The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting several activities at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference to raise money for the Student NAMA Careers program.

ABEF Silent/Online Auctions
Support promising agri-business students as you mingle with exhibitors in the Connection Point. The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) Silent Auction and Raffle benefit NAMA’s Student Careers Program and the ABEF respectively.

Bid on auction items while making your way through the exhibit area and buy your raffle ticket.

ABEF will conduct an On-Line auction of media packages, Web related donations, and other services as part of its annual Silent Auction. Donors will be recognized in the Silent Auction area of the trade show during the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference.

Donations Needed! To donate items to the auction, fill out the online form at http://www.nama.org/abef/silentauction/pledgeform.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at jennyp@nama.org, 913-491-6500.

ABEF Golf Outing
Sign up deadline: April 9

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will be hosting a Golf Outing, Tuesday, April 20. Gather your foursome and enjoy a relaxing day of golf before the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference begins.

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at The National Golf Course. A chartered bus will leave the hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course and a boxed lunch will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony and reception will cap your day on the greens.

Show your support and sponsor a hole! Hole sponsorships are now available. To sign up for a sponsorship on-line visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/golfsponsor.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

If you need or want to register for the golf outing and for the conference at the same time, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=8.

If you’ve already registered for conference but want to add the ABEF Golf outing, please visit, www.nama.org/amc/golfregister.htm.

ABEF Student Raffle

Student NAMA members will be selling raffle tickets prior to and at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference. Cost of the raffle tickets are $10 each and $5 from each ticket sold goes back to the school.

Special thanks to our volunteers that helped in the planning of the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference!

Agri-Marketing Conference Committee

Chair
Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council of America

Vice Chair
Lori Wohletz, Colle+McVoy

Committee Members
Tom Flynn, Lessing-Flynn Advertising
Rich Tiller, Ag Speakers Network
Margaret Oldham, Beck Ag, Inc.
Sally Behringer, Nicholson Kovac
Diane Johnson, Livestock Publications Council
Matt Coniglio, Fastline Publications
Scott McClure, Brighton Agency
Michele McCawley, PBI/Gordon Corporation

Executive Committee Liaisons
Kenna Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications
Marvin Kokes, Natl. Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Trade Show Committee

Chair
Mike DeLuca, Meister Media Worldwide

Vice Chair
Kasey Gannon, IRON Solutions

Committee Members
Lynn Henderson, Agri Marketing Magazine
Judy Knoll, Agri Marketing Magazine

Executive Committee Liaison
Ken Dean

Best of NAMA Committee

Chair
Les Kahl, AdFarm

Vice Chair
Greg Guse, Paulsen Marketing

Executive Committee Liaisons
Kenna B. Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications

Careers Committee

Chair
Curt Blades, Successful Farming

Vice Chair
Wes Meador, Rhea + Kaiser

Advisors
Stacey Noe, Iowa State University
Dr. Laura Cheney, Michigan State University

Committee Members
Michelle Tollefson, Pfizer Animal Health
Randy Happel, Two Rivers Marketing Group
Jeff Hartz, Wyffels Hybrids
Deron Johnson, Rhea + Kaiser
Kristen Marshall, Nicholson Kovac
Matt Bornhorst, Agriculture Future of America
Claire Simmons, Monsanto

Executive Committee Liaison
Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products

The ABEF Century Club raised $2,100 at the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference. Investing in the club provides the opportunity to step forward and help advance the future of agribusiness. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and the Century Club support is totally dedicated for investing in scholarships for tomorrow’s leaders.

The Century Club’s goal is to have today’s agribusiness leaders contribute $100 for today’s youth.

Membership in the Century Club is on an annual basis.

Club members who renew prior to the Agri-Marketing Conference will have an “ABEF Century Club” sticker on their name badge and be recognized on the Century Club sign in the Silent Auction area and in other conference materials.  You will also receive an invitation to attend the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Recognition Luncheon hosted by the ABEF and sponsored by Adayana Agri Business Group, Inc.  The annual membership contribution is $100.

You can be a part of this select group of individuals committed to enhancing the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/abef/centuryclub/signup.htm.

The ABEF Century Club, which was launched at the 2004 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, raised $2,100 at the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference. Investing in the club provides the opportunity to step forward and help advance the future of agribusiness. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and the Century Club support is totally dedicated for investing in scholarships for tomorrow’s leaders.

The Century Club’s goal is to have today’s agribusiness leaders contribute $100 for today’s youth.

Membership in the Century Club is on an annual basis.

Club members who renew prior to the Agri-Marketing Conference will have an “ABEF Century Club” sticker on their name badge and be recognized on the Century Club sign in the Silent Auction area and in other conference materials.  You will also receive an invitation to attend the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Recognition Luncheon hosted by the ABEF and sponsored by Adayana Agri Business Group, Inc.  The annual membership contribution is $100.

You can be a part of this select group of individuals committed to enhancing the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders. The list below contains professionals who joined the Century Club by the end of the 2009 conference. Don’t be left out, sign yourself up now! Visit http://www.nama.org/abef/centuryclub/signup.htm.

John Riley
Ron Claussen
Jan Ford
H&P Company, Inc.
Mick Sibbel
Leigh Ann Cleaver
Vicki Henrickson
Beth Burgy
Lyle Orwig
Leon Westbrock
Mike Gustafson
Bill Howard
Tom Taylor
Gary Vorpahl
Russ Parker
Tom Davis
Marvin Kokes
Marjory Walker
Allen Barkve
Tim Price
Cliff Becker

Get your company noticed by becoming a sponsor at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 21-23, in Kansas City. Companies with marketing budgets of all sizes can participate. The higher your support, the more benefits you’ll receive….Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze. In addition, you can get more company visibility by claiming one or more of the sponsorship opportunities. These opportunities are available on a first come, first serve basis, with first right given to last year’s sponsor. The high profile Best of NAMA Celebration Reception in the Connection Point is just one of the many opportunities available.

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

Who’s already a Sustaining Partner? Take a look!

Agri Marketing magazine
Farm Progress Companies
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
John Deere
Successful Farming
Syngenta

Please review the benefits and opportunities of sponsorship at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference and confirm your interest by filling out the online sponsorship form at http://nama.org/amc/sponsor/form.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at (913) 491-6500 or e-mail to jennyp@nama.org.

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

Get the skills and strategies you need to grow professionally and lead in challenging times at the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 21-23, in Kansas City, Mo.

Remember, if you register by December 31, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a flip video camcorder!

• Learn how to get ag’s message out using groundbreaking new media
• Discover how companies are forging unique partnerships to build trust
• Gain a renewed sense of pride in the promise of American agriculture

Take a trip to the Heartland for unbeatable networking and a line-up of internationally known keynote speakers.

David Meerman Scott
Receive a step-by-step plan to harness the power of new media and web-based communication. Using detailed case studies and real-world examples, David will explain how to tell compelling stories that turn tryers into buyers.

Andy Andrews
A trusted advisor to corporations, organizations—even presidents and military leaders—Andy Andrews will tell you how to excel in even the toughest economic climate.

Paul Mobley
Acclaimed photographer Paul Mobley shares portraits from his book American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country. Rekindle your zest for American agriculture and end the 2010 conference on an inspiring high note.

To register, visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=8.