To thrive in the future, the NAMA community needs to develop and support the next generation of members. Know someone with a bright future in the industry? Now’s the time to shine the spotlight on them!

There’s sure to be at least one person like this in your company… you know, the go-to guy or gal who impresses everyone with their knowledge of hot trends. The one who always goes above and beyond to make sure your projects succeed. Bright young professionals are the lifeblood of the industry and we want to honor them with a special award.

NAMA will select up to five such individuals. Winners receive Complimentary Registration to the 2017 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 26-28, where awards will be presented at one of the opening sessions. Companies or individuals would bear the travel expenses. The group will meet with the NAMA Executive Committee at their April meeting.

Eligibility

•  Nominees must be under 35 years old.

•  Nominees must be NAMA members.

•  Individuals must be nominated by a supervisor or manager within their company or through chapter or national leadership.

•  Individuals are nominated in the following areas:

•  Ag Company, Agency or Media.

•  All nominations must be submitted online.

•  Deadline for nominations is January 1.

•  More than one individual per company may be nominated.

Selection Process

Up to five winners will be selected by the Professional Recognition Committee and Executive Committee liaisons. Previous winners of the award will also be included on the selection panel after the inaugural year.

Winners will be announced on January 31. Winners are awarded a plaque and complimentary registration to the Agri-Marketing Conference where they will be recognized.

Find out more information on the website.

Do you have a presentation you’d like to share with the NAMA community? Submit your proposal for the NAMA Webinar Series.

Webinar topics must be both cutting edge and of current interest.  Case studies showcasing strategies and results are also popular with members.

In addition to the opportunity to engage our community, webinar presenters receive recognition through pre- and post-promotion via the NAMA website, e-News and social media feeds.

If you’re interested in learning more, follow this link for more details.  But don’t let too much time go by; the deadline to submit is December 1.  Presentations submitted are in consideration for the 2017 calendar year.

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A’s) and business consolidation is the new normal in agriculture. The reasons why companies merge, acquire or divest rarely prioritize the needs of the customer much less the brand. They are typically motivated by objectives such as broadening a footprint, blunting competitors, achieving operational efficiency or expanding the pipeline.  Then Marketing is left to sift through the fall-out to realign brands and regain customer confidence. In this webinar, the authors of MarketingtoFarmers.com, Diane Martin and Jeff Walter, discuss the proactive roles Marketing has during M&As to safeguard brand equity and customer loyalty.

When: Thursday, December 1

Time: 
1:00 PM (Central)
2:00 PM (Eastern)
12:00 PM (Mountain)
11:00 AM (Pacific)

Cost: $50

Click here to register!

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation will conduct an online auction of media packages from October 20 to December 15. Proceeds from this auction support the NAMA Student Careers Program.

Be on the lookout for an email from ABEF for more information on the upcoming media auction. Save money on your media budget and support Student NAMA!

Join the 2016 ABEF Century Club for a chance to win a 6-month Wine of the Month Club Membership.  Click here to join.

Join by December 15 and your name will be entered to win 2 bottles every month for 6 months.

Thanks to Rhea & Kaiser for the sponsorship of this promotion.

Recruit someone you know to become a NAMA member and be entered into a drawing for complimentary registration* to the Agri-Marketing Conference next April. The campaign will run from October 15 through December 15. The drawing will take place December 16.

Simply tell your recruit to join at nama.org and add your name and company in the box titled “Referred by.”

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

*Registration is non-transferable.

The 2017 National Ag Day is March 21. The Agriculture Council of America has revamped the website for this year. Take a look now at www.agday.org. Check back often for more details on Ag Day.

Ag Day Essay Contest:

High school students across the country are invited to enter the National Ag Day essay and video contest, sponsored by the Agriculture Council of America. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Food for Life.” The Council’s objective is to celebrate agriculture and to help consumers better understand how farmers and the companies serving them produce abundant, healthy, nutritious, and safe food that nourishes our families and consumers around the world.

The 2017 Ag Day Essay Contest is divided into two categories of competition: written essay and video essay. Contestants are to compose an original written essay and/or video essay with limited guidance from adults, teachers or agricultural industry professionals.

All entries must be received at the Agriculture Council of America office by midnight CST, January 31, 2017.

Click here for more information on the 2017 Ag Day Essay Contest.

Ag Day Photo Contest:

The National Ag Day Photo Contest is designed to showcase the talents of young artists and photographers who share a passion for modern agriculture. A winning original photo will be chosen as the official 2017 National Ag Day poster. The contest is open to all amateur artists enrolled in college.

Students are to take an original photo that ties into the 2017 Ag Day Theme: “Agriculture: Food for Life.” All entries must be received at the Agriculture Council of America office by midnight CST, December 15, 2016.

Click here for more information on the 2017 Ag Day Photo Contest.