If you were unable to attend the Agri-Marketing Conference, or would like a copy of the presentations,  you can watch the video of the General Sessions and the student marketing competition top 6 finalists on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ExploreNAMA.

On May 9, members of the Chicago, Heartland, Badger and Illinois State NAMA Chapters spent a day on Spirit Family Farms in Sheridan, IL.  John and Michelle Stewart, Spirit Family Farms’ owners, shared information on the daily management of a nearly 23,000 acre farming enterprise, a residuals management business, Stewart Spreading,  and the skills and balancing act needed in dealing with 90 employees, while being proactive in public relations and community outreach.

Despite the chilly weather, the ABEF golf tournament kicked off the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference at Tiffany Greens Golf Course.   First place golfers included Les Kahl, AdFarm; Roger Reierson, AdFarm; Shaun Crockett, AdFarm; and Bill Vaughn, Merck.  Second place went to Doug Catt, Farm Journal Media; Clint Thezan, Farmland Foods; Mike Wegner, National Pork Board; and Lyle Orwig, Charleston Orwig. Taking third was Don Dauterive, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman; Bob Brunker, J.L. Farmakis; Greg Guse, Paulsen Marketing; and Dennis Bryant, DF Bryant.

ABEF AUCTION
The ABEF Online Auction is still open! There are many great packages to be had.  Packages are available for bidding at http://www.nama.org/abef/silentauction/bidco.htm.  Auction closes May 31 at 5:00 p.m.

WALL OF WINE GIVEAWAY
Once again, the NAMA Executive Committee and the ABEF Operating committee  donated over two cases of wine to be given away to one lucky individual who  renewed their century club membership before or during conference.  Over 84 members signed up or renewed and the lucky winner was Kelly Berg with Western Producer Media.

ABEF STUDENT RAFFLE
Over $3,300 was raised from the student raffle with Chris Sidles of  Farm Market iD winning  the Vizio 55″ Flat Screen TV, courtesy of  Penton/Farm Progress.  A portion of the money raised will help cover student expenses for next year’s conference.  The top school selling the most raffle tickets was Delaware Valley College.

The winner of the 2013 Student Marketing Competition sponsored by Monsanto and FMC  is … University of Minnesota!

The University of Minnesota marketing team had nearly a dozen students involved with this year’s project to provide home brewers with a distinct northern experience – hops that are locally grown and privately trademarked.

Marketing Competition Results:

2nd place – University of Guelph
3rd place – Kansas State University
4th place – University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
5th place – Michigan State University
6th place – University of Wisconsin – Platteville

Students decide on a project and develop a plan to successfully bring the product or service to the marketplace. In developing their marketing plan, students follow the same practices and principles used by today’s marketing professionals. Teams submit a written plan summary prior to the competition and then make a formal presentation of their marketing plan to a panel of judges at the competition. The judges’ panel consists of marketing and agribusiness professionals.

Overall, 29 student NAMA chapters participated in the marketing competition. The competition is part of the annual Agri-Marketing Conference. Over 350 student members attended the conference.

For a list of the Student Marketing Competition Winners/Finalists and to view their Executive Summaries visit http://www.nama.org/student/marketing.html.

John Deere Signature Award
Illinois State University won the 2013 John Deere Signature Award, which recognizes the chapters that have accumulated the most points for outstanding student chapter, student marketing competition, ABEF scholarships, membership and participation, and projects and activities.

Other winners of the 2013 John Deere Signature Award included:

2nd place – Iowa State University
3rd place – University of  Florida
4th place – Michigan State University
5th place – University of Wisconsin-Madison

NAMA’s Choice Awards
NAMA’s Choice Awards are voted on by the students during finals of the student marketing competition. This year’s winners were:

Favorite team — Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
Best-dressed team — University of Illinois
Team I’d like to be friends with on Facebook — University of Guelph
Toughest judge — Kim Lang, Water Street Solutions

2013 Chapter Performance Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Chapter Performance Awards!

Chapter Management – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chapter Programs – University of Florida
Membership Recruitment – Iowa State University
Fundraising/Financial Management – Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
Chapter Communications – Iowa State University
Career Development – Illinois  State University

Outstanding Student Chapter
First Place – Illinois State University
Second Place – Iowa State University
Third Place – Michigan State University
Fourth Place – University of Florida

Dr. John B. Riley Outstanding Advisor Award
Dr. Aslihan Spaulding – Illinois State Univ.

Outstanding Professional
Melissa Rogers, GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Nominated by Michigan State University

Outstanding Professional Chapter
Florida Chapter
Nominated by University of Florida

ABEF Silent/Online Media Auctions

Donations are still needed for the ABEF Silent Auction and Online Auction at the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City.

Find a home for that special edition wildlife print or even those sports tickets and surplus company logo jackets. Or give a media package or services and support the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) at the same time. How? By contributing to the annual ABEF Silent Auction.

Any worthwhile product or service will be gratefully accepted. Some of the most popular items auctioned in past years include:

~ Framed and limited edition artwork

~ Media packages for broadcast, print & internet

~ Professional services

~ Premiums and wearables

~ Collectibles

~ Sports tickets and memorabilia

Please join your agri-marketing peers in supporting this worthwhile effort by donating to the auction. Click on the Pledge Form to indicate your donation and/or interest in the project.

Online Media Auction

The Online Auction begins April 3, 8:00 a.m. – April 9, 11:59 p.m.  Bid on web-related donations, media packages and other services as part of its annual Silent Auction.

If a bid is received on an item within the last 30 minutes of the auction, the auction will remain open on that item through the next business day until 5:00 p.m. (central time). This process will continue until no bids are received within 30 minutes of the bid closing. If the bidding continues, the bidding on that item will stop at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 15 (even if bids are received during the last 30 minutes) and will continue on-site at the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference in the Silent Auction area. Any media items not bid during the online media auction will be available for bidding on-site in the Silent Auction area as well.

Look for an email first thing Wednesday morning with information on how to participate.

The primary goal or mission of the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) is to provide today’s agri-business students the tools they will need to succeed tomorrow.  Visit http://www.nama.org/amc/auctions.html.