NAMA ended 2008 with a gain of 128 new members – an almost 9% increase. This is the largest net gain that can be tracked in the NAMA office.

Welcome all of you who joined in 2008 and special thanks to all of our members for your help in supporting NAMA and joining in the recruiting efforts. We hope to make 2009 even better!

On March 12, the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host two major events in the nation’s Capitol: the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner.

The events kick off National Agriculture Week and mark a nationwide effort to recognize the importance and contribution of agriculture every day in the lives of Americans. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

The annual Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon will be held at the Cannon House Office Building at 12:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but advance reservations are required. Approximately 50 student delegates from FFA, 4-H and AFA will be in attendance. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is the Invited Speaker. To sign up for the luncheon visit http://www.agday.org/lunchrsvp/index.php.

The National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner will follow at the USDA Whitten Building Patio at 5:30 p.m. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been invited to speak. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at http://www.agday.org/dinner/index.php.

This is the 36th anniversary of National Ag Day (March 20, 2009), which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country and is part of National Ag Week (March 15-21, 2009).

If you are planning to host an Ag Day Event and would like some helpful ideas, visit the Ag Day web site at www.agday.org or if you would like to order Ag Day Materials, visit, http://payment.nama.org/agdayorder.htm or call the Agriculture Council of America at 913-491-1895 to order.

Join the Agriculture Council of America and NAMA in celebrating National Ag Week, March 15-21 and National Ag Day, March 20, 2009!

Region III Best of NAMA
Region III held their Best of NAMA Ceremony on January 15 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, IA. Agriculture marketing communication agencies and clients brought home top honors for their well-deserved marketing efforts.

The event honored the best work of the Northern Prairie, North Central, Cornbelt, and Iowa chapters.

Taking home the Best of Show at the Region III Ceremony were:

Best of Show Advertising
Iowa Soybean Association (In house)
What’s on Your Plate in 2008

Best of Show Public Relations
BASF Professional Vegetation Management
Padilla Speer Beardsley/Winnercom Inc./Source Publications, Inc.
Lattitude Magazine

Best of Show Specialty
Novartis Animal Health
Colle+McVoy
Epic Play

Region IV Best of NAMA
The Region IV Best of NAMA Ceremony took place on January 22 at the Marriott Chicago Northwest in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The event honored the best work of the Badger, Chicago, Heartland and Mid-America NAMA Chapters.

Taking home the Best of Show at the Region IV Ceremony were:

Best of Show Advertising
ABS Global, Inc. (In house)
2008 Showtime

Best of Show Public Relations
Illinois Farm Bureau (In house)
Saving the RFS

Best of Show Specialty
Merial
Bader Rutter
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Congratulations to all the First and Merit winners of the Regional Best of NAMA judging. Those who received First Place or Merit awards are invited to advance their entries to the National Best of NAMA Judging. The National Judging will take place February 19-20 in Kansas City. All entries must be advanced by February 13.

To advance your entries visit www.nama.org/amc/advance.htm.

To view a list of all First and Merit winners in each of the six regions visit www.nama.org/amc/regional.htm.

Is your shifting foot itching? Scratch it at a special post-Commodity Classic NAMA Bombers Ride Saturday, February 28 around Dallas.

We’ll be renting bikes from SportRyder Rentals (renting sport bikes, touring bikes and cruisers, on the Web at www.SportRyderRentals.com) and riding in the countryside around Big-D. Exact start and end times to be determined based on schedules of riders.

And, new this year, we’re launching the NAMA Bombers Auxiliary for anyone who loves to ride on a bike but doesn’t want to drive one. Auxiliary spots are limited based on riders and willingness to carry a passenger, so sign up early.

If you’re interested in driving or riding, contact Jill “Biker Momma” Wenzel at [email protected] for more information. Rides will be available to and from the bike pick-up/drop-off  spot, which is conveniently located near the Gaylord and the airport in Grapevine.

And, mark your calendars for another Epic NAMA Bombers National NAMA Ride in April. Planning remains under way for … some kind of ride … either to, from or around Atlanta, or possibly a combination depending on weather and general initiative.