Get your company noticed by becoming a sponsor at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, in Kansas City. 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. The high profile Best of NAMA Celebration Reception in the Connection Point is just one of the many opportunities available.

NAMA Sustaining Partner

The NAMA Sustaining Partner would provide maximum exposure for a company seeking to align themselves more closely throughout the year with NAMA.  The program delivers extensive overall promotional benefits and exposure at all three key NAMA events (Conference, Boot Camp and Trends in Agriculture).  The partnership provides the ability to carry marketing objectives to new levels while assuring that NAMA has a more stable means of sponsorship income throughout the year.  The baseline commitment is $10,000 over the course of one full year.

The NAMA Sustaining Partner will receive all the sponsorship benefits of a Platinum Level Sponsor, plus the following:

• Use of Strategic Partner logo in advertising and promotion
• Web banner ad on NAMA web site that rotates with other Strategic Partners on an equal basis
• One comp registration at each of the three key NAMA meetings
• One comp NAMA membership
• Ad on digital signage at annual Conference
• Logo recognition as a partner on promotional materials for all three key NAMA events
• Verbal recognition at all three key events

Who’s already a Sustaining Partner? Take a look!

Adayana
Agri Marketing magazine
Broadhead
Commodity Update
Farm Progress Companies
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
John Deere
Paulsen Marketing
Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications
Successful Farming
Syngenta
ZimmComm New Media, LLC

Please review the benefits and opportunities of sponsorship at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference and confirm your interest by filling out the online sponsorship form at http://nama.org/amc/sponsor/form.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at (913) 491-6500 or email to [email protected].

The ABEF Century Club raised $3,500 at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference. Investing in the 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 and sponsored by Adayana Agri Business Group, Inc.  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. The list below contains professionals who have recently joined the Century Club. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/abef/centuryclub/signup.htm.

Angela Skochdopole, AdFarm
Lynn Henderson, Agri Marketing Magazine
Tom Smull, Associations, Inc.
Vernon Benes, Beck Ag, Inc.
Vicki Henrickson, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Leigh Ann Cleaver, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Lyle Orwig, Charleston/Orwig, Inc.
Mike Gustafson, Deer’s Landing Communications
Jeff Lapin, Farm Progress Companies
Don Tourte, Farm Progress Companies
Bill Howard, Fastline Publications
Tom Taylor, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Jane Hillstrom, Hillstrom Communications, Inc.
Kyle Bauer, KFRM Radio
Daniel Lamoureux, La Terre de chez nous
Stan Koenigsfeld, Learfield Communications, Inc.
Tom Davis, Meredith Corporation
Marvin Kokes, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council of America
Allen Barkve, Penton Media, Inc.
Dave Knau, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Eldon White, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Jim Emanuel, Water Street Solutions
Larry Hertz, Western Producer Media

Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with our Student NAMA Chapters. Visit the latest edition of NAMA On Campus at http://www.nama.org/student/winter11.pdf, for what’s happening with the chapters.

Through the NAMA Student Careers Program, ABEF provides students with the opportunities to apply text book lessons to real world situations. Through programs like the marketing competition, NAMA challenges these career-track minded young people and gives them a taste of the real life decision-making process. Student NAMA chapters provide many chances for students to serve in leadership roles, build valuable communication skills and gain confidence in their ability to make decisions.

Mark your calendars for a regional or chapter Best of NAMA event near you. The following regions and chapters will be hosting events. If you’re planning an event and it’s not listed below, please contact Debbie Brummel at [email protected] in the NAMA office about your event.

Region II ~ January 13, 2011
The Region II Best of NAMA Ceremony will take place on January 13, 2011, at Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, MO.

Cost for the event is $65. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:00 p.m.

To register for the Region II Best of NAMA event visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=29.

For more information visit www.nama.org/amc/bon/region2.htm.

Region IV ~ January 20, 2011
The Region IV Best of NAMA Ceremony will take place on January 20, 2011, at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Hotel reservations can be made at the Marriott at the special NAMA rate of $132. Please visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chinw?groupCode=NATNATA&app=resvlink&fromDate=1/20/11&toDate=1/21/11 or call the Marriott at 800-395-5921 to make your reservations today! The hotel cut-off date is January 5.

Cost for the event is $80. You can register online at http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=32.

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.

Hotel Information: A block of rooms has been made at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The room rate is $126/night and the cutoff date to make reservations is January 12, 2011. Call 515-244-1700 or 1-800-EMBASSY to make your reservations today!

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

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.

Region I ~ February 8, 2011
Region I will host a Best of NAMA event on February 8 at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA. More information is on the way!

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is January 14, 2011. These awards are presented at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, 2011, 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.

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.

Breakout session information for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, 2011, is now available. Please visit http://www.nama.org/amc for dates and times.

Workshops Include:

Pre-Conference Workshop – Becoming an 800-Pound Gorilla: How to Dominate Your Market ~ Bill Guertin

Senior Management Workshop – Crossing the Generational Divide: Making the Four Generations in Your Workforce a Competitive Advantage in Any Economy ~ Jason Dorsey

Breakout Sessions include:

Economic Predictions in an Era of Unpredictability (Note: There will be an encore presentation of this session.)

Black Swans – The Risk of Humanizing Animals in Advertising

Ag’s Place in the Sustainability Conversation

What Exactly Makes Your Company Fascinating?

Bringing Social Pillars to Life to Drive Communications

Measuring Social Media: Where’s the ROI? (Note: There will be an encore presentation of this session.)

Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations

Field to Fork: What’s Happening in Your Company

At Home on the Platform (Presentation Skills)

Make your hotel reservations today and register before March 18 to receive the special rate. Hotel reservations made after March 18 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Register for the conference by March 18 to receive the early rate. After March 18, registration rates will increase.

To make your hotel reservations online visit:

Professionals’ Room Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/Professional

Students’/Advisors’ Room Block – https://resweb.passkey.com/go/student1

To register for the conference visit – http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=28

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.

Sponsorship Opportunities

A number of special events and activities offer additional opportunities to draw attention to and enhance your company’s image among this highly select group of key prospects.

Please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected] to find out what opportunities are available.