Executive Committee
The NAMA Executive Committee will be meeting this week in Lake Tahoe, California. Kevin Ochsner, Adayana, Inc., will be joining the Executive Committee to help committee members establish NAMA’s strategic plan. The meeting will take place August 4-5.

Executive Committee members include: Susie Decker, Farm Progress Companies (National NAMA President); Vicki Henrickson, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications (President-Elect); Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co. (Secretary/Treasurer); Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products; Kenna Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications; Robert Ratliff, ProfitableFarming.com; Ken Dean, SouthWestern Association/Western Farm Show; Marvin Kokes, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Becky Peterson, Farm Credit Services; and Jenny Pickett, National NAMA.

Careers Committee
The Careers Committee will meet August 27 at the Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications offices in Naperville, IL. The committee will be discussing the responsibilities of the committee as well as any Marketing Competition Guideline changes and planning for the Student Marketing Competition at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, 2011.

The Careers Committee includes: Wes Meador, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications (Careers Chair); Kristen Marshall, Nicholson Kovac (Vice Chair); Stacey Noe, Iowa State University (Advisor); Jennifer Christie, John Deere, Ltd. & Student Advisor for University of Guelph; Deron Johnson, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications; Michelle Tollefson, Pfizer Animal Health; Matt Bornhorst, Agriculture Future of America; Mike Butler, Archer>Malmo; Amy Barron, Novus International; Janelle Buxton, Successful Farming & Agriculture Online; Sara Thieding, Makhteshim Agan of North America; Jill Loehr, Wyffels Hybrids; Carrie Jorgensen, McCormick Company; Amy Jolliff, Bader Rutter & Associates; and Paul Redhage, FMC Agriculture Products (Executive Committee Liaison).

Several of the North Central Chapter’s leaders (Sheri Hansen, Padilla Speer Beardsley; Josh Krenz, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Lori Maude, Broadhead + Co.; Teri Otte, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Melissa Richard, Padilla Speer Beardsley; and JoDee George, Weber Shandwick) met at the Padilla Speer Beardsley offices on Thursday, July 22 to plan the upcoming chapter year.  By the end of the morning, topics had been chosen and responsibility of each assigned to specific leaders.

Chapter members can look forward to a variety of programs, including generational issues, crisis communication, legislative updates and another fun night at a Twins game.  In addition, the North Central Chapter will host a reception at the closing of NAMA’s Trends in Agriculture Conference, being held at The Marquette Hotel in Minneapolis on October 5 and 6.

Thanks to all who attended the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 21-23, in Kansas City! This year’s conference attendance was the highest in 10 years!

If you were at the conference and have not yet filled out the online survey, please do so at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=llIfMHX5o9XJcRdqbR_2bTYg_3d_3d. Your response is greatly appreciated!

If you were unable to join us in Kansas City for the conference, take a look at the highlights on the NAMA blog at www.namablog.org.

For a list of the Best of NAMA winners from the conference, please visit http://www.agrimarketingdigital.com for a complete list of winners.

For photo highlights from the conference, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/namaflickr/collections/72157623950490478/. Special thanks to Denny Eilers, Iowa Photo Farm, for taking photo’s.

Early Registration Deadline – March 31, 2010

The early registration deadline for the Agri-Marketing Conference is Wednesday, March 31. Register today to avoid higher rates after March 31.

Download and fill out the registration form and mail, fax or phone it in to the NAMA Office. You may also register on-line at http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=8.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations until March 31 are entitled to a full refund. Cancellations from April 1 to April 10 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after April 10. All refunds will be subject to a $25 processing fee. No “Bill Me’s” will be accepted after April 6.

Hotel Cut-Off Date ~ March 30, 2010
The hotel cut-off date is March 30, 2010. Reservations made after March 30 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. Hurry and make your reservations today before the block fills up!

The Hyatt Regency Crown Center is the hotel for the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference. Make sure you mention “NAMA” when making reservations. All reservation requests will require a credit card guarantee or one night’s deposit. Deposits will be refunded by the hotel for rooms canceled more than three (3) days prior to arrival.

