The early registration deadline and hotel cut-off date for the 2008 Trends In Agriculture fall meeting is this Monday, October 27. Registration rates will increase after the 27th and hotel reservations made after October 27 will be subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.

To register for Trends In Agriculture visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.

To make your hotel reservations, simply call the Hyatt Regency at 816-421-1234 and make sure you mention “NAMA” to receive the group rate.

Remember: Everyone who registers by the early cut off date (October 27) will be entered in a drawing for a complimentary registration to the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference in Atlanta, April 15-17, 2009!

Sponsorship opportunities for Trends In Agriculture are still available. Check out the opportunities available at http://www.nama.org/trends/sponsorship.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at jennyp@nama.org.

Sponsors are also wanted for the ABEF Sports Night. If you would like to sponsor a foosball, pool table, basketball or darts game during the Sports night, contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

Special thanks to our current sponsors:

Ag Speakers Network – Keynote Speakers
AgriMarketing Magazine – General Publicity
Associations, Inc. – Program Booklet Ad
Beck Ag, Inc. – Program Booklet Ad
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications – Registration List Printing
Boelte-Hall – General Support
Broadhead + Company – Program Booklet Ad & Trends In Agriculture Logo Design
Cattle Mail USA – Program Booklet Ad
Cattlemen’s Beef Board – Kick-off Session
CHS, Inc. – Wednesday Morning Refreshment Break
Colle + McVoy – Lanyards
Country Living Association – Session sponsor
DF Bryant & Company – Program Booklet Ad
DTN/The Progressive Farmer – Welcome Reception
Elanco Animal Health – Session sponsor
Farm Progress Companies – Professional Development Awards of Excellence Program
Fastline Publications – Registration Brochure Printing
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal – Regional Best of NAMA Judges’ Breakfast – prior to Trends In Agriculture
Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine – Regional Best of NAMA Judges’ Break – prior to Trends In Agriculture
John Deere – Regional Best of NAMA Judges’ Breakfast – prior to Trends In Agriculture & Trends In Agriculture Welcome Reception
Living the Country Life – Program Booklet Ad & Signage
Martin Williams – Welcome Reception
McCormick Company – Program Booklet Ad
MoKan NAMA – Meet & Greet Speakers Reception
National Cotton Council of America – Tuesday Afternoon Refreshment Break
Osborn & Barr Communications – Session sponsor
Paulsen AgriBranding – Trends In Agriculture Blog
Quarry Integrated Communications – Meet & Greet Speakers Reception
Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications – Name Badges
Truffle Media Networks – Luncheon sponsor & Keynote Speaker Podcast

ABEF Sports Night Sponsors

Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
John Deere
J.L. Farmakis
Colle + McVoy
KFRM Radio – The Voice of the Plains
CMA Consulting
LEE Agri-MEDIA
National Pork Board
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting a Sports Night during the Welcome Reception of Trends In Agriculture, Tuesday, November 11, at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds from the Sports Night will benefit the ABEF in support of the NAMA Student Careers Program.

Every Trends attendee is encouraged to participate in the games to have fun, network and support the ABEF at the same time.

Come to the reception and be entered into a chance to win a registration to the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference in Atlanta! The only way to win is to come to the 2008 Trends In Agriculture. To register for the entire meeting or just the Sports Night Reception/Best of NAMA Entry Viewing visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.

Special thanks to the Sponsors of the ABEF Sports Night!

Reception Sponsors
MoKan NAMA
Quarry Integrated Communications

Sports Games Sponsors
Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
John Deere
J.L. Farmakis
Colle + McVoy
KFRM Radio – The Voice of the Plains
CMA Consulting
LEE Agri-MEDIA
National Pork Board
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications

Check out the sessions we have in store for you on the burgeoning rural lifestyle market and the decision makers who define it.

Tuesday, November 11

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Opening Keynote Session - Testing Your Current Strategy
Franck Schuurmans, Decision Strategies International

Most organizations already have strategies and tactics in place. But is your current strategy ‘future-proof’? In this type of engagement, Schuurmans focuses on different external future scenarios that might unfold and then test how your current strategy would fare under these different scenarios. He then helps you identify which areas of your strategy might require adjustment and monitoring as the future unfolds.

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Rural Lifestylers: Where Are They Now? Where Are They Headed?
Dan Duffy, United Country Real Estate

Duffy will discuss current trends in rural lifestyle marketing. Using case studies, he’ll give concrete examples of what’s working when it comes to resonating with this growing market. Find out why people are living in/moving to the country, who are they, what drives them, what motivates them.

