The State Historical Society of Iowa building provided a unique venue for the Region III Best of NAMA Awards Banquet on January 27.  Over 100 people gathered that evening for dinner before moving into the auditorium for the awards ceremony.

Ken Root, a veteran agricultural reporter, announced the first place and merit winners for the region, which includes the Cornbelt, Iowa, North Central, and Northern Prairie Chapters.  The evening concluded with the Best of Show winners announced in the Advertising and Public Relations categories.

The Advertising Best of Show winners were South Dakota Corn Growers Association and Paulsen Marketing for their “South Dakota Corn Growers True Environmentalist Teaser Campaign – http://www.trueenvironmentalists.com.”  The Public Relations Best of Show winners were Midwest Dairy Association and Demeter Communications for “Midwest Dairy Academy for Retail Excellence.”

All first and merit winners are eligible to advance to the national judging. They received an email from the national NAMA office the next day with instructions on how to advance their entries. Those entries that win at the national judging will be announced at the Best of NAMA Ceremony that kicks off the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.