Mark your calendars to attend the 5th Annual NAMA Boot Camp, August 12-14, in Kansas City!

This year’s Boot Camp will kick-off on Tuesday, August 12, at 8:00 a.m. with an optional day-long farm tour hosted by MoKan NAMA. The tour will spend part of the day focusing on Animal Health and the other part of the day focusing on Crop Production.

Following the tour, registration for the Boot Camp will open along with a chance to network at the welcome reception. After the reception, enjoy dinner followed by a session on Speed Networking moderated by Matt Coniglio, Fastline Publications.

Wednesday, August 13, begins with breakfast and a general session with a Producer Panel. After the general session, line up for one of two breakout sessions. These breakouts will focus on Serving Niche Markets and New Media with Marie Jacobson, Martin Williams. Join us for Food & Fuel at a luncheon session after the breakouts. The afternoon will begin with breakouts on A Year in the Life and Little Red Writing Hood and The Big Scary Communications Plan with Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co. and Carol Anderson, Anderson/Fallon, followed by the final session of the day on International Marketing. Following the last session, join us for more networking at the evening reception.

Thursday, August 14, will kick-off with breakfast followed by a general session on Creative in Agriculture with Dave Mayer, Osborn & Barr Communications, followed by the Boot Camp Closing Session with a Client/Agency Panel discussion moderated by Cliff Becker, Food 360.

To register for the 2008 NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://payment.nama.org/bootcamp08.htm.

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at the NAMA Boot Camp, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at [email protected].

For the latest information on the NAMA Boot Camp visit, http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm.

New chapter events have been added to the calendar! Take a look at the list below and mark your calendars. Remember, if you happen to be traveling and want to take in a chapter event hosted by a chapter other than your own, they’d love to see you – don’t be shy, stop by and say “Hi”!

June 3
Eastern NAMA Annual Meeting/Networking Event
The 2008 Eastern Chapter’s Annual Meeting will be on Tuesday evening, June 3rd. It’s a great opportunity to meet and network with your fellow NAMA chapter members over drinks and appetizers. New members are especially encouraged to attend.

Later in the evening, there will be an optional trip to present the 2nd annual NAMA Scholarship Award. The NAMA award recognizes young, high-achieving and aspiring ag professionals in the Northeast. This year NAMA is presenting a $1,000 award to a student from the FFA program at John Bowne High School! Cost for the event is $35 (includes drinks and appetizers). For more information, visit http://www.nama.org/chapters/eas6-3-08.htm.

Early RSVP rate is $25 if you register by Friday, May 23. Please RSVP to [email protected].

June 5
MoKan NAMA Golf Classic
The MoKan NAMA Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday, June 5. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at Falcon Lakes Golf Course in Basehor, KS. Registration for the golf outing is $85 per person or if you don’t want to golf, join MoKan NAMA for dinner and an awards ceremony after the golf outing for just $10! For more information, visit http://www.nama.org/chapters/mokgolf.htm.

To register online for the MoKan Golf Outing, visit http://payment.nama.org/mokan.html.

June 12
Links Before Lunch with Iowa NAMA
The Iowa NAMA Golf Outing will take place June 12 at Copper Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill, IA. Registration for the golf outing begins at 7:00 a.m. Cost for the event is $70 per person. For more information, visit http://www.nama.org/chapters/ioagolf.htm.

To register online for the Iowa NAMA Golf Outing, visit http://payment.nama.org/iowa.htm.

June 19
Swing Into Summer with the North Central NAMA
The North Central Golf Outing will take place Thursday, June 19 at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville, MN. Registration is $100 per player or you can join North Central after the outing for dinner only for just $30. For more information, visit http://www.nama.org/chapters/nocgolf.htm.

For more information or to register a team, contact: Troy Schroeder, Broadhead + Co., at [email protected] or at 612.617.7930.

June 25
Northern Prairie Golferoo
Join Northern Prairie NAMA for an afternoon of networking, fun, laughs, duffs and perhaps the occasional golf shot at the annual Golferoo on Wednesday, June 25 at Hawley Golf Club in Hawley, MN. Golf skills are neither required nor recommended! All proceeds benefit Bison NAMA Student Chapter.

Cost for the golferoo is $55 for members playing 18 holes and $35 for members playing only 9 holes. Student NAMA members can play 18 holes for $35 and 9 holes for $18. Hole sponsorships are available for $100.

