We are looking for companies to put some sizzle into the Agri-Marketing Conference by becoming a sponsor!

There are many different sponsorships available. 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.

Please review the benefits and opportunities of sponsorship at the 2009 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.

VINCENT HOFER IS EIGHTH K-STATER SINCE 1986 TO WIN A RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

Vincent M. Hofer, Franklin, is one of 32 winners nationally of a Rhodes Scholarship. Hofer is K-State’s eighth Rhodes winner since 1986.

“All of us at K-State are thrilled and overjoyed that Vincent Hofer received a Rhodes scholarship,” said K-State President Jon Wefald. “We are delighted that Vincent will have an opportunity to represent K-State for two years at Oxford University. Any time any university can boast of having a Rhodes scholar, it is something very special for that university. Such a win speaks to Vincent’s academic abilities and also to the quality of education he received from K-State faculty.”

Hofer, a 2008 graduate in agribusiness, works for U.S. Senator Sam Brownback in Washington, D.C., as a legislative correspondent.

“The Rhodes will give Vincent the chance to pursue Latin American studies and Development Studies at Oxford University, one of the top universities in the world,” said James Hohenbary, assistant dean for nationally competitive scholarships. “Having gotten to know Vincent through the application process, I am convinced that he will make excellent use of this opportunity. Not only an outstanding student and leader in his career at K-State, he has a great work ethic, intense intellectual curiosity, and a deep concern for the welfare of others. I am thrilled to see him recognized in this way.”

After completing graduate studies, Hofer plans to pursue a career in international development. At K-State, Hofer received the Anderson Award for Outstanding Leadership, and as chapter president, he was instrumental in leading the K-State National Agri-Marketing Association team to back-to-back wins in national competition.

Other leadership offices he held at K-State include president and vice president of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Club, vice president of Blue Key Senior Honor Society, and the vice president and treasurer of the Ag Competition Team Council. Hofer was a recitation instructor for a class of 40 students in agricultural economics, named the Agricultural Economics Department Outstanding Senior of the Year, and a recipient of $28,000 in merit-based scholarships during his college years, including the leadership scholarship. He participated in many different community groups, including being a youth minister leader at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, active in St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center, and volunteer coordinator for the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge.

In fall 2005 he studied in Geelong, Australia, and in summer 2007 he was a financial analyst for the Inter-American Investment Corporation and a research assistant at Zamorano University in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. A 2004 graduate of Girard High School, he is the son of Chris and Nancy Hofer, Franklin.

K-State is second among state universities to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in Rhodes competition since 1986. Since 1986, K-State has had 11 Marshall Scholars, 23 Truman Scholars, 60 Goldwater Scholars and 19 Udall Scholars.

“This reaffirms what Paul Harvey said on his nationally syndicated radio program – that K-State is the student scholar capitol of America,” Wefald said.

Note: If you attended Trends In Agriculture and have not yet filled out the survey from the meeting, please visit http://www.nama.org/trends/survey.htm. Your responses will help shape the next Trends In Agriculture meeting!

“What will the future look like and what investments does your organization need to make to take advantage of it?”

This was the question posed by Franck Schuurmans, PhD, Senior Consultant for Decision Strategies International, Inc. And it was the ideal forward-thinking platform from which to launch the inaugural 2008 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Conference.

This year, NAMA changed the name of the Agribusiness Forum to Trends in Agriculture. The move was made to directly reflect the meeting’s mission of exploring emerging trends and challenges faced by agri-marketers across the industry.

This year’s topic was the burgeoning rural lifestyle market and the decision makers who define it. A record-setting 175 professionals attended the two-day event, up more than 35% from last year.

Dr. Schuurmans opened the conference with an eye-opening look at how limiting our own experience-based perspective can be as we consider future strategic options. He used a number of case studies and exercises to demonstrate how the cost of excessive focus can be loss of peripheral vision.

Dan Duffy, CEO of United Country Real Estate—a national real estate franchise system specializing in properties in and around small cities and towns—quickly gave attendees the chance to apply those principles.

There has been considerable publicity on the current challenges of real estate. Sales of rural acreage, while stronger than many sectors, are also slowing. In response, United Country has honed its strategies of promoting and supporting lifestyle amenities and helping owners increase the value of their land by improving recreation assets.

