The Student NAMA Chapters are back in school and working hard on their plans for the Student Marketing Competition (sponsored by Monsanto) at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 16-18 in Kansas City.

The Student NAMA Chapters can always use help from their local professional chapter. Encourage your chapter to support Student NAMA by inviting them to chapter meetings, helping them with fundraising events to support their trip to the Agri-Marketing Conference in 2008 or by helping them with their marketing presentations for the competition. Contact your chapter for any ideas on helping Student NAMA – it’s a great way to network with your future employees and colleagues.

What have some of the Student NAMA chapters near you been up to? Take a look below:

University of Nebraska – Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln NAMA Chapter is off to a grand start this year. Members worked diligently at recruitment by having a NAMA booth at the annual Welcome Back Club Fair on East Campus. Fundraising efforts have already begun for the group through participating in a partnership with the local bookstore, which gives back a percentage of sales from NAMA members’ textbook purchases. The first meeting of the year was well attended where members showcased the benefits of the club, discussed goals for the year, and enjoyed socializing over pizza.

Illinois State University
To conclude a very successful year for their student chapter, ISU NAMA held an end of the year cookout for all Agriculture students and members of Heartland NAMA, their sponsoring professional chapter. The cookout featured a video slide show showing the accomplishments of the chapter throughout the year and a presentation showcasing the trip to the National Agri-Marketing Competition in Dallas, Texas last April.

Michigan State University
After leaving the Dallas conference, MSU NAMA went to the DaShazers Cattle Company in Texas. This was an incredible opportunity where they were able to see the operations of a very prestigious Hereford seed stock ranch.

Last spring Deanna Nelson received the Outstanding Senior Award in Agribusiness Management given within the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics. Members had a wide array of internships this past summer, interning at ADM, Syngenta Seeds, Best Buy, AgriGold, Liberty Renewable Fuels, and Wilbur Ellis. After an enjoyable summer break, the MSU NAMA chapter is gearing up for a very promising year!

Sam Houston State Unversity
Sam Houston State University is starting the new school year off with a bang. They are conducting their first meetings of the year and recruiting new members to the team. One of the main goals for the year is to become further involved with the Texas professional NAMA Chapter. They also plan to hold may activities such as hosting the first annual career fair for the department.

University of Wisconsin – Madison
For the second consecutive year University of Wisconsin-Madison NAMA students will raise funds for travel to the national marketing team competition and other student activities by helping harvest grapes at Botham’s Vineyard and Winery near Barneveld, Wis. The vineyard is owned by Peter and Sarah Botham. Sarah is also the UW-Madison NAMA and Marketing Team advisor as well as a faculty associate in the Life Sciences Communication department at UW. The harvest is usually completed in one weekend with the help of approximately 50 volunteers per day from NAMA and the local community. Everyone works eight hour days pending cooperation of the weather.

Purdue University
The Purdue University student NAMA chapter has began the new year with outstanding new membership numbers. The club is working on its annual Resume Book to pass out to companies at the College of Agriculture’s Career Fair. The club is also beginning to organize the NAMA Mentor program for members to have a NAMA professional mentor and introduce them to the business world.

University of Wisconsin – Platteville
UW-Platteville NAMA started the year early this summer by hosting a brat sale at Cabela’s “Kids Fishing Day” event in Prairie Du Chien, WI. Kids were able to “fish” in a small pond set up in front of the store. The UW-Platteville NAMA Chapter provided brats, burgers, hotdogs, and even ice cream cones to the families. Thanks to local sponsors and Cabela’s the brat sale was a big success.

Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University student chapter of NAMA had an exciting spring semester. It had one of the largest chapters it has had in years. It had a class of over twenty students. The product that the students chose to compete in Dallas with was Catfish Crisps. NAMA was actually able to make a trip out to the processing plant to see the actual process of how catfish were processed and filleted. The NAMA team also had several fundraisers over the course of the semesters such as raffles of season tickets to different Mississippi State University sporting events and various other items.

NAMA welcomes Jennifer Pickett as the new Executive Vice President/CEO of the organization. Pickett is an accomplished not-for-profit professional with more than 16 years of executive leadership experience and a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry.

The NAMA Search Committee conducted an extensive search for the new NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO that resulted in a highly qualified pool of 70 applicants. It was Pickett’s combination of skills, experience and forward-thinking ideas that made her the most convincing choice for the position. The NAMA Staff and Leadership are excited to work with Pickett in her new role and believe she can help the organization adapt as we continue to focus on the changing needs of our members.