To register, contact Dave McSparron, Red River Farm Network, at 218-230-3010 or email [email protected] or register online at http://payment.nama.org/npr.html.

For more information, download the brochure at http://www.nama.org/chapters/08nopgolferoo.pdf.

June 26
Ohio NAMA Organic Farm Tour
You’re invited to tour Ohio’s premiere organic bulk material farm! Specializing in premium bulk product sales providing quality landscape products, rich in nutrients, for healthy lawns, shrubs, gardens, flowers and more! Price Farms Organics is a recycling facility for organics, using composting technology. Learn about the Marketing success of this Organic Farm and see for yourself how many common items such as leaves, grass and even Christmas trees become quality landscape products!

The tour is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26 and will end at 2:00 p.m. Cost is only $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Please RSVP by June 20 to Mike Krouse at [email protected] or 419-532-3130 ext. 269 or to Becky Anway at [email protected] or 614-889-1309.

For more information download the brochure at http://www.nama.org/chapters/08ohio.pdf.

Nominate someone you know for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence. These awards will be presented at the 2008 Agribusiness Forum, November 11-12, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

The awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA): (1) Marketing Communications; (2) Product/Species Management; (3) Public Relations; and (4) Sales. Nominees 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.

The deadline for submitting nominations is September 1. 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.

Since January 1, 2008, we’ve grown 180 new members. Please join us in welcoming:

At Large
Pete Alexion, Pete Alexion
Ed Anderson, AdFarm/Jordan Group
Crystal Armstead, Crystal Clear Designs
Bill Baker, DairyLine Radio
Marnie Draper, Great American Publishing
Gretchen Flanley, American Seed Trade Association
Anarosa Garcia, National 4-H Council
Belinda LeSage, ESRI
Kay Marikos, Capital Press
David Moll, Rabbit Tutor
Brenda Turner, Semex Alliance
Steve Warme, Woodruff Sweitzer

Badger
Kylene Anderson, ABS Global, Inc.
Jacci Buehl, Bader Rutter & Associates
Katherine Ernest
Jean Eske, Lessiter Publications
Rich Jefferson, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Christina Jorgensen, Filament Marketing, LLC
Bobbi Kunde, APC, Inc.
Travis Maier, Morgan&Myers
Maria McGinnis, World Dairy Expo, Inc.
Joe Rogge, EPIC Creative
Buffy Sacia, Filament Marketing, LLC

CAMA Alberta
Deborah Wilson, Canadian Cattlemen

CAMA Manitoba
Cory Bourdeaud’hui, Grainews

CAMA Ontario
Denise Faguy, Farms.com
Ryan Kelly, Farms.com
James Shaw, Alberta Farmer/Manitoba Co-Operator

Carolinas/Virginia
Morgan Allen
Brandon Barts, Barts Enterprises, Inc.
Lyndsey Beam, Gibbs & Soell, Inc.
Phil Greer, Lewis Advertising
Terri Mitchell, Quarry Integrated Communications
Amy Ogburn, Technekes
Jamie Overton Thomas, Hog Slat, Inc.
Nicole Schmidt, U.S. Department of Education
Linda Strickland, AgCarolina Financial

Central California
Mandy Critchley, Agribusiness Publications
Aimee Lanik, Monterey Ag Resources

Chesapeake
Cory Bromley, United Phosphorus, Inc.
Thomas Gallagher, Excellent Ventures

Chicago
Shawn Boone, Case IH
James Flanigan, American Veterinary Medical Assn.
Theresa Gillespie, The Gillespie Group, Inc.
Julie Newman, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Comm.
Kay Ross Baker, Farm Journal Media
Kelly Smith, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Comm.
Tim Trotter, VerseOne, Inc.

Cornbelt
Tricia Burkhardt, Morgan&Myers
Heather Sterrett, Farm Journal Media
Heidi Weber, Jo-Carroll Energy

Desert Southwest
Kerry Moncur, Farnam Companies, Inc.

Eastern
Dan Bagan, Penton Media, Inc.
Heather McElrath, RaboBank
George Tsiolis, Pfizer Animal Health

Florida
Elizabeth Gibbons, Amic, Inc.

