Roger Reierson, President and Chairman, AdFarm, has been named the 2011 NAMA Marketer of the Year. The NAMA Marketer award will be presented during the Second General Session of the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Harvesting Ideas” on Thursday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri and is sponsored by Agri Marketing magazine.

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 NAMA’s most prestigious honor awarded to active members of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing.

In the early 1990s, the Parker Group based in Canada and Flint Communications in the United States realized they had synergies in the work for a common brand, each representing Flexi-Coil on opposite sides of the border. They began working together on Flexi-Coil for a common purpose and realized the opportunity for further growth in the North American ag marketplace. AdFarm was formed as a partnership of the two companies’ focus on agricultural communications. From its humble beginnings in the early 1990s and under the leadership of partners including Roger, AdFarm has grown to be one of North America’s largest marketing communications firms, unique in the fact that 100% of the company’s business is focused on agriculture.

Roger possesses the type of leadership and charisma that generates energy  for a cause to “get things done.” These abilities have benefited countless clients, organizations, peers and associates, as well as the companies with which he is directly involved.

Roger has played a key role in the growth of AdFarm throughout North America. From the original locations in Calgary, Alberta, and Fargo, North Dakota, AdFarm has grown to now include offices in Guelph, Ontario, Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, and in 2010, Sacramento, California. Additionally, numerous AdFarm employees are deployed remotely throughout North America.

Roger’s vision and leadership contribute to his innovative ability to “make things grow.” The beneficiaries include the many clients, associates, initiatives and organizations who have had the good fortune to work with him. Ask anyone who has served on a committee with Roger, participated in a leadership session facilitated by him or tackled a grass-roots project with him. Roger’s passion for the work is admirable, his commitment infectious and his energy is envious.

Roger’s history with NAMA runs deep. He was part of a core group of individuals who established the Northern Prairie Chapter back in 1986. He has served as Chapter President during the early years and reprised his role again from 2006 to 2009.

He has also served as a Regional Director and in 2005 was a national conference committee member. He has served as emcee for the Region III Best of NAMA awards show and participated on numerous chapter and national level committees related to NAMA.

Commitment to Student NAMA is something that Roger has held in very high regard throughout his NAMA involvement. He has served as a mentor for the North Dakota State University Student Chapter for years and has freely donated the time of his AdFarm employees to mentor and grow student involvement in NAMA. In 2007, he led the planning for a growth initiative within Northern Prairie NAMA designed to place greater focus on the development of Student NAMA Chapters within the Northern Prairie region. That plan is now in place and continues to be executed by fellow Northern Prairie Chapter leaders, members and students.

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 Region II Best of NAMA Ceremony took place on Thursday, January 13, at Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City, Missouri.

There was a record attendance of nearly 140 attendees for this event! The ceremony honored the best work of the Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Missouri-Kansas, Great Plains, Gateway and Midlands chapters.

Taking home Best of Show awards were:

Best of Show Public Relations
Category: Public Affairs/Issues Management program
Company: RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment®)
Agency: Fleishman-Hillard
Campaign: Debug the Myths

Best of Show Advertising
Category: Television – Single or Series
Company: POET
Agency: 3 Advertising
Campaign: POET Television Ad Series

All first and merit winners are eligible to advance to the national judging. You will receive an email from the national NAMA office on January 28 with instructions on how to advance your entries. Those entries that win at the national judging will be announced at the Best of NAMA Ceremony that kicks off the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Congratulations to all of the Region II winners! For a complete list of winners visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/reg2win.htm.

To view photo’s from the Region II Best of NAMA, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/namaflickr.

Over 100 people participated in Region IV’s Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 20, in Hoffman Estates (a Chicago suburb).  All Region IV chapters were represented – Badger, Chicago, Heartland, and Mid-America.  Attendees from many other chapters were there, too, along with NAMA’s Executive Committee, who had just finished their winter meeting.

To kick off the ceremony, Orion Samuelson was recognized for his 50^th anniversary in broadcasting.  One of Orion’s many activities is serving on the Board of Directors for the Foods Resource Bank.  A contribution was made to the Foods Resource Bank in his and his wife’s (Gloria) names.

Max Armstrong, one of the most widely recognized and highly regarded journalists in agriculture and Director of Broadcasting for Farm Progress Companies, emceed the event.

Merit and First Place winners in each category were recognized, with awards given to First Place winners.  The evening wrapped up with awards being presented to Best of Show winners in both Advertising and Public Relations.  The Best of Show winner for Advertising was for the producer or company-funded advertising campaigns or campaign elements directed to consumers category and went to Badgerland Financial, ACA and Stephan & Brady Communications for their “Rural Dreams Realized Testimonial Campaign.”  The Best of Show winner for Public Relations was in the category of producer-funded public relations program directed to ag audiences.  The winning team included Dairy Management, Inc. and The Integer Group for their “Telling Your Story Program.”

All first and merit winners are eligible to advance to the national judging. You will receive an email from the national NAMA office on January 28 with instructions on how to advance your entries. Those entries that win at the national judging will be announced at the Best of NAMA Ceremony that kicks off the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Congratulations to all of the Region IV winners! To see all the winners of the Region IV Best of NAMA, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/reg4win.htm.