“I plan to capitalize on the foundation that has been built for over 50 years,” says Pickett. “I will work closely with the NAMA Leadership to move the association into the future,” adds Pickett.

Pickett was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for NAMA. Her previous responsibilities with NAMA included budget oversight, staff management and primary responsibility for Ag Day, NAMA Boot Camp, Best of NAMA, Membership and Careers Committees.

Pickett’s new responsibilities will include fiscal management, overseeing office staff, which is currently responsible for operations and logistics to support membership recruitment and retention, as well as local and national programming including the Agri-Marketing Conference, Best of NAMA awards program, Agribusiness Forum and NAMA Boot Camp. She will also interact with numerous volunteer committees related to these functions. Additionally, she will have the responsibility for expanding sponsorship revenues and developing relationships with agribusiness partners.

On behalf of the NAMA Staff, we want to thank the search committee and executive committee for their hard work through this selection process. We are very pleased and excited about what Jenny Pickett can deliver to the NAMA membership.

NAMA Search Committee Members:
Stephanie Gable, Ft. Dodge Animal Health (National NAMA President)
Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Company (NAMA Executive Committee)
Monte Reese (NAMA Executive Committee Secretary/Treasurer)
Tom Smull, Associations Inc. (NAMA Past President)
Greg Ehm, Two Rivers Marketing Group (Iowa NAMA Member, National Chapter Services Chair)

NAMA Executive Committee:
Stephanie Gable, Ft. Dodge Animal Health (National NAMA President)
Patty Travis, 5MetaCom (National NAMA President Elect)
Monte Reese (NAMA Executive Committee Secretary/Treasurer)
Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Company
Ken Anderson, David & Associates
Carol Anderson, Anderson/Fallon
Vicki Henrickson
Kyle Bauer, KFRM Radio
Barry Nelson, John Deere

Get the recognition you deserve by sponsoring a session or event at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14 in Kansas City.

As a sponsor of the Agribusiness Forum, your organization will be noted as a front runner in supporting up-to-the-moment industry information. Additional benefits include:

• Recognition in the program booklet, and from the podium during the session;
• Recognition by signage at the sponsored event (if applicable);
• Recognition in post-forum articles in the AgriMarketing magazine;
• Recognition on the NAMA Agribusiness Forum Web site page;
• and, first right of refusal for sponsorship of the same item for the 2008 Agribusiness Forum.

Take a look at the sponsorship opportunities still available:

Forum Sessions (4 available) –$1,500
Program Booklet Ads

• Full Page -$1,000
• Half Page –$500
• Quarter Page –$250

Sign Printing — $750

Special thanks to our current Forum Sponsors!

AgriMarketing Magazine
Ag Speakers Network
Associations, Inc.
Beck Ag, Inc.
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Cattlemen’s Beef Board
CHS, Inc.
Colle + McVoy
Country Living Association
DF Bryant & Co.
Diamond V
DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Farm Progress Companies
Fastline Publications
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine
John Deere
John Deere Credit
Martin/Williams
McCormick Company
National Cotton Council
Nicholson Kovac
Osborn & Barr Communications
Padilla Speer Beardsley
Paulsen Marketing Communications
Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications
Successful Farming/Agriculture Online
Truffle Media Networks
Vance Publishing Corporation

If you are interested in an Agribusiness Forum Sponsorship, please fill out the on-line sponsorship form at http://www.nama.org/forum/sponsorship/form.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at the NAMA office at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Make plans to join your colleagues for the Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14, in Kansas City, MO. Learn from leading economists, journalists, consumer food experts and more as they share strategies for how you and your business can prosper in today’s global market. The Forum will explore the challenges and emerging opportunities that today’s business climate presents to us. You’ll leave with the tools you need to succeed – no matter who’s pulling your chain!

Take a look at the speakers we have lined-up for you at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum:

Tuesday, November 13

Keynote Speaker
Who’s Pulling Our Chain?
Don Reynolds
Does globalization mean a “Golden Age” for American agriculture? In this session, international economist Don Reynolds, delivers a fast paced overview of major trends in the global economy and how they will impact agriculture. From new economic developments to currencies, energy, interest rates and more, Reynolds will address recent market volatility in the financial markets and how you can prepare for – and profit from – today’s changing marketplace.

The Changing Marketplace
Dr. Claudia Mobley, Sam M. Walton College of Business, Center for Retailing Excellence
As the American population ages and changes, so do their habits as customers. How do we adapt to these changes and anticipate – and capitalize on – the trends that are shaping their buying habits? Dr. Claudia Mobley will discuss developing markets, the rise of health and wellness concerns and more. Learn how changing lifestyles and cultural shifts impact your bottom line…and how you can come out ahead!