Wednesday, November 12

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Connecting with the Rural Lifestyler
Susan Spaulding, Market Directions
Courtney Yuskis, Country Living Association

Gain a deeper understanding of customer touchpoints including the impact of new media with Spaulding and Yuskis. Information will be based on an attitudinal survey and Rural Lifestylers’ collection and perception of communications about products, services, and interests related to the Rural Lifestyle.

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Utilizing Your Brand to Build Loyal Customers
Craig Elbert, Hallmark Cards

When your markets change from traditional ag customers to a new type of customer, it impacts your marketing decisions. Elbert will present an approach to building long-term loyalty through three key elements: knowing your history, building from your product’s usage cycle and holistically defining your go-to-market plan.

1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – Making the Sale: Marketers and Retailers Share Their Experiences in the Changing New Rural Community
Panel moderator: Bruce Thomas, Rural Lifestyle Communications Consultant

Panel members include:
Jon Chase, John Deere
Preston Shaw, Cabela’s
Tim Nix, Morton Buildings
Brad Mallow, Carthage Farm Supply
Maggie Mell, Thehaughtyhorse.com

The rural lifestyle market has been pegged at a composite value of $32 billion—yet this growing segment overlaps established markets in more than just geography. Established marketers and retailers are positioning to attract and influence the new buyers while still serving their traditional producer customers, with growing inroads by entrepreneurial merchants. This panel will offer a fast-paced “roundtable” discussion of what it is taking to cater to rural lifestyle needs and expectations.

This is a joint meeting with NAFB. Attendees registered for either meeting may attend.

Stay after this session for a Meet & Mingle with all of our Trends speakers!

The following is a schedule of networking opportunities and events that will take place at Trends In Agriculture:

November 11
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. – Break
Enjoy a refreshment break and network with your peers at the break sponsored by the National Cotton Council.

5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Welcome Reception/Best of NAMA Entry Viewing/ABEF Sports Night
Relax and network with friends and colleagues while viewing the Best of NAMA entries from the regional judging. This reception will also feature the first annual ABEF Sports Night. Try your hand at games such as basketball, electronic darts, pool and foosball while helping raise funds for the ABEF. This event is sponsored by John Deere, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, and Martin Williams.

Can’t make it to the entire Trends In Agriculture meeting? No problem, you can just join us for the Welcome Reception/Entry Viewing/ABEF Sports Night! Just visit http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm to register!

November 12
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
Get focused on the day with your peers and a hearty breakfast before the sessions for the day begin.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Break
Discuss the morning session over some coffee with your peers courtesy of CHS, Inc.

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Professional Development Awards of Excellence Program & Luncheon
NAMA honors its members with hands-on responsibility in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA). This year, awards will be given in the areas of Marketing Communications, Public Relations and Sales. The recipients will share their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing at the luncheon. Join us as we honor Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products, with the Marketing Communications award; Beth Andersen, Charleston/Orwig, with the Public Relations award; and Vernon Benes, Beck Ag Inc., with the Sales award.

The Luncheon is sponsored by Truffle Media Networks and the Professional Development Awards of Excellence are sponsored by Farm Progress Companies.

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Meet & Greet with the Speakers/Reception
This is your chance to talk to the speakers of the Trends In Agriculture Meeting after the final session. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to network with some attendees of the NAFB Convention. Special thanks to the MoKan NAMA Chapter & Quarry Integrated Communications for sponsoring this event.

Special thanks to the Trends In Agriculture Committee who have worked so hard to put together a fantastic program for you!

Chair
Kenna Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications

Vice Chair
Steve Mercer, U.S. Wheat Associates, Inc.

Committee Members
Courtney Yuskis, Drake & Company
Patty Jolliffe, Weyforth-Haas Marketing
Rich Tiller, Ag Speakers Network
Jeanne Miller, J.L. Farmakis, Inc.
Scott Kington, Woodruff Sweitzer

Executive Committee Liaison
Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Company

The early registration deadline and hotel cut-off date for Trends In Agriculture at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center is Monday, October 27, 2008.

To make your hotel reservations, simply call the Hyatt Regency at 816-421-1234 and make sure you mention “NAMA” to receive the group rate. Reservations made after October 27 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.
In addition, registration rates will increase after October 27. To register for the 2008 Trends In Agriculture visit, http://payment.nama.org/trends.htm.

Remember: If you have a hotel room reservation, you still need to register for the event. If you are registered for the event, you still need to make a hotel reservation.

Sponsorships for Trends In Agriculture are still available. Check out the opportunities available at http://www.nama.org/trends/sponsorship.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at jennyp@nama.org.

Sponsors are also wanted for the ABEF Sports Night. If you would like to sponsor a foosball, pool table, basketball or darts game during the Sports night, contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.