The company’s approach is based on a combination of careful analysis and proprietary research and attendees benefited from a broad range of supporting data they could apply to their own market situation.

Wednesday began with a revealing session on the demographics, attitudes, buying habits and other key indicators about the rural lifestyle market from Susan Spaulding, Market Directions, and Courtney Yuskis, Country Living Association.

Spaulding emphasized that extensive research revealed that rural lifestylers are connected with their communities and engaged with multiple social networks. She also noted rural lifestylers are more technologically savvy than most people realize and receive an enormous amount of marketing messages.

Craig Elbert, a Marketing Strategist with Hallmark Cards explored the concept of winning customers by understanding your brand essence in terms of the “jobs” your product or service performs for them.

For Hallmark, one of America’s most well-established and well-recognized brands, that essence is “caring.”

Yet, as Elbert explained, the company’s success has never been based solely on understanding the historical context, but by projecting brand essence through changing market conditions. He shared how the company uses its “Value Star^TM” to apply this process to individual products.

The closing panel, moderated by Bruce Thomas, Rural Lifestyle Communications Consultant, explored the “commonalities” and “conflicts” of the two primary segments in today’s agricultural marketplace: the rural lifestyle and farmer markets.

Primary differences noted included gender roles and perspectives on the quality/cost (value) continuum. However, panelists also emphasized that both segments share a strong sense of independence/self-reliance, appreciation of outdoor activities and belief in the importance of family.

As part of the conference, NAMA also recognized its Professional Development Awards of Excellence Winners. Honors went to Paul Redhage, Communications Manager, FMC Agricultural Products; Beth Andersen, Senior Vice President, Managing Partner, Charleston Orwig, Inc.; and Vernon Benes, Director of Business Development, Beck Ag, Inc.

Special thanks to all of our Trends In Agriculture/Regional Best of NAMA Judging/Rural Lifestyle Resource Center Sponsors as well as our ABEF Sports Night sponsors!

Ag Speakers Network
AgriMarketing Magazine
Associations, Inc.
Beck Ag, Inc.
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Boelte-Hall
Broadhead + Co.
Cattle Mail, USA
Cattlemen’s Beef Board
CHS, Inc.
Colle+McVoy
Country Living Association
DF Bryant & Company
DTN/The Progress Farmer
Farm Progress Companies
Fastline Publications
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine
Hurst & Associates
John Deere
Living the Country Life
Martin Williams
McCormick Company
MoKan NAMA
National Cotton Council of America
Ogden Publications
Osborn & Barr Communications
Paulsen AgriBranding
Quarry Integrated Communications
Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications
Truffle Media Networks
ZimmComm New Media, LLC

ABEF Sports Night Sponsors:
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
CMA Consulting
Colle+McVoy
FMC Agricultural Products
High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
J.L. Farmakis
John Deere
KFRM Radio, The Voice of the Plains
LEE Agri-MEDIA
National Pork Board
Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications

Check out the highlights from Trends In Agriculture at https://www.namablog.org/index.php?paged=2.

Several contests were held in conjunction with the 2008 Trends In Agriculture meeting November 11-12 and we’d like to take a moment to congratulate the winners!

Trends In Agriculture Rural Lifestyle Quizzes
Two quizzes were sent to all NAMA members to test your knowledge of the Rural Lifestyle market. The quizzes were based on Country Living Association survey results. Everyone who responded was entered into a drawing for a Cabela’s $50 Gift Card. Those who answered the question correctly were entered into a drawing for a free registration to the Agri-Marketing Conference in April in Atlanta.

The winner of the $50 Cabela’s Gift Card was Joe Zink, Midwest Messengers and the winner of the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference registration was Katherine Brozek, Padilla Speer Beardsley.

Trends In Agriculture Registration Promotion
Everyone who registered for Trends In Agriculture by the early cut off date (October 27) was entered into a drawing for a complimentary registration to the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference in Atlanta, April 15-17, 2009. Congratulations to Marc Ford, Bernstein-Rein who won the conference registration!

Member Get-a-Member Promotion
This promotion called upon NAMA members to recruit a business associate, peer, or friend as a new NAMA member before November 5 and both were entered into a drawing for a new GPS. Congratulations to Mike Campbell, Walz Tetrick Advertising, for taking home a new GPS!

