So where are rural lifestylers these days? Dan Duffy, CEO of United Country Real Estate, told the NAMA Trends in Agriculture: Rural Lifestyle Marketing conference how agrimarketers can reach this target and how it is holding its own against the recent economic downturn.
The NAMA Trends in Agriculture, Rural Lifestyle Marketing conference began with Frank Schuurmans of Decision Strategy International asking if your current strategy is “future proof.” He focused on future scenarios and asked attendees to test how their current strategy would fare.
It’s not too late to register for the 2008 Trends In Agriculture fall meeting!
Join your colleagues in Kansas City for:
To register for Trends In Agriculture visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.
Take a look at who’s already registered! Visit http://www.nama.org/trends/2weekreglist.pdf.
We hope to see you in Kansas City!
Join us for lunch on Wednesday, November 12 at Trends In Agriculture, as we honor the 2008 Professional Development Awards of Excellence Recipients.
NAMA honors its members with hands-on responsibility in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA). This year, awards will be given in the areas of Marketing Communications, Public Relations and Sales. The recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing at the luncheon.
The 2008 Awards of Excellence recipients are as follows:
Marketing Communications
Paul Redhage, FMC Communications Manager, FMC Agricultural Products
In his current position with FMC, Paul has overseen marketing communications strategies for the introduction and/or major label expansion of 22 products and new brands in the past two years. The innovative, cost-effective strategies that Paul and his team implement have given FMC a reputation as a savvy, smart and fast-growing player in the very aggressive, competitive agricultural chemical marketplace. Although he works with budgets that are a fraction of the size of his competitors, the creativity and relevancy of the work he oversees for FMC keeps the company and its brands at the forefront of the agricultural chemical industry.
Paul has a long and distinguished record of service to NAMA. He was a member of the Carolinas/Virginia Chapter for many years as well as the Chesapeake Chapter and served in various leader positions for both chapters. He has served on the NAMA Careers Committee and this past April, he received the Dilworth Award for Innovation at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference. Paul is currently a Gateway Chapter member and is serving as a vice president on the NAMA Executive Committee.
Public Relations
Beth Andersen, Senior Vice President, Managing Partner, Charleston Orwig, Inc.
Beth has combined a keen ability to effectively lead high-level strategy and planning efforts with an exemplary work ethic to direct an issues management team that has turned Smithfield Foods from a seemingly uncaring conglomerate to a highly respected company in the food industry. As team leader for the Charleston Orwig issues management practice, Beth directed development and implementation of a drastic change in the communications program formerly employed by Smithfield Foods. The shift created a proactive platform for meeting potential and existing crises head-on, positioning the company as a leader in several critical areas – environmental stewardship, animal welfare, employee relations and community involvement.
Beth has been a NAMA member for nearly 10 years. Throughout her career, Beth has volunteered to participate on various NAMA committees and assisted in judging Best of NAMA competitions. Her insight on ag issues and trends has provided guidance on discussion topics and ideas to NAMA members for the planning of Badger NAMA meetings.
Sales
Vernon Benes, Director of Business Development, Beck Ag, Inc.
Vernon, a 25-year agriculture industry veteran, has a deep understanding of effective sales and marketing strategies in the crop protection channel. As Director of Business Development for Beck Ag, a position he has held for nearly 10 years, he has made grower profitability a top priority. It’s a philosophy that forms the foundation of the successful marketing and sales programs he’s developed that led to long-term adoption of various products and services at the producer level. Through Vernon’s leadership, Beck Ag was able to promote a key Monsanto product and give growers the opportunity to adopt cutting-edge production practices to improve their bottom line. In the process, he cultivated Monsanto loyalty and increased Monsanto revenues.
Vernon has been affiliated with NAMA since the late 90s and has served on the NAMA National Membership Committee. He has taken an active role at the chapter level with his Midlands Chapter membership and currently serves as first vice president of programs for Midlands.
Join us as we honor these outstanding individuals on November 12. The Luncheon is sponsored by Truffle Media Networks and the Professional Development Awards of Excellence are sponsored by Farm Progress Companies.
To register for Trends In Agriculture visit, http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.
The NAMA Office is smoking with all of the Sizzling Best of NAMA Entries that have been submitted. This year, 1234 entries were received for the Best of NAMA competition. The regional entry judging for Best of NAMA will take place November 10-11 in Kansas City prior to the Trends In Agriculture meeting.
About 50 judges will take time out of their busy schedules to help with judging the entries. First and merit entries will be on display during the Welcome Reception/ABEF Sports Night of the 2008 Trends In Agriculture from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 11.
The regional first and merit winners are eligible to advance to the national judging in February and national winners will be announced at the Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony, which will kick-off the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, Hot Ideas Sizzling Solutions, April 15-17 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Watch for the number of entries per chapter in the next NAMA e-News. To register for the Welcome Reception/ABEF Sports Night or the entire Trends In Agriculture meeting visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.
The position of Regional Director has become an important link between chapter and national levels. Regional Directors have taken a leadership role in organizing regional leader training, workshops and awards banquets. We appreciate the vision and service that these Regional Directors provide to NAMA. It is now time to elect the Regional Directors for the upcoming program year which begins January 1, 2009.
Two Regional Directors from each region serve on the National Board of Directors in addition to the president of each chapter. The term of office for a Regional Director is two years with the terms staggered so one director will retire each year. The NAMA Bylaws require that there is at least one nominee and no more than two nominees for any open Regional Director position.
All members from a region vote to elect the Regional Director. If you have an associate membership in a chapter(s) in another region, you may vote in each region that you have chapter membership (however, you may only vote once in any one region).
To view information on the nominee(s) and to vote please visit
http://www.nama.org/leader/regiondirector/08ballot/ballot.htm.
The Agri-Marketing Conference committee has been busy finding speakers for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17 in Atlanta.
The committee has chosen our opening, second general session, and closing session speakers. Take a look!
Opening General Session
The Collapse of Distinction
Scott McKain, Obsidian Enterprises
Scott McKain has proven that the concepts he presents actually work in the real world! He is the Vice Chairman of Obsidian Enterprises, a company he helped found just a few years ago that now generates $100 million in annual revenue. Obsidian has been named as one of the “fastest growing companies” in the United States. He is the co-founder of the Value Added Institute, a “think tank” exploring the role of customer experiences in creating enhanced client loyalty and revenue for visionary organizations.
Second General Session
Innovation in Marketing: Challenge Assumptions
Andy Cohen, Exposed Brick
Andy Cohen empowers the world’s global brands to think differently and generate innovative solutions in leadership, marketing and customer service. These companies include American Express, HSBC, Charles Schwab, Unilever, Pfizer, Novartis and Nestle. He is the founder of the award winning advertising agency, Exposed Brick. He is also a global advisor, educator, motivational speaker and magician. His book Follow The Other Hand combines magic as metaphor with business case histories to instantly unlock innovative thinking everyday.
Closing Session
Managing the Margins of Greatness
David Okerlund
David Okerlund grew up in a rural, midwestern town of Manchester, Iowa, where as a young teenager he saved up money for college by working on the town’s garbage route. Till this day he still says that, “It was the best job I have ever had in my entire career. He has been a salesperson, college administrator, teacher at Oxford University, and an administrator of a 350 bed trauma center hospital. In 1983 he gained national attention when he finished in the final three of the World Championship of Public Speaking; a contest that includes over 20,000 contestants from over 45 different countries.
To register for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference visit http://nama.org/amc/register.html.
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