Hyatt Regency Crown Center
2345 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 421-1234

Online Reservations
There are two blocks at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, one for students and one for professionals. You are now able to make your reservations on-line, just follow the links below:

Student Block – http://crowncenter.hyatt.com/groupbooking/mkcrknags2010

Professional Block - http://crowncenter.hyatt.com/groupbooking/mkcrknagr2010

Start making your plans now to attend the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 21-23, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

We’ve included the schedule at-a-glance for professionals and students below so you can easily plan your trip.

PROFESSIONAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 20

12:00 Noon – 5:00 p.m. – Executive Committee Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – ABEF Golf Outing
6:00-8:00 p.m. – ABEF Golf Outing Awards Reception

Wednesday, April 21

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon – Chapter Leader Workshop
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Board of Directors’ Meeting
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Pre-Conference Workshop
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – First-Timer/Leader Reception
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Best of NAMA Finalists Reception
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Best of NAMA Ceremony
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Best of NAMA Celebration Reception in the Connection Point

Thursday, April 22

7:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Omelet Feast
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Opening General Session/Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Second General Session/NAMA Marketer of the Year Award/NAMA Leadership Awards
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – Connection Point Luncheon
1:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Finals
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Senior Management Workshop
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Connection Point Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Connection Point Closing Reception/ABEF Silent Auction

Friday, April 23

6:00 – 7:15 a.m. – Sunrise Walk
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 Noon – Closing Session Brunch

STUDENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 20

12:00 Noon – 5:00 p.m. – Student Practice
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Student Orientation
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Judges’ Reception/Orientation

Wednesday, April 21

7:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Student Marketing Competition Preliminary Heats
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Student Luncheon
12:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Semi-Finals
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Student Critiques

Thursday, April 22

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Student Mentoring Lunch in the Connection Point
1:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Student Marketing Competition Finals
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Student Awards in the Connection Point
9:00 p.m. – 12:00 Midnight – Student Party

Friday, April 23

7:00 – 8:00 a.m. – Student Advisors’ Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Student Presidents’ Meeting

To register for the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=8.

To make your hotel reservations, please visit:
Professionals – http://crowncenter.hyatt.com/groupbooking/mkcrknagr2010

Students – http://crowncenter.hyatt.com/groupbooking/mkcrknags2010

NAMA is introducing a new level of sponsorship;  Sustaining Partners

The NAMA Sustaining Partner would provide maximum exposure for a company seeking to align themselves more closely throughout the year with NAMA.  The program delivers extensive overall promotional benefits and exposure at all three key NAMA events (Conference, Boot Camp and Trends in Agriculture).  The partnership provides the ability to carry marketing objectives to new levels while assuring that NAMA has a more stable means of sponsorship income throughout the year.  The baseline commitment is $10,000 over the course of one full year.

The NAMA Sustaining Partner will receive all the sponsorship benefits of a Platinum Level Sponsor, plus the following:

• Use of Strategic Partner logo in advertising and promotion
• Web banner ad on NAMA web site that rotates with other Strategic Partners on an equal basis
• One comp registration at each of the three key NAMA meetings
• One comp NAMA membership
• Ad on digital signage at annual Conference
• Logo recognition as a partner on promotional materials for all three key NAMA events
• Verbal recognition at all three key events

For more information contact Jennifer Pickett at jennyp@nama.org.

For a list of opportunities and other sponsor information visit www.nama.org/amc.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is January 15, 2010. Both awards will be presented at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 21-23, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Agribusiness Leader of the Year
The Agribusiness Leader of the Year is NAMA’s highest honor. The award honors an outstanding leader in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas. Nominees do not need to be NAMA members.

Fill out the nomination form on-line now at http://www.nama.org/awards/agribusinessform.htm. Or download the Agribusiness Leader Nomination form in an Adobe PDF format by visiting, http://www.nama.org/awards/agbusapplication.pdf.

NAMA Marketer of the Year
NAMA recognizes its active members with senior management of marketing and/or sales responsibilities with the NAMA Marketer of the Year award. This award is the most prestigious honor awarded to an active member of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing directly to ag producers. Nominees MUST be NAMA members.

Fill out the nomination form on-line now at http://www.nama.org/awards/namamarketerform.htm or download the NAMA Marketer of the Year nomination form in an Adobe PDF format by visiting, http://www.nama.org/awards/mktrapplication.pdf.