There’s only 2 weeks left to nominate a peer for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence. These awards will be presented at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

These awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA). Awards of Excellence will be presented in the areas of (1) Marketing Communications, (2) Product/Species Management, (3) Public Relations and (4) Sales. Nominees for the Awards of Excellence must be NAMA members. Nominators should target individuals with direct planning and execution responsibilities in the respective Professional Development Area from agribusiness and related companies.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected].To download the nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format, visit http://www.nama.org/awards/PDAapplication.pdf.

You can also fill out the form on-line at http://www.nama.org/awards/pdaonlineform.htm.

It’s not too late to register for the NAMA Boot Camp that will take place next week, August 21-23.

As an attendee of the Boot Camp you’ll participate in panel discussions which include producers in the ag industry as well as what to expect from clients and agencies. In addition, you’ll participate in sessions on how to network effectively, successful agritourism, how to develop a communications plan, maximizing your trade show ROI, shifting demographics in agriculture, new media, Ethanol today and tomorrow and a farm bill update. In addition, you’ll have plenty of networking opportunities.

As an added bonus, all attendees will receive a notebook packed with ag terminology and facts as well as case studies and speaker presentations. Attendees will also receive a “goodie bag” filled with information and premiums provided by our Boot Camp sponsors.

Whether you’ve just entered the rough working world or one who’s been through the NAMA Boot Camp drill before, sign up for this program today to learn more about the agri-marketing industry.

Visit http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm for the NAMA Boot Camp schedule and more about the sessions.

Register now for the Boot Camp at http://payment.nama.org/bootcamp07.htm.

The MoKan NAMA chapter would like to invite you to the Boot Camp Road Trip. It’s one day only, August 21. Consider it your opportunity to get immersed in local agriculture without having to break a sweat.

The bus will depart the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21. Cost for the trip is $50.00 (member and non-member).

Scheduled stops include:

• Schweizer Orchards in St. Joseph, MO. Schweizer Orchards is a family owned business producing high quality River Bend Apples for more than four generations. At their St. Joseph retail location you can find freshly picked seasonal fruit, produce and a large selection of jams and jellies.
• The tour’s next stop will be the Shatto Milk Company in Osborn, MO for a boxed lunch and tour. Shatto is a family owned dairy and processing facility. Shatto Milk Company products can be described by one simple statement that they have adopted as their motto, MILK AT ITS FINEST.
• The last stop will be Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery in Platte City, MO. Jowler Creek Winery is the newest boutique vineyard and wine producer in the Kansas City region. Owners and MoKan NAMA Members, Colleen and Jason Gerke, grow grapes and produce hand-crafted wines that blend genuine quality with creativity and fun.

Breakfast, lunch and plenty of cold drinks will be provided on the tour. Expect to return to the hotel by 4 p.m. Please register for the tour at http://payment.nama.org/bootcamp07.htm.

The 2007 Agribusiness Forum will seek to demonstrate some of the elements that affect the way we do business. For example, things that happen on the other side of the world impact how we do business every day, including politics, economics and communications. These things pull our chain. Consumers expect a safe food supply and those expectations pull our chain, or impact the way we do business. Technology also has an impact on perceptions and opportunities for us as marketers. In addition, consumer trust, who they trust and why, right or wrong also pulls at our chain or the way we market and do business.

Many different elements can set off a chain reaction. This fall’s Agribusiness Forum will give you a glimpse into the role some of these entities play in our day-to-day business world as we explore who’s pulling our chain. Join us November 13-14 in Kansas City as we hear from noted economists, reporters, consumer food experts and more as they set the stage for how your business can face these challenges.

International economist Don Reynolds will kick off the 2007 Forum. Reynolds presents a fast-paced overview of major trends in the global economy and how it will impact agriculture. He is a firm believer that globalization will mean a golden age for American agriculture. He will discuss economic trends, currencies, energy, interest rates and the recent volatility in the financial markets and what you do to prepare for this change.

