NAMA recently hosted the 2007 Agribusiness Forum in Kansas City, MO. Leading economists, journalists, food experts and supply managers shared emerging trends and issues currently shaping the industry and influencing the market: globalization, food safety, consumer trust and more. Strategies for capitalizing upon new directions in agribusiness were also examined during the lively, interactive discussions following each session.

The well-rounded mix of perspectives shared by each presenter laid the ground for thought provoking debate. Conference goers appreciated the chance to speak one-on-one with session leaders as well as the insightful analysis of the moderator who began and closed each discussion – a helpful new addition to this year’s forum.

Cutting-edge technology that will allow even more ag professionals to benefit from the knowledge and tools shared in Kansas City was another new feature added to the 2007 gathering. Select sessions were available by podcast courtesy of Truffle Media Networks and several forum events were blogged thanks to Paulsen Marketing Communications. Video interviews and commentary were also collected with plans to post them on YouTube.

Jenny Pickett, Executive Vice President, CEO of NAMA is pleased the association is taking advantage of new technology. “These are the media our members are using in their businesses and more and more, they’re turning to blogs and the web for information,” she said. “NAMA is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our membership.”

For more information on other events hosted by the National Agri-Marketing Association, please visit www.nama.org.

The recipients of the NAMA Professional Development Awards of Excellence were honored at a luncheon on Wednesday, November 14, at the Agribusiness Forum.

The Professional Development Awards of Excellence recognize NAMA members for achievement in the areas of Marketing Communications, Product/Species Management, Public Relations and Sales.

This year, NAMA honored Pete Kovac, Nicholson Kovac, with the marketing communications award; Greg Smith, Padilla Speer Beardsley, with the award of excellence in public relations; Klaas Okkinga, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, was honored with the product/species management award; and Bill Heffron, recently retired from Bock & Associates, with the honors in sales.

Congratulations to the honorees of this year’s NAMA Professional Development Awards of Excellence!

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) hosted a Casino Night on Tuesday, November 13, during the Agribusiness Forum Welcome Reception. Proceeds from the Casino Night benefit the ABEF in support of the NAMA Student Careers Program.

Attendees enjoyed a little gambling with play money and, at the end of the evening, cashed in their chips in hopes of taking home a first, second, or third place prize. The first place prize went to Jeff Jackson, Farm Progress Companies. Second place was won by Mike Gustafson, John Deere. The third place prize went to Tom Taylor, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal.

In addition, for every $1,000 in chips that the attendees turned in, their name was entered into a drawing for a 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference registration. Sheri Seger, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, was the lucky winner of the conference registration.
Special thanks to all who participated in the ABEF Casino Night and to the sponsors of the event:

CMA Consulting
J.L. Farmakis
Colle + McVoy
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communciations
High Plains Journal
KFRM Radio – The Voice of the Plains
Lee-Agri Media
Rhea & Kaiser
FMC Corporation
John Deere
National Pork Board

A special thanks to the Agribusiness Forum committee for putting together an excellent program for 2007!

Chair
Jane Allman, Cargill

Vice Chair
Bruce Hageman, Diamond V

Committee Members
Sue Lee, Farm Journal Media
Rich Tiller, Ag Speakers Network
Max Wenck, Morgan&Myers
Bill Pool, Adculture Inc.

Executive Committee Liaison
Vicki Henrickson

We’d like to take a moment to thank all of our sponsors of the 2007 Agribusiness Forum. We greatly appreciate your commitment to NAMA!

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

Special thanks to our Regional Best of NAMA Judging Sponsors

Farm Industry News/The Corn & Soybean Digest
Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine
John Deere