Wednesday, November 14

Food Safety & Customer Confidence – What’s Making News
Matt McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune
American consumers have been jolted by food safety scares in the past year ranging from dirty spinach to sickening peanut butter. Yet it was the case of contaminated pet food from China that seemed to galvanize public opinion that something in the system has gone awry. That’s just the way it is: consumers and newspaper readers can be fickle, walking away from serious stories about their own health in favor of less weighty pieces about dogs and cats. So how does a newspaper choose which food safety stories to cover? Take a look at how a major metro newspaper covers the food industry.

Second Keynote Speaker
The Decision Zone: Six Issues the Food Industry Must Confront in 2008, 2009…
Kevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat.com
What are the compelling issues confronting the food industry in 2008 and beyond? What kinds of companies can be successful in a tough competitive environment that continually challenges them with issues like globalization and food safety? How will you differentiate your products, services and values in an era of cutthroat competition, when customer needs and priorities seem to shift almost daily?

Kevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat’s “Content Guy,” addresses these issues each day on his web site…and they are the focus of this presentation. His premise: the stakes are too high, the time is too short, and the customer is too demanding for retailers and manufacturers to put off critical decisions that will define their future and their hopes for survival. You’ll walk away with tactics to help your company evolve and stay ahead of the game.

Creating a Supply Chain for A “New to the World” Food Packaging Material
Mary Rosenthal, NatureWorks LLC
NatureWorks LLC is the first commercially viable producer of a truly sustainable resource based plastic – NatureWorks® polymer. Made from 100% plant resources, not oil, NatureWorks polymer is being adopted quickly around the globe for use in food packaging, food serviceware, films and fibers under both the NatureWorks and Ingeo™ brand names. But commercialization has not been without its challenges. Mary Rosenthal will present what has been required regarding supply chain education – including “Smart Care,” stakeholder engagement and issues management in order to bring this new material to market both here in North America and globally.

Mary Rosenthal is Global Communications Leader for NatureWorks LLC, a renewable resource based polymer company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill, Inc. In her role, Rosenthal leads marketing and corporate communications for the packaging, fibers and emerging application business segments.

Who Is Pulling Our Chain?
Vidya Jwala – Vice President, Supply Chain, Tractor Supply Company
Vidya Jwala is Vice President, Supply Chain for Tractor Supply Company. He will address some of the factors that been “pulling the chain” of Tractor Supply. He will share this information and the strategies that they’ve employed to lead their company through these events.

In addition to the sessions at the Forum, you won’t want to miss out on the networking opportunities through breakfasts, breaks and the Professional Development Awards of Excellence luncheon. Congratulate 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/species management and sales. Awards will be given in each of these areas and the recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing.

To register now for the 2007 Agribusiness Forum visit http://payment.nama.org/forum.htm.

For more information on the Forum visit http://www.nama.org/forum/index.html.

John Deere has created a new award for Student NAMA Chapters. The John Deere Signature Award was designed to create a new level of recognition within the NAMA Student Careers Program that will give heightened exposure to outstanding student chapters who excel in encouraging student opportunities for business knowledge, academic excellence, leadership development and community citizenship.

“The John Deere/ABEF Signature Award for Outstanding Student Chapters will help further recognize those student members who are making a difference in their communities, their schools, and agri-marketing,” says Mike Gustafson, Manager, Creative Group, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center. “John Deere is proud to be a part of the Student NAMA member learning experience. An experience we at Deere feel is essential for the next leaders of our industry,” says Gustafson.

How it Works
Student chapters will receive points for exciting elements in Student NAMA (Outstanding Student Chapter, Outstanding Advisor, Scholarships, Marketing Competition) and also for other elements noted in the Student Chapter Guidelines.

What you can win
First place winners will have their school name engraved on the John Deere Signature Award traveling trophy. In addition, cash awards will be presented as follows:

$3,000 to first place
$2,000 to second place
$1,000 to third place
$500 each to 4th place and 5th place

If you are a student advisor, please pass along this information to your students!

For more information on the John Deere Signature Award visit, http://www.nama.org/student/oscguidelines.htm#deere.

Would you like to see the industry’s best work? If so, take part in the Regional Best of NAMA Judging, November 12-13, 2007. If you have 3 or more years of experience in the agribusiness industry and are a NAMA member, you’re eligible to be a judge.

