The 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference was one of the most well attended since 2000 according to Jenny Pickett. She says the official number is 1,206 registered.

Jenny says she heard numerous comments about how upbeat people have been at the conference. She also wants to remind people to get the NAMA App on their smartphone. One of the key features is the directory of NAMA members.

Get a full review: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nama/amc-11-pickett.mp3″ text=”Interview with Jenny Pickett”]

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

It’s not a bad thing to have some white space on your calendar. In fact, Juliet Funt, thinks you should actually schedule some. She was our closing speaker at the Agri-Marketing Conference with a session titled, “Overcommitted, Overwhelmed and Over It! Success Skills for the Blisteringly Busy.” Juliet is the daughter of Allen Funt, Candid Camera, and is an entertaining speaker.

Juliet helps people slow down and prioritize. One of the main things she wants people to think about is keeping more white space on their calendar. She’s writing a book on this. Listen to some more suggestions she has: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nama/amc-11-funt.mp3″ text=”Interview with Juliet Funt”]

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

So, what did you do after the Brownfield Party? Hopefully you stopped in to the After-Party hosted by Rhea+Kaiser. Midnight in the Hyatt Lobby was where it was at.

After donning your After-Party hat you just headed up the escalator to the restaurant where hot, steaming and syrupy, sticky pancakes awaited. I made it and was really glad since I realized about half way through the Brownfield Party that I hadn’t eaten since lunch! Mmm, mmm. Thank you Rhea+Kaiser!

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

It was a loud and exciting time during the NAMA student awards at the Agri-Marketing Conference. There are just too many to keep track and list them all here.

So I’ll just make note of the fact that the Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo chapter won the Student Marketing Competition.

To get an idea of how they felt about it check out the video reaction:

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

The 2011 Best of NAMA Awards were awarded during the Agri-Marketing Conference. You can find a full listing by AgriMarketing Magazine.

Winning Best of Show were:

Advertising: Winfield Solutions; agency: Colle+McVoy (pictured at the top)

The Best of session was standing room only.

Public Relations: RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment); agency: Fleishman-Hillard

I want to thank Denny Eilers, Iowa Photo Farm, for once again helping us out with photos. He not only took these but also supplied others you’ll find in our photo album.

Here are some summary notes compiled by AgriMarketing Magazine:

A total of 62 awards were presented.

Those with the most first place awards were:

Monsanto: 5
John Deere: 4
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica: 3
Syngenta Seed: 3
Wisconsin Cheese: 3
Chemtura AgroSolutions: 2
Pioneer Hi-Bred: 2
DuPont: 2
RISE: 2
Winfield Solutions: 2
National Cottonseed: 2

Agencies receiving the most first place awards were:

Osborn&Barr Communications: 6
Colle+McVoy: 5
Charleston | Orwig: 4
McCormick Company: 4
Campbell Mithun: 3
Broadhead + Co: 3
Fleishmann Hillard: 3
Harvest PR: 3
Shine Advertising: 3
AdFarm: 2
Woodruff Sweitzer: 2
PSG Marketing Solutions: 2

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

The 2011 NAMA Marketer of the Year was awarded to Roger Reierson, AdFarm. Roger was very surprised to receive the award and says it does not mean it’s “the end.” There’s lots more to come from this man.

I spoke with Roger afterward. He says he feels humbled and honored. He’s says the ag industry is a big family and he owes the award to a lot of people. He says NAMA has connected him to a lot of good people.

Listen to our conversation: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nama/amc-11-reierson.mp3″ text=”Roger Reierson Interview”]

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Elanco President Jeff Simmons wants people in agriculture to speak up and make it personal when it comes to safe, abundant, affordable food.

The NAMA Agribusiness Leader of the Year says it all boils down to those four words. “I do think that we need to get our of our bubbles, get off of our farms and speak up because we are center stage right now,” he said. “It is our time and it’s a hot issue.”

Jeff told the opening general session of the National Agri-Marketing Conference that Elanco has just unveiled a website focusing on food production, world hunger and sustainability called “Plenty To Think About”. The site includes a white paper that focuses on three rights – food, a human right; choice, a consumer right; and sustainability, environmentally right.

Listen to or download an enlightening conversation with Jeff here:
[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nama/nama11-simmons.mp3″ text=”Jeff Simmons Interview”]

2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album