We’ve set a goal of 1800 NAMA members by the end of 2018 – 18 in ’18.

Our latest membership survey proves that word-of-mouth marketing is the best way to let people know about the great programming and networking opportunities in NAMA.

We challenge everyone in the organization to recruit a new member. Just have your recruit(s) list your name in the “Referred by” field on the registration page https://nama.org/NAMA.OrchardWeb/MemberRegistration/Register. We’ll draw names of “Referrers” each month for a special gift.

We’ll update this chart each month.

New Member List:
Welcome our New Members for May 2018:

AT LARGE
Matthew Saunders, Boehringer Ingelheim

BADGER
Sara Gabor, Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
Charitee Seebecker

CHESAPEAKE
Rebecca Mackey, National Turkey Federation

CORNHUSKER
Erica Lewis

EASTERN
Casey Branstetter, AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA
Avery Mellinger

GATEWAY
Maggie Garvey, Woodruff
Emma Haley

GREAT PLAINS
Jill Seiler, Grant Company

HEARTLAND
Joseph Keller

IOWA
Rose Ayers, Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Sasha Fuerstenberg, John Deere Financial
Jessica Swaim, Two Rivers Marketing

MID-AMERICA
Wesley Davis, Purdue University
Nick Finney

MISSOURI-KANSAS
Drake Meyer, AgriThority

NORTH CENTRAL
Paxton Alto, Padilla
Lauren Hopke

NORTHERN PRAIRIE
Mylie Herman
Candy Van Dam, Insight Marketing Design

OHIO
Cece Utendorf

SOUTHEASTERN
Becky Shaver, Bekaert Corporation

WESTERN PACIFIC
Jason Scott, JCS Marketing Inc.

Please join the Carolinas/Virginia Chapter at their June networking happy hour at Lonerider Brewing! Valentino’s food truck will be onsite and ready for anyone brave enough to participate in the hottest meatball challenge. There will be an area reserved for the group.

WHEN: Thursday, June 14 at 4:00 to 6:00 PM

WHERE: Lonerider Brewing Company, 8816 Gulf Ct., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27617

COST: $10

REGISTER NOW!

Welcome MSP Interns: Networking With Interns and Professionals

Welcome MSP area agriculture marketing and communications interns with a networking event at Stella’s Fish Cafe in Uptown. Interns will get a chance to network with other interns and professionals, and professionals will get a chance to meet the “up and comers” in the industry. A social hour will be followed by a panel that will include representatives from Martin Williams and Land O’Lakes discussing how interns can make the most out of their time here. Don’t miss this chance to network with the future of the industry.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 19 at 5:30 to 8:00 PM

WHERE: Stella’s Fish Café & Prestige Oyster Bar, 1400 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408

For more information contact Anna Wagner Schliep at [email protected].

REGISTER NOW!

North Central NAMA gathered for a chapter meeting on Wednesday, May 16 at the 508 Bar with roughly 25 people in attendance. They gathered for a brief happy hour before hearing from a panel who discussed the importance of the consumer understanding of agriculture and food.

The panel, moderated by Bill Brozak of PERISCOPE, included: Phil Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at Colle McVoy; Steve Peterson, former Director of Sustainable Sourcing at General Mills; and Abigail Schilling, Corporate Communications at Land O’Lakes, Inc.

North Central NAMA’s next meeting will be on June 19th at Stella’s Fish Cafe, where they will host interns from around the Twin Cities!

The Iowa and Cornbelt chapters rounded out their 2017-2018 year with two great tours at Vermeer Corporation and Lely North America in Pella, Iowa on May 18. Mark Core, CMO and Vice President of Forage and Lifecycle Solutions at Vermeer, spoke to the group about Vermeer’s history as well as their business and marketing philosophies. Following his talk, the group received a guided tour of the company’s museum and Founders House.

After the Vermeer tour, the group then visited Lely’s North American headquarters. During this tour, Chad Huyser, Vice President of Lely North America, spoke to attendees about the company’s history and where they’re headed in the future. The group also received a tour of Lely’s automatic milker manufacturing facility. Following the tours, the group enjoyed refreshments at a local Pella pub.

Mark Twain said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” The Midsouth Chapter put that to the test at Old Dominick, a local Memphis distillery.

On May 10, the members were taken on a tour, one full of stories and traditions relating to the unique history of the products they make. The group walked through the entire grain to glass spirit making process, with special attention paid to where the grain was sourced from.

The tour guide invited all to reach in giant vats to taste and touch the mash as it went through the fermenting process – it was really hands on! The tour culminated in a spirit tasting and a toast to another great year in NAMA.

Strong voices can have an impact. That’s what Badger NAMA members learned on May 24 as they toured Katzman Farms’ beef operation, followed by a BBQ lunch at Casual Joe’s in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Katy Katzman shared how market demands forced them to shift from raising Holstein steers to black angus beef cattle. Former state FFA officer and now chef and restaurant owner, Tyler Salisbery told members how he promotes consumer choice when it comes to food while remaining true to his agriculture roots. Deeper appreciation for farmers and inspiration to continue telling agriculture’s story were key takeaways from this real farm-to-table event.