On May 9, members of the Chicago, Heartland, Badger and Illinois State NAMA Chapters spent a day on Spirit Family Farms in Sheridan, IL.  John and Michelle Stewart, Spirit Family Farms’ owners, shared information on the daily management of a nearly 23,000 acre farming enterprise, a residuals management business, Stewart Spreading,  and the skills and balancing act needed in dealing with 90 employees, while being proactive in public relations and community outreach.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of  Wayne Curtiss Bollum, who passed away on May 15, 2013.  Wayne was an active member of NAMA from  1981-2013, and very involved in agriculture throughout his life.  He was a member and past Noble Ruler of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, a member of the University of Minnesota Ag Alumni Board, a director of the MN Livestock Breeders Association, a director of the MN Limousin Association, the Dakota County Fair Board, the U of M General Livestock Judging Teams and was a longtime 4-H adult leader.

Once again NAMA is pleased to report that we exceeded last year’s attendance numbers and brought even more agri-marketers to Kansas City for the 2013 national conference with a total of  1,248 professionals and students from across the country.  This is the highest attended conference since 2000!

Anders Sorman-Nilsson kicked off the conference with a discussion of  his concept of “digilogue.”  Simply stated it’s taking the measurability of digital communications and combining it with emotion and accountability of more analog style outreach.  Analog is needed for transformation, digital for information.  He urged conference attendees to take advantage of new media tools to embrace the transparency being demanded by customers and use them to tell the real story of American agriculture.

Josh Linkner explained the virtues of creativity calling it the “currency of success.”  He noted creativity is 85% learned and shared simple ways to nurture creativity in the workplace.

Throughout the rest of the conference, agri-marketers enjoyed time to meet face-to-face with clients, attend breakout sessions on diverse topics like developing web content and monetizing social media and walk through the Connection Point Trade Show.  Attendees were encouraged to visit each of the 65 exhibitors to enter to win great prizes.  Congrats to Teresa Roof, Rosemary Schimek, Cait Schneckloth and Justina Frost, who each won an iPad Mini.

The Closing Brunch speaker, Damian Mason, had the audience laughing out loud with his special brand of humor.  Each attendee received a special departing gift from Mason – a bumper sticker carrying the words, “Agriculture: Because Starvation Sucks.”

During the conference, NAMA presented two distinguished awards. Thad Simons, President and CEO, Novus, accepted the 2013 Agribusiness Leader of the Year.  Steve Vandeberg, Director, Edectocide Marketing, Merial Limited, was named 2013 NAMA Marketer of the Year.

Congrats to  Best of Show Winner – Advertising, Beck’s Hybrids; and Best of Show Winner – PR, Minnesota Pork Board and Minnesota Pork Producers Association! Click here for a complete list of winners.

Visit NAMA on Flickr to see the full Agri-Marketing Conference album.

Despite the chilly weather, the ABEF golf tournament kicked off the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference at Tiffany Greens Golf Course.   First place golfers included Les Kahl, AdFarm; Roger Reierson, AdFarm; Shaun Crockett, AdFarm; and Bill Vaughn, Merck.  Second place went to Doug Catt, Farm Journal Media; Clint Thezan, Farmland Foods; Mike Wegner, National Pork Board; and Lyle Orwig, Charleston Orwig. Taking third was Don Dauterive, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman; Bob Brunker, J.L. Farmakis; Greg Guse, Paulsen Marketing; and Dennis Bryant, DF Bryant.

ABEF AUCTION
The ABEF Online Auction is still open! There are many great packages to be had.  Packages are available for bidding at http://www.nama.org/abef/silentauction/bidco.htm.  Auction closes May 31 at 5:00 p.m.

WALL OF WINE GIVEAWAY
Once again, the NAMA Executive Committee and the ABEF Operating committee  donated over two cases of wine to be given away to one lucky individual who  renewed their century club membership before or during conference.  Over 84 members signed up or renewed and the lucky winner was Kelly Berg with Western Producer Media.

ABEF STUDENT RAFFLE
Over $3,300 was raised from the student raffle with Chris Sidles of  Farm Market iD winning  the Vizio 55″ Flat Screen TV, courtesy of  Penton/Farm Progress.  A portion of the money raised will help cover student expenses for next year’s conference.  The top school selling the most raffle tickets was Delaware Valley College.

The winner of the 2013 Student Marketing Competition sponsored by Monsanto and FMC  is … University of Minnesota!

The University of Minnesota marketing team had nearly a dozen students involved with this year’s project to provide home brewers with a distinct northern experience – hops that are locally grown and privately trademarked.

Marketing Competition Results:

2nd place – University of Guelph
3rd place – Kansas State University
4th place – University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
5th place – Michigan State University
6th place – University of Wisconsin – Platteville

Students decide on a project and develop a plan to successfully bring the product or service to the marketplace. In developing their marketing plan, students follow the same practices and principles used by today’s marketing professionals. Teams submit a written plan summary prior to the competition and then make a formal presentation of their marketing plan to a panel of judges at the competition. The judges’ panel consists of marketing and agribusiness professionals.

Overall, 29 student NAMA chapters participated in the marketing competition. The competition is part of the annual Agri-Marketing Conference. Over 350 student members attended the conference.

For a list of the Student Marketing Competition Winners/Finalists and to view their Executive Summaries visit http://www.nama.org/student/marketing.html.

John Deere Signature Award
Illinois State University won the 2013 John Deere Signature Award, which recognizes the chapters that have accumulated the most points for outstanding student chapter, student marketing competition, ABEF scholarships, membership and participation, and projects and activities.

Other winners of the 2013 John Deere Signature Award included:

2nd place – Iowa State University
3rd place – University of  Florida
4th place – Michigan State University
5th place – University of Wisconsin-Madison

NAMA’s Choice Awards
NAMA’s Choice Awards are voted on by the students during finals of the student marketing competition. This year’s winners were:

Favorite team — Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
Best-dressed team — University of Illinois
Team I’d like to be friends with on Facebook — University of Guelph
Toughest judge — Kim Lang, Water Street Solutions

2013 Chapter Performance Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Chapter Performance Awards!

Chapter Management – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chapter Programs – University of Florida
Membership Recruitment – Iowa State University
Fundraising/Financial Management – Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
Chapter Communications – Iowa State University
Career Development – Illinois  State University

Outstanding Student Chapter
First Place – Illinois State University
Second Place – Iowa State University
Third Place – Michigan State University
Fourth Place – University of Florida

Dr. John B. Riley Outstanding Advisor Award
Dr. Aslihan Spaulding – Illinois State Univ.

Outstanding Professional
Melissa Rogers, GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Nominated by Michigan State University

Outstanding Professional Chapter
Florida Chapter
Nominated by University of Florida