I was very happy to see iPods in the ABEF silent auction in addition to all the ones given away in drawings here at the NAMA Connection Point.

I think the ABEF silent auction was one of the most well stocked I’ve seen in recent years.

Thanks to everyone who donated and bid.

I found out about this late last night but the big news is that Kansas State University is the winning team in the student marketing competition.

Congratulations to them and all the teams that came and competed.

The students got together for a lunch today.

Looks like they were all there too.

I’ll try to get a photo of the winner team this afternoon.

At the end of each Connections Point session a winner is drawn for an iPod Shuffle.

The first winner is Steve Taylor, Executive Director, Missouri Beef Industry Council.

Congratulations Steve. Now you can subscribe to your own podcast (found on MOBeef Update).

Laura Ries spoke today on “The fall of advertising and the rise of PR.”

She believes a brand needs to develop credibility through good public relations. Consumers of today are skeptical of what they see and hear in advertising.

I had to ask her how a blog might fit into that strategy. You can hear her answer in our interview

Laura Ries Interview (5 min MP3)

The opening general session speaker today was James Canton, Institute For Global Futures. He spoke on the “extreme future.”

You’ll have to listent to him explain that. One thing he believes is that communicators will need to use the internet and especially wireless devices like mobile phones and that includes farmers.

James Canton Interview (4 min MP3)

I’ve been meaning to post the finalists in the student marketing competition. They are (in no particular order):

University of Florida
Virginia Tech
Iowa State
Michigan State
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Kansas State University

Good luck finalists!