Join Midsouth NAMA this month for one of the chapter’s favorite annual events — the NAMA Student Marketing Competition.

They’ll hear presentations from the chapter’s two Student Chapters, Mississippi State University and The University of Tennessee – Martin. Plus, they will review the students’ business plans and offer much-appreciated feedback to help them in the national competition. Please be a part of this important meeting to help future Midsouth agribusiness professionals.

If available, they will send the student’s provided marketing plans in their current draft state next week, so they can be reviewed prior to the meeting.

Learn more about the overall student competition.

When: Friday, February 20th, 11:30am
Where: AgriCenter International, Horticulture Room
Cost: $20 for professionals and university staff, free for students

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

In order to get a headcount, we ask that all attendees register, including students and chapter advisors.

The Iowa NAMA Chapter held their February meeting, sponsored by Lessing Flynn and Two Rivers Marketing, on Friday the 13th at John Deere Financial in Johnston, IA.

The chapter invited Merlin Bartz, District Director and Ag Advisor for Congressman Steve King, to review the 2014 Farm Bill. Merlin spoke on the history, the implementation and the implications of the Bill.  The most common buzz of this year’s Farm Bill is it being more “complex” and “expensive” than past bills. Merlin explained that 2014’s Bill was formed the way farmers wanted – having two options, the PLC and ARC, which combined farmers’ wants and needs.

The next chapter meeting is on March 13th at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, IA.

Congratulations to all the 2014 Best of NAMA winners! If you placed first or merit at the regional level, you are eligible to advance to the national competition. You should have received an email from the National NAMA office about advancing your entries. If you have any questions or concerns, please call (913) 491-6500. To view a list of all Regional Best of NAMA winners, follow this link: http://www.nama.org/best-of-nama-winners 

Region I

Region 1 kicked off the first regional Best of NAMA event in December!  On December 8, members and award winners gathered at AdFarm’s Sacramento office.  Those attending got to enjoy snacks and networking, along with the presentation of awards. This event celebrated the 43 entries submitted through the Desert Southwest and Western Pacific Chapters. Here are some photos from the event.

Best of Show Advertising:
Multimedia Campaigns – Local
DuPont Crop Protection
The Lacek Group
DuPont Cyazypyr Multimedia Campaign

Best of Show Public Relations:
Events – Customer
USA Pears
Harvest PR & Marketing
USA Pears Pop-Up Restaurant at Feast Portland

Download a list of all Region I Winners

Region II

The Region II Best of NAMA Awards Banquet was held at the Boulevard Brewing Company on January 15, 2015. Attendees enjoyed drinks, dinner and networking in downtown Kansas City, MO and celebrated the 426 entries submitted through the Gateway, Great Plains, Midlands, Missouri-Kansas, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Chapters. Check out some photos from the event.

Best of Show Advertising:
Point-of-purchase materials
Dow AgroSciences
Bader Ruter
Surveil Campaign

Best of Show Public Relations:
Overall PR Program – directed to farmers, growers, ranchers or others serving agribusiness
Monsanto
Paradowski
Monsanto America’s Farmers “Begins with a Farmer”

Download a list of all Region II Winners

Region III

The Region III Best of NAMA Awards Banquet was held at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates on January 22, 2015. 117 attendees enjoyed drinks, dinner and networking in downtown Des Moines, IA to celebrate the 322 entries submitted through the Cornbelt, Iowa, North Central and Northern Prairie NAMA Chapters. Check out some photos from the event.

Best of Show Advertising:
Multimedia Campaigns – National
Cargill
DKY, Inc.
Cargill AgHorizons ProPricing

Best of Show Public Relations:
Events – Customer
WinField
Colle+McVoy/Exponent PR
Navigating the Future at the WinField Ag Tech Summit

Download a list of all Region III Winners

Region IV

The Region IV Best of NAMA Awards Banquet was held at the Harley-Davidson Museum on January 29, 2015. Over 130 attendees enjoyed drinks, dinner and networking in Milwaukee, WI to honor the 243 entries submitted through the Badger, Chicago, Heartland and Mid-America Chapters. Check out some photos from the event.

Best of Show Advertising:
New Product Introduction
Beck’s Hybrids
In House
FARMserver

Best of Show Public Relations:
Overall PR Program – directed to farmers, growers, ranchers or others serving agribusiness
Beck’s Hybrids
In House
Why I Farm Movement – The Journey Continues

Download a list of all Region IV Winners

Region V

Region V had Best of NAMA Awards Events in the Carolinas/Virginia, Midsouth and Southeastern Chapters. Out of the 226 entries submitted in this region, attendees at each event learned who would be eligible to compete in the National Best of NAMA Competition.

Download a list of all Region V Winners

Region VI

Region VI did not hold a Best of NAMA Awards Event, but out of the 86 entries submitted through the Chesapeake, Ohio and Eastern Chapters, over 60 entries are eligible to move on to the National Best of NAMA Competition.

Download a list of all Region VI Winners

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 18, 2015. This will mark the 42nd anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for this year’s Ag Day is “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations.”

On March 18, 2015, the ACA will host major events in the nation’s capital including the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner. Additionally, the ACA will bring approximately 100 college students to Washington to deliver the message of Ag Day to the Hill.

These events honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

• —Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• —Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

• —Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• —Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

In addition to the events in Washington, DC on March 18, the ACA sponsors the following:

• —The Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award
• —The National Ag Day Poster Art Contest

Keep checking www.agday.org for more information on National Ag Day 2015.

ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.

Looking for opportunities to place your company’s products and services before decision-makers in the ag marketplace? There is still booth space available in NAMA’s Connection Point! Put your company front and center. With nearly 1,200 professionals in attendance, there’s no better way to get noticed. Influencers will take note when you purchase booth space on this trade show floor. Lunch and refreshment breaks are scheduled to maximize traffic and draw the clients and customers you want to meet! Contact Lauren Giarratano to book your booth or reserve your space online today!

Sponsorship:

Looking for other ways to get noticed? Get in touch with Jenny Pickett for sponsorship opportunities.

Register:

Register now  for the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17, in Kansas City, MO. Visit the AMC homepage for conference, hotel and registration details.

Use #NAMA15 for all your tweets about this year’s conference!

February Florida Ag Hall of Fame Dinner is the next Florida NAMA gathering.  The banquet is February 10th, during the Florida State Fair, at the State Fair Grounds in Tampa, FL.

February 10, 2015
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Dinner and program: 7:00 p.m.

$60.00 per person

Click to register for this event!

  The Northern Prairie NAMA Chapter hosted a social event in-conjunction with the Sioux Falls Farm Show, in Sioux Falls, SD on January 27th. Agri-marketers from North Dakota and South Dakota gathered to network and learn more about this chapter and National NAMA. Here are some photos from the event!