Whether you’ve just entered the rough working world or one who’s been through the NAMA Boot Camp drill before, sign up for this program today to learn more about the agri-marketing industry. This year the Boot Camp will take it to a new level expanding on marketing and agriculture basics.

Join the National Agri-Marketing Association for the 14th annual NAMA Boot Camp, August 8-10 in Kansas City. Register Today!

Tuesday, August 8

MoKan Ag Tour (optional)
Join us for the MoKan NAMA Ag Tour on Tuesday, August 8!

The MoKan NAMA Ag Tour is a one-day, on-farm experience where attendees will tour and learn about different nuances of agricultural operations in the surrounding area.

Our first stop will be a 15,000 acre corn/soy operation to learn about new technologies going into today’s agronomy, equipment and farm management.

Next, we will visit Shatto Milk Company and dairy for a full tour and lunch.

We’ll finish at Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery for a look (and taste) of their local grapes and how they market their business.

Breakfast and lunch will be served as part of the tour and is included in the registration cost of $75.

4:00 p.m. — Boot Camp Registration

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. — Welcome Reception

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. — Opening General Session, Dinner & Networking Activity
Kick off the Boot Camp with a networking activity designed to help you get to know fellow attendees.

Wednesday, August 9

8:00 a.m. — Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. — General Session
Managing Up, Managing Sideways
Gail Calhoun, Calhoun Consulting
The ability to identify and adapt to different communications styles within your organization is a critical component to success. Whether you’re new to your career or just looking for some helpful hints, this session will highlight tips for communicating with team members and managing expectations to make sure you’re delivering the best work possible.  Gail Calhoun is president of Calhoun Consulting, Inc., a Minneapolis-based sales communication and executive coaching firm.   

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. — Break

10:30 a.m. – Noon — Producer Panel 
Moderator: Jared Spader, VP of Strategy and Business Development/U.S. Operations, AgCall 
Learn how to communicate effectively with producers. The producer panel has become a Boot Camp favorite and attendees won’t want to miss the valuable insights from producers. 

Noon – 1:30 p.m. — Luncheon  

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Breakout Sessions (choose one)

A Year in the Life of a Producer
This highly interactive session will address basics of the industry along with issues and challenges. Hear it straight from the producer.

Lessons Learned from a Career in Crisis Management
Every organization will eventually face the moment when something goes wrong affecting your people, products or reputation. This session will offer practice tips for managing a crisis based on real-life experiences of an ag communicator who has helped manage producer recalls, oil spills, pink slime and the media onslaught that accompanies a crisis.

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. — Break

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Breakout Sessions (choose one)

Economics & Agriculture
Session description coming soon.

The Secrets of a Strong Client-Agency Relationship
Amy Bugg, Account Supervisor, Woodruff
Just like any relationship, the agency-client partnership relies on many of the same ingredients that make up any successful relationship – trust, communication and chemistry. Building that mutually rewarding relationship takes time and commitment, but the outcomes can be extremely rewarding. Amy Bugg has worked for, and with, some of the leading companies and agencies in agribusiness. She will provide an inside look at ag communications on both the client and agency sides and highlight some of the ingredients for a strong agency-client bond.

4:30 – 6:30 p.m. — Offsite Reception
A shuttle will take attendees to a special outdoor reception at Brick House in the Martini Corner. www.brickhousekc.com

Thursday, August 10

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. — Breakfast Session
Farm Radio Connects
Tom Brand, Executive Director, NAFB
Farmers and ranchers are on the go and farm radio provides current, local relevant news for their operation. Continued industry research showcases the importance of farm radio for the U.S. agriculture industry. Radio is a daily source of ag related news and information producers need and want to know.

 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. — General Session
Navigating Your Career in Agribusiness
Moderator: Gail Calhoun, Calhoun Consulting
Panelists: Diane Martin, Rhea + Kaiser; Amy Bradford, Growmark; and Curt Blades, Meredith Agrimedia
If your career path is a journey, then are you navigating? Whether you’re just starting out or you’re well down the road, everyone can benefit from an experienced mentor to help them get the most out of their career. This interactive session will feature three successful agribusiness professionals who will provide practical advice, success stories and tips that you can apply right away for getting the most out of your career in agribusiness. Panelists will share their professional experiences and answer your questions.

