Congratulations to Lesley Landry, Sullivan Branding, for winning a free Agri-Marketing Conference registration from NAMA! The names of members who referred new NAMA members between October 15 and December 15 were included in a drawing that took place on December 18. Lesley was the lucky recipient whose name was drawn. Thanks to everyone who participated for their referrals!

New Member List:
Welcome our New Members for December 2017:

BADGER
Chloe Derse, Charleston|Orwig

CAMA ALBERTA
Jenna Pattison, Meridian Manufacturing Group
Jacob Welde , Meridian Manufacturing Group

CHESAPEAKE
Jamie Tiralla, All Ag Media

CHICAGO
Kaitlyn Gustafson, Iowa State University

FLORIDA 
Marshal Sewell, Monsanto

GATEWAY
Christine Boyd, Novus International, Inc.

IOWA
Anne Denholm, Meridian Manufacturing Group
Joni Erwin, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds
Melissa Snyder, DuPont Pioneer
Celina Young, Iowa State University

MID-AMERICA   
Cory Edge, Farm Journal Media
Judy Royce, Fastline Media Group, LLC
Rachel Weber, Alltech, Inc.

MIDSOUTH
Allison Chen, Archer Malmo

MISSOURI-KANSAS  
Kelly Coulson, Merck Animal Health
Christine Hong, Aggio
Chad Smith, The Sandbox Agency

NORTH CENTRAL
Kendra Moser, Martin Williams
Cara Pingel, CHS, Inc.

SOUTHWEST  
Anna Roach, Archer Malmo

Hunger is a major challenge for many families in all parts of the U.S. According to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, one in nine people in its service area are food insecure, which means they don’t know where they will get their next meal. One in six children under age 18 are food insecure.

The mission of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is “to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin through community partnerships.” The organization serves 16 counties in southwestern Wisconsin and works with more than 200 partner agencies, such as food pantries, shelters, and meal sites.

Badger NAMA members recently pulled together to help Second Harvest in its mission. Twelve Badger NAMA members visited Second Harvest in Madison, Wisconsin on December 13 to volunteer for 2.5 hours. According to Pam Higham, volunteer services coordinator, the total volunteer time equated to 1,950 meals served. Badger NAMA members networked and shared laughs while sorting more than 8,000 pounds of frozen food to be distributed throughout southwestern Wisconsin.

In addition, Badger NAMA pledged to donate $20 to Second Harvest on behalf of each volunteer who participated in the event. That donation will provide an additional 720 meals.

Badger NAMA members commented that it was a fun opportunity to do good in the local community and get a real picture of hunger issues throughout the area. They encourage others to get involved in hunger action initiatives.

In conjunction with the Almond Conference in Sacramento, the Western Pacific NAMA Chapter held a lunch reception and site tour at Bayer’s West Sacramento research site on Wednesday, December 6,  2017, organized by membership chairperson, Sandy Fiack. The chapter winners of the “Best of NAMA” awards for this year were announced and recipients had the honor of describing their most esteemed project or entry. Congratulatory pictures were taken of winners receiving a plaque with President, Greg Hains. All of the commemorative plaques have been mailed to winners from the National NAMA office and should be arriving soon!

The host for the day was Kelly O’Halloran, who provided an overview of Bayer’s Biologics and Vegetable Seeds research facility. The group learned that the site employs about 195 folks with roughly 52% of them millennials and 25% of them with degrees from UC Davis, located 12 miles away. The company has a community outreach focus, with an emphasis on encouraging students to explore science. Bayer’s mission is centered on the challenges facing our world’s increasing food demand and customers’ needs by developing seeds and traits, biologicals, chemicals and services for growers.

Dr. Heemanshu Patel walked attendees through much of the 175,000 foot lab and research facility explaining in more detail the value of beneficial microbes and the fermentation process as related to plant nutrient uptake and soil health. The group also touched on the vegetable seed market where tomatoes reflect 27% of their market, followed by peppers, cucumbers, onions, watermelons, melons and carrots. Their research and development strategy is focused on integrated breeding for specific desirable traits.

2018 will be a year of change, with the anticipated acquisition of Monsanto. The Bayer team remains optimistic and convinced that the new company will create a global leader in sustainable agriculture as they work to shape the future of farming.

Pictured here in no particular order are Sarah Baker and Allison Chen, Archer Malmo; Marcie Rhind, Compass Minerals; Callie Borror, California Cattlewomen; Sandy Fiack, Zenith Agribusiness Solutions; Renee Smith and Bruce Freeby, Virtus Nutrition; Greg Hains, Capitol Press; Carrie Isaacson, broadhead.; Maureen Nassie, Netafim USA; and Kelly O’Halloran and Dr. Heemanshu Patel, BayerCrop Science.