The judging will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This will be convenient for those of you attending the 2007 Agribusiness Forum at the Hyatt and/or the NAFB Convention at the Westin.

Judging Schedule
Monday, November 12 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 13 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Travel arrangements are to be paid for by the judge, but NAMA will cover one night’s hotel stay. The deadline for signing up to judge is Friday, September 28. If you are selected as a Best of NAMA judge, you will be notified by October 5.

To sign up to be a regional Best of NAMA judge visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/judging.htm.

Tis the season for chapter meetings. Take some time out of your busy schedule to attend a chapter meeting and spend some quality time networking with your peers! Take a look at some of the upcoming chapter meetings:

Cornbelt NAMA – September 20
The Cornbelt NAMA chapter invites everyone to a meeting and tour at the recently opened Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, IA, on Thursday, September 20, 2007.

Shannon Textor, director of market development for Iowa Corn will discuss the Iowa Corn Indy 500. Bruce Neeley is the executive director of the Heartland Acres Agribition Center. Neeley will share the inspiration behind the new center, how funds were generated, what’s planned for the future and the initial results that they’ve seen thus far. A tour of the facility is included.

Cost for this Cornbelt event is $15 for members and students and $20 for non-members. This price includes the tour and lunch. If you’d like to attend, please contact Luann Pisarik at [email protected] or 319-895-6723 by Sept. 10.

Mark your calendars for the next Cornbelt NAMA meeting and tour on Thursday, November 1st. It will feature speakers from Diamond V and Kirkwood Community College.

Midlands NAMA – September 20
You are invited to attend the first fall meeting of the Midlands NAMA Chapter on Thursday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, East Campus Union.

Hear from a panel of Ag industry professionals and current students on the value of summer internships and how the experience has helped both groups. The UNL student NAMA chapter will be on hand, so companies could meet potential future hires.

Cost: $21 (includes a $6 University parking pass). Please RSVP by Friday, September 14 if you wish to obtain a parking pass. RSVP to Vernon Benes at [email protected].

Mark your calendars for upcoming Midlands NAMA Events:
October 23 – Low-lin Oil & Healthy Food
November 20 – Generational Employment Gap

North Central NAMA – September 27
Join North Central Nama for their first chapter meeting of the new season, “What’s New with New Media?” panel discussion on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The subject is one in which NAMA members at the North Central and the National levels have expressed high interest. Our panelists include Cindy Bauer, Marketing Manager for Red Wing Software Co.; Jim Brophy and Bob Giblin, Morgan&Myers Digital Services and Knowledge Center Managers; and Jeff Miller, WATT Publishing Online Sales Manager.

Each panelist will give an 8-10 minute oral presentation, followed by audience Q&A. Panelists will share highlights of learnings and observations their company (and business category) is doing in this ever advancing digital world.

The meeting will take place at the Sheraton Hotel (I-494 and Hwy 100/Normandale Blvd–NW corner of the intersection. This is the former Radisson South), 7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN.

Please RSVP to Amy Berge at Adculture, [email protected] by SEPTEMBER 25, 2007.

Chesapeake, Eastern & Carolinas/Virginia NAMA – October 1
The Chesapeake, Eastern and Carolinas/Virginia NAMA chapters would like to extend an invitation to everyone for a legislative meeting at the Phoenix Park Hotel (near Capitol Hill and one block from Union Station), 520 N. Capitol St., NW (corner of North Capitol and F streets) in the Georgian Room, Washington, DC 20001, on Monday, October 1.

You’ll enjoy some networking time with members from Eastern, Chesapeake and Carolinas/Virginia chapters followed by a luncheon and a session on farmer perspectives and the impact of current ag legislation with Dan Looker, Business Editor & Washington Policy, Successful Farming magazine. Next, you’ll learn about the direction of USDA ag policy with Dale Moore, USDA Chief of Staff. Then hear about Congressional Farm Bill issues and decisions with U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge, House Committee on Agriculture. Lastly, you’ll hear Senate Farm Bill debate highlights with Christy Seyfert, U.S. Senate Senior and Lead Minority Staff Member on commodity programs.

A fee of $70 per attendee for the event and luncheon will be collected via cash or check at the registration table the day of the event.

Please RSVP with your name, company/organization, address, phone and email to: [email protected] by September 24. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

If your chapter has an upcoming event planned that is not listed on the NAMA Calendar, please send the program information to Kathi Conrad at the NAMA Office at [email protected].

For a complete calendar listing of events visit, https://www.namablog.org/?page_id=16.