Click here to deliver your message/memories.