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.

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!

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 wait too long; the deadline to submit is December 1.  Presentations submitted are in consideration for the 2017 calendar year.

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.

Buy some of your advertising for next year from the best ag media companies at prices more competitive than normal while donating to a great cause!

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation Media Auction is open for bidding! The deadline to submit your bids is December 15, 2016.

Proceeds from the Media Auction support the Student NAMA Careers Program. The ABEF is the backbone of Student NAMA. With the help of generous funders, ABEF is ensuring a strong future for the agri-marketing industry by providing students with the tools they need to succeed.

The Media Auction is available online through the NAMA website. Click here to view the media packages and start bidding!

For questions, call the NAMA office at (913) 491-6500 or email Jenny Pickett.

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.

Cornhusker NAMA Monthly Chapter Meeting November 17

Please plan to attend the November meeting of the Cornhusker NAMA Chapter for an informative discussion about GMO consumer opinions and GMO education.

Jana McGuire, senior account manager with public relations firm Look East will share consumer research related to GMOs, organics and other food growing trends. University of Nebraska (UNL) professor Donald Lee will follow with an insightful discussion about genetic modification in crops and how humans have provided the selection force to change the plants we grow for a purpose. Lee’s presentation will also feature the “Journey of a Gene” learning resource developed by Grace Troupe, a graduate teaching and research assistant from UNL developed as part of her Master’s degree work.

Look East is a full-service public relations firm specializing in issues related to food and agriculture based in Gladstone, Missouri. Before joining Look East, Jana was a radio and television reporter and worked in public relations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before pursuing a freelance career as a writer, video producer and on-camera/voice-over talent.

Donald Lee is a distinguished professor of crop and weed genetics and crop genetic engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lee received his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics from Montana State University in 1988 and is the author of many publications related to crop genetics and transgenic crops.

WHEN:   November 17, 2016

WHERE: Firespring

1201 Infinity Court

Lincoln, NE 68512

TIME:     3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Social Hour following

Meeting Cost

Cornhusker NAMA members      $20

Non-member                             $30

Students                                   No Charge!

You are also invited to join members of the Nebraska Agribusiness Club for a fun-filled fundraiser for Cedars Youth Services. The event includes local beers, shuffleboard, billiards, foosball, ping pong and X-box games. A $25 donation will go directly to support a needy family at Cedars Youth Services to help them buy Christmas gifts for underprivileged children.

Hope to see you on November 17 at Firespring!

To RSVP, just click here.

Questions can be addressed to Doug Carr, [email protected]