To view photo’s from the Region IV Best of NAMA, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/namaflickr.

Region’s II and IV have already had their ceremonies, but there’s still more to go. Mark your calendars for the events below!

Region III ~ January 27, 2011
The Region III Best of NAMA Ceremony will take place on January 27, 2011, at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Cost for the event is $70.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

Register on-line for the Region III Ceremony at http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=30.

Please note: Region III will also be hosting a Tour of Iowa Agribusinesses prior to the Best of NAMA event. Cost for the tour is $30 and requires separate registration.

To register for the Iowa Tour visit http://www.nama.org/store/index.php and click Region 3 Tour on the left menu and proceed with checking out.

For more information on Tour locations, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region3.htm.

Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA ~ January 27, 2011
The Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA ceremony will take place at the Junior League of Raleigh Center for Community Leadership.

The schedule for the event is as follows: 5:30 p.m. Registration and Cocktail Hour; 6:15 p.m. Dinner; and 7:00 p.m. Award Ceremony.

Cost for the event is $25 for students, $50 for members paying in advance, $60 for non-members/guests, and $65 if you’ll be paying at the door.

To register for this event, please visit http://www.nama.org/store/index.php.

Midsouth Best of NAMA ~ January 27, 2011

Join Midsouth NAMA as they celebrate the winners from the Midsouth Chapter and cheer on those who will be competing at the national level in the coming weeks.  Who will be on top this year?  Enjoy an evening of great food and great company with your Midsouth friends. The event will take place at the The Grove Grill in Memphis, TN. Cost is $25 and includes dinner and water, tea, soft drinks, and wine.

RSVP at http://survey.archermalmo.com/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8lK3nml.

Region I ~ February 8, 2011
Region I will host a Best of NAMA event on February 8 at the 2011 World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA. The event will take place at the John Deere arena at the corner of North Green Belt and “O”/”P” Streets from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. All NAMA members are invited to attend!

Start making your plans now to attend the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

We’ve included the schedule at-a-glance for professionals and students below so you can easily plan your trip.

PROFESSIONAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 12

12:00 Noon – 5:00 p.m. – Executive Committee Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – ABEF Golf Outing
6:00-8:00 p.m. – ABEF Golf Outing Awards Reception

Wednesday, April 13

8:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Chapter Leader Workshop
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. – Board of Directors’ Meeting
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Pre-Conference Workshop – Becoming an 800-Pound Gorilla: How to Dominate Your Market with Bill Guertin
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – First-Timer/Leader Reception
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Best of NAMA Finalists’ Reception
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Best of NAMA Ceremony
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Best of NAMA Celebration Reception in the Connection Point

Thursday, April 14

7:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Omelette Feast
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Opening General Session – Fascinate: How to Persuade & Influence with Sally Hogshead; Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Second General Session – How to Sell to Gen Y So We Love to Buy with Jason Dorsey; NAMA Marketer of the Year Award & NAMA Leadership Awards
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – Connection Point Luncheon
1:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Finals
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Senior Management Workshop – Crossing the Generational Divide with Jason Dorsey
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions – Economic Predictions in an Era of Unpredictability
Black Swans-The Risk of Humanizing Animals in Advertising
Ag’s Place in the Sustainability Conversation
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Connection Point Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions – What Exactly Makes Your Company Fascinating?
Economic Predictions in an Era of Unpredictability (Encore Presentation)
Bringing Social Pillars to Life to Drive Communications
Measuring Social Media: Where’s the ROI?
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Connection Point Closing Reception/ABEF Silent Auction
Midnight – 2:00 a.m. – Last Call Pancake Breakfast

Friday, April 15

8:00 – 8:45 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions – Measuring Social Media: Where’s the ROI? (Encore Presentation)
Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations
Field to Fork: What’s Happening in Your Company
At Home on the Platform
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 Noon – Closing Session/Brunch – Overcommitted, Overwhelmed and Over It! Success Skills for the Blisteringly Busy with Juliet Funt

STUDENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 12

12:00 Noon – 5:00 p.m. – Student Practice
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Student Orientation
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Judges’ Reception/Orientation
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Student Practice

Wednesday, April 13

7:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Student Marketing Competition Preliminary Heats
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Student Luncheon
12:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Semi-Finals
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Student Critiques

Thursday, April 14

7:30-8:45 a.m. – Omelette Feast
12:00 Noon – 1:30 p.m. – Student Mentoring Lunch in the Connection Point
1:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Finals
5:45 – 6:30 p.m. – Student Awards & Viewing of the Top Annual Reports in the Connection Point
6:45 – 7:45 p.m. – Student Advisor/Student Chapter President Meeting
9:00 p.m. – 12:00 Midnight – Student Party
Midnight – 2:00 a.m. – Last Call Pancake Breakfast

To register for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=28

To make your hotel reservations, please visit:
Professionals – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/Professional

Students – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/student1

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.