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. — Closing Session
Agriculture: What’s to Come
Paul Spooner, USFRA
Today, a positive trend shows that more consumers believe agriculture is moving in the right direction, with more than half that positively perceive U.S. farmers and ranchers’ commitment in improving farming techniques and informing people about how food is grown and raised. However, the loudest voices are still not supportive of modern agriculture. We must work together to change the conversation. In this closing session, find out “What’s to Come” of agriculture and learn how to make an impact in sharing agriculture’s story with today’s consumer.

Opportunities:

• • Welcome Reception, Tuesday evening – $4,000
• • Second Keynote Speaker – $2,000
• • Closing Session Speaker – $2,000
• • Closing Luncheon (co-sponsor with existing sponsor, Farm Progress) – $2,000
• • Pre-Conference Workshop – $1,000
• • Breaks – $1,000 each (Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning)
• • Onsite Signage – $1,000
• • Registration Brochure – $1,000
• • Breakout Sessions – $500
• • Name Badges – $500
• • Program Guide Ads: Full Page – $1,000; Half Page – $500; Quarter page – $250

Benefits:

• • Logo and name listed on the website, promotional brochure, emails, program guide and on signage.
• • If sponsoring a reception or break, the ability to use your own signage or distribute items.
• • If sponsoring a speaker, the opportunity to introduce them.
• • First right of refusal for next year’s event.

Join NAMA for a reception at the Ag Media Summit on July 24 at 9:00 p.m. at the Snowbird Resort. Stop by after dinner for drinks and networking. There is no need to register and no need to be a NAMA or NAFB member.

The reception will be co-sponsored by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. The entire Ag Media Summit takes place July 22-26 at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. For more information on AMS visit http://agmediasummit.com.

Are you attending the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois?  If so, join other NAMA members at a reception co-hosted by the Chicago, Gateway, Heartland and Mid-America NAMA Chapters.

It’s a great opportunity to take a break and interact with other NAMA members on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Exhibitor’s Tent.  Appetizers and drinks will be provided (yes, adult beverages, too). For more information on the Farm Progress Show, visit www.farmprogressshow.com.

The Professional Development Awards of Excellence honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA). Awards of Excellence will be presented in the areas of (1) Marketing Communications, (2) Product/Species Management, (3) Public Relations and (4) Sales.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence is July 21, 2017.  These awards will be presented at the 2017 Fall Conference, September 19 – 21, in Milwaukee, WI.

Nominees for the Awards of Excellence must be NAMA members. Nominators should target individuals with direct planning and execution responsibilities in the respective Professional Development Area from agribusiness and related companies. If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Jenny Pickett at [email protected].

Please fill out the online nomination form.

View the rules and regulations and past winners on the NAMA website.

Join NAMA and Connectiv’s Ag Committee on June 29th for a deep dive into trending issues shaping the Ag Business.

The AgTrending webinar offers three timely topics from the editor’s perspective on markets, Washington policy and technology. All three sessions will be moderated by Willie Vogt, Executive Director, Content and User Engagement, Penton Agriculture.

1. AgRisk
Bryce Knorr, Senior Grain Market Analyst at Penton’s Farm Futures Magazine, discusses what’s moving the markets. He reviews production, price, financial, institutional and personal risks as well as the yields, prices, weather, government policies, global markets, and other factors that impact the commodities trade. He also previews the impact of the June 30 USDA Report, which is the first look at 2017 acreage estimates.

2. AgPolitics
Chris Clayton, Ag Policy Editor of DTN/The Progressive Farmer, analyzes Washington policies governing the ag business. He will discuss debate around the upcoming farm bill and the impact on commodity programs, crop insurance and conservation. He will also touch on other issues affecting agriculture in Washington, including the renegotiation of NAFTA, the health-care bill and tax reform efforts.

3. AgTech
Susan Skiles Luke, Editor of Farm Journal and Editorial Director of Farm Journal Media, will cover the excitement and innovation going on in the ag technology space. This includes a look at some of the most innovative on-farm technologies just around the corner, farmer adoption (or lack of it), main challenges and the role of investors.

Please join us on June 29th at 1pm CST for this engaging and insightful webinar. Click here to register.

We look forward to you joining us on June 29th.