Gateway
Tricia Beal, Novus International, Inc.
Dan Dreyfus, Dreyfus + Associates Photography, Inc.
Andrew Duff, Monsanto
Brian Effer, Monsanto
Laura Lee, AdFarm/Jordan Group
Jennifer Lewis, FCS Financial
Jeremy Lutgen, Novus International, Inc.
Gary Sakin, Monsanto
Scott Sorrell, Prince Agri Products, Inc.
Jenny Watz, SmithBucklin

Great Plains
Carrol Campbell, AFACT

Heartland
Trent Foltz, Trent Foltz Photography
Larry Groce, Groce & Associates
Carrie Nealey, 1st Farm Credit Services
Karen Walters, 1st Farm Credit Services
Brenda Williams, Farm Credit Services of Illinois

Iowa
Lacey Ballard, Frontier Farm Credit
Steve Betts, United Suppliers, Inc.
Anne Bjerum, National Pork Producers Council
Katie Lahr, Midwest Seed Genetics
Jon Leafstedt, Kincannon & Reed
Erin Mitchell, Kemin Industries
Stan Pierce, Trilix Marketing Group
Jessica Reis, Ag Leader Technology
Kelly Shulenberger, DuPont Crop Protection

Mid-America
Andrea Bruhn, Sales Diesel
Summer Fagg, The Farmers Bank
Kellie Hermann, Fastline Publications
William Medley, Farm Credit Services Mid-America
Traci Missun, Oldham County Coop. Extension Service
Raylee St. Onge, Truffle Media Networks
Kylee Swyers, Dow AgroSciences
Janelle Thompson, Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Midlands
Jordon Darling, HITECH Computer Solutions
Cindy Kimpson, Nebraska Machinery Company
Hope Lewis, Orthman Manufacturing, Inc.
Kelly Medwick, Brownfield
Chris Raun, Swanson Russell Associates
Barbara Rixstine, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Rodd Whitney, Channel Bio Corporation

Midsouth
Meg Brodman, Archer>Malmo
Stacey Caldwell, Cotton Board
Lauren Carr, Archer>Malmo
Pam Crosno, Archer>Malmo
Dianna Davis, DuPont Crop Protection
Leigh Ann Evans, Archer>Malmo
Bradley Godwin, Delta & Pine Land Business
Kim Johnson, Journal Communications, Inc.
John Lacey, Journal Communications, Inc.
Beth Murphy, Journal Communications, Inc.
Jessica Skinner, Floratine BioSciences, Inc.
LuElla Sprout, Horizon Ag LLC
Walter Stephens, Mississippi State University
Paul Vaculin, AMVAC Chemical Corporation
Tracy Ward, Archer>Malmo

Missouri-Kansas
Lisa Adams, AdFarm
Janet Adkinson, KMZU Radio
Lacey Ballard, Frontier Farm Credit
Pamela Berry, John Deere
DJ Bell, McCormick Company
Ted Bertram, Sunflower Insurance Group, Inc.
Debbie Brummel, National Agri-Marketing Association
Melissa Daugherty, MachineryLink, Inc.
Marcos DeLeon, Bernstein-Rein
Meggan Gilligan, McCormick Company
Gretchen Grant, McCormick Company
Dave Katzer, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Jason Kramer, Jayhawk Sports Marketing
Dean Loftis, McCormick Company
Genny McKelvie, John Deere
Jill McLaine, John Deere
Damon Meinholdt, Vance Publishing
Marisa Meyer, AdFarm
Landon Morris, MachineryLink, Inc.
Erin Nash, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Comm.
Hannah Phillips, Agriculture Future of America
Jennifer Remsberg, VML
Phil Reynolds, John Deere
Amber Spafford, Osborn & Barr Comm., Inc.
Jason Tavernaro, Alpha Scouts, LLC
Mark VanBaale, John Deere
Crystal Young, Angus Productions, Inc.

NAMA Pacific
Christine Moravec, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
H. Nevada Smith, AgraQuest, Inc.
Amy Wood, Harvest PR & Marketing, Inc.

North Central
Steve Aldrich, Martin Williams
Susan Curvey, Syngenta Seeds
Melinda Dombek, Colle+McVoy
Kristina Fenner, Martin Williams
Tamara Freund Kass, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Douglas Hoadley, Mosaic Company
Alise Jennissen, Acosta Sales and Marketing
Ray Klempka, Colle+McVoy
Chad Krieger, Penton Media, Inc.
Ryan Krumwiede, Broadhead + Co.
Andrew Mackenzie, Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie
Polly O’Grady, Weber Shandwick
Aaron O’Keefe, Colle+McVoy
Mike Parry, Sterling-Krystel LLC
Thane Paulsen, Paulsen
Katie Van Thomme, Penton Media, Inc.
Amy Woodward, Whitebox Commodities

