It’s not too late! You can still register for the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City! With outstanding keynote speakers, breakout sessions to blow your mind and countless networking opportunities, you do not want to miss out on this experience. Just go online and register now!

Check out this updated list of who will be in Kansas City next week!

Peter Zeihan has replaced Jim Crupi as Keynote Speaker

Zeihan will join Hank Moore, Dr. Jackie Freiberg and Keni Thomas in the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference Keynote Speaker Line Up! See below for a description of his session and a short biography.

U.S. Economy and Agriculture: Powers of Yesterday, Powers of Tomorrow 
Americans believe that their greatest days are behind them and that new powers are rising up to displace them. On the contrary, America’s best days — militarily, economically, agriculturally, financially and culturally — are still ahead of them. In fact, many of the countries that the Americans feel are up-and-comers are merely experiencing a historical moment in the sun courtesy of factors utterly beyond their control. The major powers of 2030 will not be based in Beijing or Moscow, but in Jakarta, Buenos Aires, Warsaw, Istanbul and Mexico City.

Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist who has lived in the world of international affairs throughout his career. He launched his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in 2012 in order to specialize in customized executive briefings for his clients. In his new life Zeihan applies his 12 years of intelligence experience and a geopolitical perspective to the needs of his clients and helps them see their industries from a new point of view.

Zeihan is a frequent guest on CNN, ABC and Fox News. He is frequently interviewed for radio programs and has been quoted in the New York Times, Forbes and Bloomberg. Zeihan’s first independent book, The Accidental Superpower, was published in 2014.

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

Do you want to put support behind your alma mater? Have you met some NAMA students who go above and beyond? Does a certain school give you that feeling they could be this year’s winner?

Now you can join in on the fun and excitement of the NAMA Student Marketing Competition by playing “Sensational Six” …… Powered by ABEF!

Click here to make your prediction for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card!

ABEF will be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 14. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf in beautiful Kansas City before the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at The Duece at the National Golf Course. 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.

Register today and check out the website for more details!

Please mark your calendars for the 2015 NAMA Fall Conference!

When: September 22 – 24, 2015

Where: The Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colorado

Like always, NAMA’s Fall Conference will not disappoint! Make sure you save these dates so you can join us in Denver!

Help Mizzou NAMA Prepare for Competition

Please join Gateway NAMA on Wednesday, April 8, as they host students from the Mizzou NAMA chapter to help them prepare to compete at the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference. The students will rehearse their presentation and receive feedback from their panel of local agri-marketing professionals and past judges. All members and non-members are invited to hear the chapter’s presentation, help critique, and network with these future industry professionals.

When: Wednesday, April 8, 2015

5:30 – Networking

6:00-7:30 – Student Presentation and Feedback

Where: Brighton Agency

7711 Bonhomme

Clayton, MO 63105

Cost: Free

Register: http://bit.ly/1HaIRY9

Pizza and beverages will be provided.

Free parking available on the street.

If you have questions, please contact:

Colin Pennington or Heather Gieseke

SAVE THE DATE:

MoKan NAMA is planning a lunch and learn for Wednesday, May 20^th from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 pm. Jim Welch, the President and Founder of “The Growth Leader, Inc.”, will speak about “Becoming a True Growth Leader”. Mr. Welch is a member of the National Speakers Association and consultant with many Fortune 500 global clients, independent retailers and business owners, as well as organizations across several industries. He brings over 25 years of marketing leadership passion working for Hallmark and Procter & Gamble. His hands-on leadership experience and consistent track record of utilizing proven techniques effectively has consistently produced winning top line and bottom line results.
Mr. Welch will discuss the five major steps you must take to successfully leverage “what matters” and become a true growth leader in your organization.  He will help you identify key characteristics of successful leaders that consistently win and design an effective growth leader blueprint, which can be directly applied to your business. You will learn the key characteristics of successful growth leaders to make results happen.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: To Be Determined

Nearly 30 Badger NAMA members and guests converged on the Midwest Foodservice Expo in Milwaukee on March 10 to take part in a unique trade show experience. Members were first briefed on the history of the show by Susan Quam, VP of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, before exploring the show floor. Members were challenged to see through the eyes of an attendee as if they’ve never been to a trade show before. For many, it was their first trade show where they didn’t have direct responsibility for a booth.

The group reconvened later to discuss what they saw and what ideas they’d like to “steal” for their own clients or companies.

One of the Midsouth chapter goals this year was to do more to celebrate National Ag Day to support one of their key pillars – Advocacy. They joined the Agricenter International of Tennessee and the Shelby County University of Tennessee Extension Institute of Agriculture in their celebration.

Each year the Agricenter Board and the UT Extension office hold an Ag Day poster contest for area schools, grades 3 through 8.  This year’s theme was “Agriculture: Fielding Our Dreams.” The Midsouth chapter sponsored the poster contest by covering the costs of the framing and helping to judge the entries.  The winners were recognized at a luncheon, held on Ag Day at the Agricenter.  Over 20 Midsouth chapter members attended, along with winners’ parents and teachers.  In addition to this, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Shelby County Commissioner David Reaves and Ed Harlan, of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, were on hand to deliver certificates of recognition.  Chapter President Lesley Landry was able to address the attendees to say a few words about NAMA, the organization and its purpose.  To frame this for the students she explained: “We like farmers.  We like to sell them things.  And then we like to get together and talk about selling them things.”

The event went really well and the Agricenter Board expressed sincere appreciation for our sponsorship.  The Midsouth chapter was honored to be recognized in front of key city officials as well as the students and teachers.  They look forward to doing this again next year!

John Charles Wilson, president of Agricenter International congratulating 3^rd place winner of 7^th-8^th grade division.

Lesley Landry congratulates 1^st place winner of 3^rd-4^th grade division

Winning family and teacher with crowd