Other confirmed speakers at the Forum include: Mary Rosenthal, NatureWorks; Claudia Mobly, Sam Walton College of Business Center for Retailing; Matt McInney, Minneapolis Star Tribune; Additional speakers will be announced. Check the web for details at www.nama.org/forum.

Awards Luncheon
Join in congratulating the honorees of this year’s NAMA Professional Development Awards of Excellence. Each year, NAMA honors members with hands-on responsibility in marketing communications, public relations, product management and sales. Awards will be given in each of these four areas and the recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing.

The Agribusiness Forum will take place at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. This hotel is near where the NAFB Convention will be held.

New This Year!
This year’s forum will be moderated by Jeff Pence, president of Farm Journal Digital Media, which includes the company’s internet, television and newsletter businesses.

Prior to Farm Journal Media, Pence was the President and Director of Qualitron Media, a closely held company that produced and distributed the national television programs, AgDay and WeekEnd MarketPlace. This business was acquired by Farm Journal in 1998, and Pence continues senior management responsibilities with the company today.

In his role as forum moderator, Pence will summarize each session and help attendees relate the information to their businesses.

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at this year’s Forum, fill out the on-line form at http://www.nama.org/forum/sponsorship/form.htm or contact Jenny Pickett in the NAMA office at (913) 491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

The National Agri-Marketing Association, in association with NAMA members everywhere presents How The Best Was Won starring: Discerning Clients, Astute Account Executives, Clever Copywriters, Gifted Art Directors, Savvy PR Professionals, Shrewd Media Buyers, Demanding Production Managers, and a Cast of Thousands.

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 16, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in 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. The regional judging will take place November 12-13 in Kansas City. A minimum point standard will be used at the regional level. 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, 2008, 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 entry deadline is October 12, 2007. No extensions will be granted on entry or payment submission.

To view the Best of NAMA entry categories, directions on how to prepare your entries or to download Best of NAMA entry forms, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Book your calendars now because CAMA Saskatchewan will be hosting BEST of CAMA 2007! Best of CAMA 2007 will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 14. This event is going to be a gas, a CAMA Gas.

Watch for details and a call for entries this month, or contact Tracey Irwin at [email protected] to be put on the list for regular Best of CAMA updates. Best of CAMA is the premier event that celebrates and awards agri-marketing in Canada.

For up-to-date information on the Best of CAMA, visit http://www.bestofcama.com.

The Region II Leader Workshop took place August 8 in Kansas City. Special thanks to Michele McCawley, PBI/Gordon Corporation, MoKan Careers Co-Chair; Amy Bugg, Two West, MoKan Communications co-chair; Colleen Gerke, John Deere, MoKan President; Kyle Bauer, KFRM Radio, Great Plains Treasurer and Executive Committee Member; Dave Furbeck, VML, MoKan Professional Development Co-Chair; Ken Dean, High Plains Journal, MoKan Membership Chair; Melissa Sanders, AdFarm, Region II Director; Dallas Ford, Alpha Scouts, MoKan Careers Co-chair; Melanie Acklin, Osborn & Barr Communications, MoKan Vice President; Stephanie Gable, Ft. Dodge Animal Health, National NAMA President; Jamie Linn, Husker Sports Network, Midland President; Kenna Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications, NAMA Staff representative; Kathi Conrad and Jenny Pickett, National NAMA Staff for attending the workshop.

These incoming leaders discussed ideas regarding student NAMA chapters, chapter planning, leadership, programming, membership, and the Region II Best of NAMA Banquet to be held in January, 2008. The banquet will take place in Kansas City, Missouri and those chairing the Regional Best of NAMA committee will decide on an exact date and location in the near future. Each chapter is responsible for providing a representative to serve on this committee.

Notes from all of the Leader Workshops are available in an Adobe .pdf format at www.nama.org/leader/2007RegionalWorkshopNotes.pdf.

Chapter Leaders
Just a reminder to submit your chapter meetings to Kathi Conrad in the NAMA Office at [email protected] to ensure they are placed on the calendar.