Plan ahead! Mark your calendars today for upcoming NAMA Agri-Marketing Conferences!

2015 – April 15 – 17 – Kansas city

2016 – April 13 – 15 – Kansas city

2017 – April 26 – 28 – Dallas

2018 – April 11 – 13 – Kansas city

2019 – April 10 – 12 – Kansas city

We look forward to seeing you!!

Mark your calendars for NAMA’s next Webinar on March 19, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CT.  The topic is “2014 Media Channel Study”, completed by Readex for ABM’s AgriCouncil.  Stay tuned for details.

Only 16 days left to save!

Save on your trip to Jacksonville with NAMA’S early bird registration rates for the Agri-Marketing Conference , April 9-11.  Early bird rates end March 20th, so register today.

When you join NAMA in Florida for the conference, you’ll be surrounded by leaders and decision-makers in the agri-marketing industry.  You’ll hear from experts and trendsetters in agri-marketing, business development and branding.  For details visit http://www.nama.org/amc/index.php

Florida Ag Tour

Join us for a guided tour of some of the finest farms, ranches and agri-business facilities in the Sunshine State, Wednesday, April 9 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Florida boasts 9.2 million acres of farmland and ranks 2nd in U.S. production of fresh vegetables, providing 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the nation during the winter months. Florida’s cattle industry is one of the 15 largest in the United States, centered around birthing and raising calves. You will see fresh market potato and onion harvesting and packing; commercial vegetable production on plastic; a sod farm, blueberry farm, peach orchard, cattle ranch; and a very special Fresh From Florida lunch prepared by the University of Florida’s Chef David Bearl. Chef Bearl is an inductee of the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the American Culinary Federation, representing the highest standards of professionalism in the industry. His efforts to support culinary education through ‘Farm to School’ initiatives encourages the use of fresh, seasonal, and locally grown ingredients. The lunch, prepared by Chef Bearl, will feature specially selected items grown in Florida.

Cost for the Florida Ag Tour is $60.

To register for the Florida Ag Tour and for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=59. If you’ve already registered for conference but want to add the Florida Ag Tour or if you just want to register for the Ag Tour and not the Agri-Marketing Conference, please visit www.nama.org/amc/floridareg.php.

ABEF Golf Outing

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 8. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf in beautiful Jacksonville before the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at the Amelia National Golf Club. A chartered bus will leave the hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course and a boxed lunch and beverages will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony and reception will cap your day on the greens. Cost for the outing is $195 per golfer.  For more information visit http://www.nama.org/amc/golf.php

Register today and get your official ABEF/NAMA Golf Shoes, only $25.  Check out website for more details!

Win an iPad Mini from NAMA!

Recruit someone you know to become a NAMA member and be entered into a drawing for an iPad Mini.

The member-get-a-member campaign runs from Feb. 28 to April 1. The drawing will take place April 2.

Simply tell your recruit to join on-line at http://www.nama.org/register.aspx and add your name and company in the box titled “Referred By.”  They can also call the NAMA office at 913-491-6500 to join; remind them to say they were referred by you.

The more members you recruit, the more your name will be entered into the drawing!

Please welcome our new members to NAMA:

AT LARGE
Rachel Telford, Grain Farmers of Ontario

BADGER
Karen Ott, Didion Milling

CAROLINAS/VIRGINIA
Meredith Harrell, Zoetis
Shana  Hull,  Zoetis
Jessica Rasmussen,  Zoetis
Jenna  Ritchie, Zoetis

HEARTLAND
Nicole VanDuzer, GROWMARK, Inc.

IOWA
Seth Harrison, Hagie Manufacturing
Jayne Jackson, PigCHAMP, Inc.
Erin Kurth, United Suppliers, Inc.
Theresa  Linkletter, Growers Edge
Kelly Sheldon O`Byrne, Applied Art and Technology
Abby Sisk, Growers Edge

MID-AMERICA
Erica Flores, University of Kentucky
Emily Kay, Alltech
Shawn  Smith, Beck’s Hybrids

MIDSOUTH
Alba Collart, Mississippi State University
Brock Dugger, IRON Solutions, Inc.
Jeremy Ellis, IRON Solutions, Inc.

MISSOURI-KANSAS
Dan Alcazar, Machinerylink
Traci Hayes, Machinerylink
Sarah  Owens, USC, LLC

NORTH CENTRAL
Jodi  Babcock,  Sign Here, Inc.
Michelle Huneke,  AgStar Financial Services
John  Share, AgriBank
Kevin  Smith, Land O’Lakes

OHIO
Randy Ferguson, Ernst Conservation Seeds
Twyla Hayes, Brand It Marketing Communication

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Lisa Brown, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. – Loomix

SOUTHEASTERN
Eric Rader, Agrilogic Crop Insurance Services

SOUTHWEST
Rachel Cutrer, Ranch House Designs, Inc.
Don Hall, KBM Group
Kelly Trembacki, AgReliant Genetics
Raelyn Wade, KBM Group

WESTERN PACIFIC NAMA
Theresa  Machado,  Alltech
Samantha Miller, Barenbrug USA

AAEA and NAMA, along with BASF and NAMA’s Southwest, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountain Chapters hosted a reception on Friday, February 28, in conjunction with Commodity Classic, in San Antonio, TX.  Approximately 130 people attended, making it a resounding success.  It was an excellent opportunity to relax and network after a long day in the trade show.  Pictures from the reception can be seen on NAMA’s Flickr site:  Watch for a repeat next year in Phoenix.  View this year’s pix at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/namaflickr/sets/72157641833984664/.  Thanks to ZimmComm for the photos!

Social Media Analytics For Business

No doubt, social media provides a viable channel for ag businesses, customers and consumers to interact with each other. Jay Harrison, of evolve24, shared how Cornhusker NAMA members can take advantage of social media during the chapter’s February meeting.

Mr. Harrison shared how evolve24 is using unique algorithms to filter through more than 2 million pieces of online content per topic.  He explained the PRECISE™ methodology of analyzing social media conversations. This includes uncovering what is in the message and sentiment; who is moving the message; how fast the issue is moving and what is the emotion. Each item is statistically weighted and then measured to expose early warning signs for companies and industries.

According to Harrison, “When corporations have these metrics available, they can make smart business decisions because the data helps them understand what direction they should be moving in next.”