Northern Prairie
Shawn Brook, Issues Ink
Brittany DeMay, Triangle Ag LLC
Terry Loomis, KQLX
Kyle Martin, North Dakota Wheat Commission

Ohio
Michael DeLuca, Meister Media Worldwide
Lisa Jones, The Andersons
Dan Wilson, In Ohio Country Today, LLC
Lance Zimmerman, Certified Angus Beef, LLC

Rocky Mountain
Jeremy Adler, Colorado State University
Timothy Burleigh, Colorado Global Resources
Christina Roth, Leica Geosystems
Christi Scherler, National Sorghum Producers
Amy Wigginton, TRIMBLE
Megan Wortman, American Lamb Board

Southeastern
Kara Forbis, Freebairn & Co.
Margie Lyness, Merial

Southwest
Candace Dobson, ViaGen, Inc.
Michelle Lasiter, USDA/ARS
Jane McCoy, Chilcutt Direct Marketing
Kimberly Thomas, Lone Star Ag Credit
Kate White
Ashley Woodward, The Hondo Group

On May 22^nd, 2008 members of CAMA Ontario were addressed by the University of Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) as they discussed the future of the automotive industry and the opportunities this is presenting members of the agribusiness community.

Ontario is North America’s largest automotive assembly region, followed by Michigan and Ohio. The importance of this industry to the province and its economy has led the University of Waterloo, Canada’s largest engineering school, to help Tier I, II, and III automotive parts companies research new and innovative parts and manufacturing processes.

“Despite the media coverage reporting automotive assembly plant closures, Ontario continues to thrive in the automotive sector, home to 13 vehicle assembly lines of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota, in addition to hundreds of parts manufacturers and materials suppliers,” says Ross McKenzie, Managing Director of WatCAR.

One project of major significance at WatCAR is the Ontario BioCar Initiative, a $6M joint venture of researchers at the Universities of Guelph, Toronto, Waterloo and Windsor. BioCar was established to research new ways to bring products from fields and forests to the highway, with a focus on replacing petroleum-based products with biochemicals and high content bio-fibre materials.

McKenzie states, “With the changes in people’s sensitivity to the environment, the automobile industry is looking for new and innovative ways to not only create automobiles, but to differentiate themselves from their competition. Finding innovative approaches to produce automobiles with safety, environmental responsibility, and renewability at the forefront are now paramount for manufacturers moving forward.”

Dr. Leonardo Simon, a Chemical Engineering Professor at Waterloo, and key researcher in the BioCar project says, “The outcomes of our research will have a significantly positive effect on the profitability of Ontario farming and forestry industries, and will create a sustainable, competitive edge in the Ontario automotive value chain.”

Some of Dr. Simon’s work includes the use of wheat-straw and other Ontario crops to create biobased products that can be readily incorporated into the current automotive plastics industry. Dr. Simon suggests that all agribusiness organizations have the potential to benefit from the type of innovation being fostered through BioCar. “We need plants that contain the right properties and farmers to grow them. Equipment needs to be designed to properly harvest the parts of the plant required and grain companies to create markets for them. We also need mills capable of processing this material into a consistent form that can be delivered efficiently to manufacturing facilities.” Strategic activities in this area will position the agribusiness stakeholders as sustainable suppliers for the automotive sector.

McKenzie says “Waterloo is unique among universities in North America because of its creator-owned intellectual property policy. Inventions resulting from research at Waterloo are owned by the researcher, not the university, meaning the resulting intellectual property remains between the parties involved in the research project.”

Agribusiness research projects in this emerging segment of automotive related research have the ability to leverage significant amounts of provincial and federal funding. Matching grant programs from both levels of government towards research, combined with R&D tax credits create a very attractive climate for research.

Information on WatCAR: http://watcar.uwaterloo.ca/.

Overview of BioCar: www.bioproductsatguelph/project/biocar.html.

To contact Dr. Simon: 519-888-4567 ext. 33301 or [email protected].

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for the following upcoming events and deadlines:

NAMA Boot Camp: August 12-14, 2008

Professional Development Awards of Excellence Deadline: September 1, 2008

Best of NAMA Entry Deadline: October 10, 2008

Agribusiness Forum: November 11-12, 2008

Keep watching the National NAMA e-News for more information on the Boot Camp, Awards of Excellence, Best of NAMA Call for Entries and the Agribusiness Forum.