The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is 5:00 p.m. today, January 15.

The Agribusiness Leader of the Year award honors an outstanding leader in agribusiness, education, government service or other related areas. Solicited from senior level position holders in private, public or academic service, nominees should exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry. Nominees do not need to be NAMA members.

If you would like to nominate someone for the Agribusiness Leader of the Year award, please 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.

For more information on the Agribusiness Leader of the Year award visit, http://www.nama.org/awards/agribusinessleader.htm.

The NAMA Marketer of the Year award is the most prestigious honor awarded to an active member of the association and honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing. Nominees are solicited from agribusiness and related companies with overall marketing and/or sales responsibilities. Nominees must be NAMA members.

If you are interested in nominating someone for the NAMA Marketer of the Year award, please 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.

For more information on the NAMA Marketer of the Year Award, visit, http://www.nama.org/awards/namamarketer.htm.

The Region IV Best of NAMA Ceremony will take place this Thursday, January 17 at The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana, WI 53125 (on the western shore of Lake Geneva).

The Region IV Ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m.

To book a room at the Abbey Resort call 1-800-709-1323. Make sure you mention NAMA to receive the $109 discount rate.

Cost for the ceremony is $65.00 per person.

Register on-line at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/register.htm or by calling 913-491-6500.

The Region II Best of NAMA Awards will take place, Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at the VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino, One Riverboat Drive, North Kansas City, MO 64116.

Cost for the Awards Ceremony is $65/person. A block of rooms is available at Harrah’s for $99 for out-of-towners. For reservations call: 1-800-HARRAHS (800-427-7247) and make sure you mention NAMA to receive the special rate.

The Banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Register on-line at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/register.htm or by calling 913-491-6500.

In addition to the Regional Best of NAMA Ceremonies, mark your calendars for these upcoming chapter Best of NAMA Ceremonies and other events:

January 17, 2008
Midsouth NAMA
The Midsouth Best of NAMA Ceremony will take place January 17, 2008. The evening will kick-off with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. with a dinner and awards presentation following.

Please join Midsouth NAMA at the Equestria Restaurant, 3165 Forest Hill Irene Road, Germantown, TN, ph. 901-869-2663.

Please RSVP for the Midsouth Best of NAMA Ceremony today at http://survey.archermalmo.com/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=96KMm88.

Badger NAMA
Prior to the Region IV Ceremony, Badger NAMA will be hosting the Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the UW-Madison Campus, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison
Microbial Sciences Building, Room 1520.

Bruce Jones, a UW-Madison Agricultural Economics professor will provide a summary of the financial outlook for Wisconsin’s agriculture industry, and moderate a discussion on other subject areas found in the 2008 report, including:

Dairy, Bob Cropp
Livestock, Patrick Luby
Specialty Crops, A.J. Bussan

Hot Topic Discussions
Today’s emerging issues will also be discussed during the second portion of the Forum. Providing their insights on these selected topics will be:

Bio-energy, Pat Walsh
Land Use, Alan Turnquist
Farm Labor, Jill Harrison
Farm Bill, Bruce Jones

Badger NAMA is co-sponsoring the event along with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, UW-Madison College of Ag & Life Sciences, UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives.

The Ag Outlook Forum is open to all, so feel free to invite co-workers and friends.

January 22, 2008
Midlands NAMA
Please join Midlands NAMA for a panel discussion with Lindsay Corporation’s vice president of marketing, Dirk Lenie and Jim Farrell, president and chief executive officer of Farmers National.

They will address where the agriculture industry is headed, what technologies will lead the charge and how their companies are adapting to lead the marketplace.

Where: 11516 Nicholas St. # 100, Omaha, NE 68154
When: Tuesday, Jan. 22 – 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you there for the discussion. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone else in the ag industry who you think should attend. Meetings are $15 for chapter members and $20 for non-members.

Please RSVP to Vernon Benes at vbenes@beckag.com or call 402-991-6338.

For more information, visit www.midlandsnama.com.

January 31, 2008
Carolinas/Virginia
Make plans now to attend the 2008 Carolinas/Virginia Chapter Best of NAMA Awards Banquet on Thursday evening, January 31, 2008. Expand your plans to include the Southern Farm Show on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

Time: 4:30 p.m. – Registration & Networking; 5:30 p.m. – Awards Program; 7:00 p.m. – Dinner; 7:45 p.m. – Best of Show Awards; 8:00 p.m. – Adjourn.

Mark your calendars and share this date with your colleagues as we will assemble at the NC State University Club (map), 4200 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, to view some of your best work of the past season.

Option: Southern Farm Show – in the afternoon before the NAMA Awards Banquet or the following morning.

Lodging: Ramada Inn, 1520 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC

Cost: $40 members; $50 Guests; $20 Students; $60 at the door (Cash bar available)

Registration: To register for the Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA Banquet visit, http://payment.nama.org/chapter.htm.

February 12, 2008
Central California NAMA
Make plans to attend the NAMA Mixer at World Ag Expo, Tuesday, February 12, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in the Alta California Booth #DSI48.

Take the opportunity to network with colleagues, marketing professionals, and make new friends.

There is no better way to kick-off your week in Tulare, CA!

Cocktails and appetizers will be served.

RSVP by calling Dee Monsen at 916-928-1625 ext. 203 or e-mail dee@capca.com.

It’s a brand new year, and NAMA has some powerful new ideas in store for you at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference. Learn about the innovations and changes in the industry that will shape the way you do business in the year ahead. New business models. Changing economies. Changing consumers.

And speaking of change, the opening morning of the 2008 program will feature not one, but two, best-selling authors who will share strategies from their latest books. Learn to create – and deliver – messages that stick from Dan Heath. Plus you’ll discover how to successfully draw upon the power of community and collaboration to reap winning results in your business from Barry Libert.

You should be receiving your conference brochure in the mail this week, however, you can get an early jump and check out all the sessions and events on-line at www.nama.org/amc.

To register for the Agri-Marketing Conference visit, http://nama.org/amc/register.html.

We look forward to Leading the Charge with you in Kansas City!

The National NAMA office is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of manager, chapter services/membership.

This position manages the relationship of NAMA headquarters with 24 professional and 35 student chapters. The qualified individual is responsible for assessing chapter needs, monitoring chapter activity, communicating products and services and providing guidance as needed. They will also be responsible for managing membership recruitment and assisting chapters with their recruitment efforts and will work directly with Chapter Services, Membership and Careers committees. Heavy travel is required.

This position requires a bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years related experience in member/chapter relations, marketing, client services or event planning. Association experience is a plus but not a requirement. The individual must be able to meet deadlines and manage details of multiple projects simultaneously. Should have strong verbal and written communications skills.

Interested candidates should send resumes along with a cover letter to: NAMA, 11020 King Street, Suite 205, Overland Park, KS 66210 or via e-mail to info@nama.org.

No phone calls please.

Nearly 150 attendees celebrated agriculture’s most notable advertising and public relations triumphs of last year at the Region III Best of NAMA Ceremony on January 10.

The event was held at The Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom, in Golden Valley, MN.

Taking home Best of Show awards were:

Best of Show – Advertising
CHS, Inc. and Colle + McVoy for the Cenex® Brand Campaign

Best of Show – Public Relations
Iowa Corn Growers Association/Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Morgan&Myers for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Media Relations Program

Best of Show – Specialty
Novartis Animal Health and Colle + McVoy for the Tennis Ball Campaign Element

A list of all Regional winners will be listed on the NAMA web site after February 1.