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 8th annual NAMA Boot Camp, August  16-18, 2011 in Kansas City.

All attendees will receive a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts, case studies and speaker presentations. This notebook has become one of the most popular aspects of the boot camp experience.

Tuesday, August 16

7:15 a.m. – Ag Tour Registration

8:00 a.m. – MoKan Ag Tour (optional)
The tour is an on-farm experience where attendees will tour as well as learn about different operations.  The tour includes a trip to Kurzweils Meat a family-owned and operated, full circle operation. They raise their own grain, feeding raised grain to their hogs, and then using some raised hogs at the meat market.  The  tour will also visit the Harrisonville, MO, Retail/Wholesale location of Crop Production Services which is one of the largest National Agriculture Wholesale and Retailers in North America.

5:00 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.

Becky Johnson, Senior Vice President, Fleishman Hillard
A “farm kid” from a farrow-to-finish swine operation and a former quality assurance chemist, Becky Johnson provides a unique combination of technical, practical and firsthand knowledge about the food and agricultural industry. Becky combines her production ag roots and food industry experience with an understanding of consumer concerns to help clients communicate messages that resonate with their target audiences.

Wednesday, August 17

8:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m. – General Session – Producer Panel

Moderator: Tom Hudson, Successful Farming
Producers: Jimmie Long, Jimmie Long Livestock, Cole Camp, MO; Rick Russell; Steve Berry
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.  The panel will be moderated by Tom Hudson, Successful Farming and Agriculture Online.  Three producers will be joining the moderator to share their insights.

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Break

10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)

A Year in the Life of a Row Crop Farmer

Rick Russell
Spend a year in the life of a specialty producer.  This session will explore the challenges and business decisions that a specialty producer faces in a year.

Rick Russell is a fifth generation family farmer/rancher in Stafford and Pratt Counties in south central Kansas. He raises corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, and has a background cattle operation during the winter months on 2500 acres. A crop consulting service, along with GPS mapping and guidance, is part of the farm management.

Making Social Media Simple

Randa Zalman, Online Strategist and Sr. Account Supervisor, Redstone
Companies are increasingly using the power of social media to connect with current members and to build membership and brands.  Others hold back, concerned about the difficulty in controlling messages and potential damage to their brand.  In this discussion, Randa will outline the myths, trends, strategic paradigms and possible problem scenarios that can happen online so you can simplify your approach.

12:00 Noon-1:30 p.m. – Luncheon – Creating Attention Getting Print Ads

Jack Semler, Readex Research
Creating Effective Advertising in Agricultural Print Media will offer you an opportunity to learn what types of creative approaches in print advertising work best.  You’ll learn time-tested rules to the road and see actual examples of print ads that have been measured by Readex in various agricultural publications.  The session will conclude with a short, interactive experience where you guess which ad scored best!

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)

A Year in the Life of a Cow/Calf Producer

Jimmie Long, Cole Camp, Missouri
Step into a producer’s boots without having to head to the farm. From risk management to calving, this session will cover the events a producer endures throughout the year.

Jimmie Long currently serves as the President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Jimmie presently runs Jimmie Long Livestock, which is his own order buying firm and his customers allow him to buy stocker cattle, feeder cattle and breeding stock for their ranches, backgrounders and feedlots. He is also a Field Representative for Kingsville Livestock Market.

Building Your Brand: Creating Lasting Emotional Bonds with your Customers

Bill Shelton – Left Field Creative
Join Bill Shelton, of Left Field Creative, as he shares a highly successful approach to creating a comprehensive brand identity, position, and personality for your product or brand.  This step-by-step process will give you the tools to start re-branding and re-positioning the moment the session ends.

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Break

3:00-4:00 p.m. – General Session – Generations Panel

Ken & Brad McCauley; Kathy & Chris Chinn
Two sets of producers will share their experiences regarding employment on the “family farm” as well as challenges and rewards they face as farmers. They will discuss how they help fellow generations learn from past experiences as well as current technologies and ideas to make their operations functional and profitable.

Ken & Brad McCauley comprise a father-son farming duo from White Cloud, Kan.  They each have their own farms: Ken owns K&M Farms, Inc., while Brad is the owner and operator of McCauley Inc.  Together, their operations total 4,600 acres.  They raise both corn and soybeans, which are grown mostly for seed.  Working the land is in the McCauleys’ blood: Ken started farming 160 acres while in high school and began farming full-time nearly 40 years ago; Brad followed suit in 1994, beginning his farming career while still in high school.

Kathy Chinn is a 4th generation farmer and Chris, her daughter-in-law, represents the 5th generation in the Chinn Family.  Chinn Hog Farm is a 1,500 sow, farrow-to-finish hog farm in northeast Missouri.  Kathy manages the daily operations in the sow barns and Chris oversees the financial records of the farm and the family-owned feed mill.  Kathy is married to Gary and together they have two sons, Kevin and Kyle, and four grandchildren.  Chris is married to Kathy’s oldest son, Kevin, and they have two children, Rachelle and Conner.

4:30-6:30 p.m. – Reception at Boulevard Brewery

A shuttle will take attendees to a special reception at Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewery. Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. The reception will take place in the beautiful Heim Room that features a unique view of the Kansas City skyline.

7:00 p.m. – Dine Around (optional)

Attendees can attend an optional dine-around. This is a great way to get to know your peers and learn about NAMA. This event is optional and dutch treat.

Thursday, August 18

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast

9:00-10:00 a.m. – General Session – Managing Your Agri-Marketing Career

Panelists:
Paul Redhage, FMC Corporation
Beth Burgy, Broadhead
Colleen Church McDowall, Osborn & Barr
Bob Brunker, J.L. Farmakis

Listen as professionals in the industry discuss the best way to manage your career.  This interactive session will feature client, agency and media professionals that have significant experience and expertise.  Come armed with questions!

10:00-10:15 a.m. – Break

10:15-11:30 a.m. – Closing Session

Today’s Food System, the Ethical Choice for People, Animals and the Planet

Jim Fallon, Center for Food Integrity
The Center for Food Integrity is dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence — bringing together stakeholders at every level of the food chain to reach consumers in meaningful ways with a unified voice and address the issues most critical to consumers.

You won’t want to miss the 2011 NAMA Boot Camp! To register now, visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=35.

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp and hotel reservation information, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.