ABEF Raffle
The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) hosted a sports night reception at the Trends In Agriculture meeting on Tuesday, November 11. Special thanks to our ABEF Board members listed below for their help in selling raffle tickets to raise money for the ABEF. The prizes given for the ABEF Raffle were a $200 gift card to Bass Pro Shops and two $50 gift cards to Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grills. Congratulations to Greg Guse, Paulsen Marketing, for taking home the $200 Bass Pro Shop Gift card and to Steve Betts, United Suppliers, Inc. and John Vasichek, Red River Farm Network, for taking home the Whiskey Creek gift cards!

ABEF Board
Chair
Mick Sibbel, Ayres Kahler

Vice Chair
Mike Gustafson, Deer’s Landing

Secretary/Treasurer
Russ Parker

Members
Dennis Erpelding, Elanco Animal Health
Stephanie Gable, NOVUS Intl., Inc.
Lia Guthrie, One Grower Publishing
Lou Ireland, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.
Tom Taylor, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal
Marjory Walker, Natl. Cotton Council of America
Linda Basse Wenck, APR, Morgan&Myers

Registration
The registration for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference, Hot Ideas, Sizzling Solutions, is open. The conference will take place April 15-17 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Register now to get the payment in your 2008 budget year! Registration rates remain the same as in 2008! Early registration rates will end on March 25, 2009. After that, late rates apply.

For the latest Agri-Marketing Conference information visit http://www.nama.org/amc.

For registration information visit http://www.nama.org/amc/registration.html.

To register online now for the conference, visit http://www.nama.org/amc/register.html.
In addition, hotel reservations can now be made online. We are pleased to have this year’s conference at the beautiful Atlanta Marriott Marquis, which has just completed a $185 million renovation.

Hotel rates are $115 single/double (that’s not a type-o folks, it’s really $115!). The hotel cut-off date is March 17, 2009. Reservations made after March 17 will be subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.

Once again, we will be offering two room blocks, one for the professionals and one for the students.

To make your hotel reservations under the professional block, visit http://www.marriott.com/professionals.

To make hotel reservations under the student block, visit http://www.marriott.com/students.

Connection Point
Every year at the Agri-Marketing Conference, professionals involved with selling products and services into the agricultural marketplace gather to explore the latest in techniques, trends and practices. If your target audience includes agrimarketers, you can’t afford to miss the 2009 Connection Point.

In today’s world of voice mails and e-mails, the Connection Point offers a unique opportunity for face-to-face contact.

Connection Point Hours
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Best of NAMA Celebration/Trade Show Grand Opening

THURSDAY, APRIL 16
12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Luncheon
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Closing Reception/ABEF Silent Auction

For more information on the Connection Point visit http://nama.org/amc/ts/connection.htm.

To sign up for booth space now visit http://nama.org/amc/ts/signup.htm.

Note: Exhibitors who sign up for a booth by February 4 will receive a complimentary registration for NAMA’s February 5th webinar on Maximizing Your Trade Show R.O.I. with Scott Hanna, Skyline Displays.

Michigan State University

In Memory of Katherine Brown
Katherine Ann Brown, age 18, a member of the Michigan State University National Agri-Marketing Association from Conklin, MI, passed away unexpectedly September 29, 2008.

Investigations are ongoing in the homicide that also claimed the lives of three other people. Katherine was a sophomore studying Agri-Business Management. This was her second year as an active Student NAMA member and she was serving as the club Historian. Katherine also participated on the marketing presentation team last year, marketing TequilaBerry Pops. Attending MSU was fulfilling the dream of the funny, laid back girl that brought so much enthusiasm to the club.

This is a very difficult time as MSU NAMA says good-bye to Katherine and honors her memory. Her loss is tragic, but how fortunate for all those who were able to have been touched by her smile and her friendship. “She was somebody who was just so effervescent,” Ben Barkow said. “She just shone from within a lot of times, and she had a personality that would make you smile.” She will be greatly missed by MSU NAMA.

Sam Houston State University

On October 9th, the NAMA Team, in cooperation with the Agribusiness Club, hosted the 1st Annual SHSU Mud Volleyball Tournament. The goal was to include all the clubs and organizations in the Agriculture department. The event was located in the Ag Sciences Indoor Arena. In all, 12 teams competed for the title as Mud Volleyball Champs. While not all of the clubs were represented in the tournament, many showed up to cheer on friends and faculty. The event was a great success, both as a social event for the department and as a fund raiser for the club.

The NAMA Team is also getting things underway for the marketing competition in the spring. Within the Agricultural Business Department, NAMA is growing in recognition and interest. Veteran members have been active in recruiting new members for the team, as well as searching for and meeting with prospective companies to work with for the competition. So far, the NAMA team has been very active in all these areas and, as we continue to grow, we plan to increase efforts in serving our department and its students.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

On September 26^th, the UW-Madison Chapter hosted a lakefront picnic for student and Pro-NAMA members to network and socialize. New student members were able to talk with older members about past experiences in NAMA, work or even school. It was also a great opportunity for students to network with industry professionals and recruiters. This was UW-NAMA’s first social picnic and overall it was a successful event with more than 25 people in attendance.

The UW-Madison NAMA Chapter participated in World Dairy Expo Sept. 30^th – Oct. 4^th. Students assisted exhibitors throughout the week by providing sales support and extra customer interaction points for busy day-parts. It was a great opportunity for our students to work with companies and gain valuable experience in a professional atmosphere. Many students also attended an after-hours social and networking event hosted by Badger NAMA.

Finally, UW-Madison NAMA students worked throughout the week to survey visitors at World Dairy Expo about their reasons for attending, key industry concerned and herd size and condition. The students completed approximately 1000 surveys over the five days of Expo, information from which will be compiled for use in marketing and program improvements in advance of the 2009 event.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The UNL NAMA Chapter “kick” started the year with a fun video and presentation at the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics annual Kick-Off event. Following a steak dinner sponsored by ADM, President Laura Witte and Vice President of Marketing Bret Herndon highlighted last year’s events to an audience of over 100 students and faculty members.

The Kick-Off event was a great way to share the outstanding opportunities available through NAMA and recruit prospective members. The UNL chapter has already held fundraisers, completed community service projects, and is looking forward to attending the October Midlands (professional) Chapter meeting on word of mouth (WOM) marketing. Nebraska NAMA chapter is looking forward to a fun-filled year!

North Carolina State University

The Agribusiness/NAMA Club at North Carolina State University began the fall semester with energy and excitement. Sadly, long time club adviser and mentor to many students, Bob Usry, retired after 28 years of service and dedication to the Agricultural and Resource Economics Department and the Agribusiness/NAMA Club. With his retirement the club decided to rename their scholarship endowment The Bob Usry – Agribusiness/NAMA Club Scholarship Endowment to honor Bob. The scholarship is awarded each spring to an active member of the Agribusiness/NAMA Club.

The club is gearing up to work at the North Carolina State Fair volunteering at the NC Dairy Promotions Booth selling cups of ice cold NC milk to fair-goers. The club is also collecting Hurricane Health Kits to donate to victims of Hurricane Ike.

Illinois State University

It has been a busy spring and fall for the Illinois State University NAMA Chapter.

This past spring the ISU-NAMA was recognized by the Office of the Dean of Students as the Outstanding Registered Student Organization for 2008. The chapter received a certificate from the President of the University and ISU-NAMA was added to the Outstanding RSO plaque that is displayed at the Student Union.

In September the Chapter sponsored the annual Agriculture Career Day. This career fair provided an opportunity for students from across campus to visit with representatives from over 40 agribusiness firms.

ISU-NAMA hosted members of the Chicago and Heartland NAMA Chapters for a tour of the University’s research and teaching farm and the Twin Groves Wind Farm (the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi). Several of the professional members then attended the monthly Student Chapter meeting that was held later that evening.

Texas A&M University

The Texas A&M University NAMA Chapter has started off a great year with two influential marketing industry speakers and a creative group of students to start working on the marketing team project. Both industry speakers have stressed the importance of marketing in business operations and the numerous professional career opportunities. Dr. Charlie Hall spoke about his experience in horticulture and the direction that the industry is moving toward. The green industry is advancing in marketing techniques and Texas is a predominant player for success.

Also, Dan’l Mackey with DMA Solutions spoke about the various opportunities for internships and careers within the produce industry. She gave the club members an insight on her experience as a NAMA officer and the leadership opportunities within the organization. Dan’l emphasized that the marketing team has had a positive impact on her career in produce and was the best hands on experience she received during college. Both of the speakers were a great hit and we are looking forward to having a wide range of industry speakers this year to enhance our perceptions of marketing.

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