The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) hosted a Casino Night on Tuesday, November 13, during the Agribusiness Forum Welcome Reception. Proceeds from the Casino Night benefit the ABEF in support of the NAMA Student Careers Program.

Attendees enjoyed a little gambling with play money and, at the end of the evening, cashed in their chips in hopes of taking home a first, second, or third place prize. The first place prize went to Jeff Jackson, Farm Progress Companies. Second place was won by Mike Gustafson, John Deere. The third place prize went to Tom Taylor, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal.

In addition, for every $1,000 in chips that the attendees turned in, their name was entered into a drawing for a 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference registration. Sheri Seger, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, was the lucky winner of the conference registration.
Special thanks to all who participated in the ABEF Casino Night and to the sponsors of the event:

CMA Consulting
J.L. Farmakis
Colle + McVoy
Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communciations
High Plains Journal
KFRM Radio – The Voice of the Plains
Lee-Agri Media
Rhea & Kaiser
FMC Corporation
John Deere
National Pork Board

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) will again be hosting a Casino Night during the Welcome Reception of the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, Tuesday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds from the Casino Night will benefit the ABEF in support of the NAMA Student Careers Program.

Every Forum attendee will receive a ticket that they can cash in for $5,000 in chips to try their luck at the tables. If attendees don’t do so well, a $20.00 donation to the ABEF at the Casino Cashier or one of the Roaming Cashiers will get them an additional $5,000 in chips.

At the end of the evening, attendees can cash in their chips and winners will be announced at the Wednesday luncheon session. First, second and third place prizes will be given. In addition, for every $1,000 in chips that an attendee turns in, their name will be entered into a drawing for a 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show registration – we’re not pulling your chain!

The only way to win is to come to the 2007 Agribusiness Forum. To register for the entire Forum or just the Casino Night Reception/Best of NAMA Entry Viewing visit http://payment.nama.org/forum.htm.

If you would like to sponsor a Blackjack, Texas hold’em, Craps, or Roulette table during the Casino night, contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

The Student NAMA Chapters are back in school and working hard on their plans for the Student Marketing Competition (sponsored by Monsanto) at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 16-18 in Kansas City.

The Student NAMA Chapters can always use help from their local professional chapter. Encourage your chapter to support Student NAMA by inviting them to chapter meetings, helping them with fundraising events to support their trip to the Agri-Marketing Conference in 2008 or by helping them with their marketing presentations for the competition. Contact your chapter for any ideas on helping Student NAMA – it’s a great way to network with your future employees and colleagues.

What have some of the Student NAMA chapters near you been up to? Take a look below:

University of Nebraska – Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln NAMA Chapter is off to a grand start this year. Members worked diligently at recruitment by having a NAMA booth at the annual Welcome Back Club Fair on East Campus. Fundraising efforts have already begun for the group through participating in a partnership with the local bookstore, which gives back a percentage of sales from NAMA members’ textbook purchases. The first meeting of the year was well attended where members showcased the benefits of the club, discussed goals for the year, and enjoyed socializing over pizza.

Illinois State University
To conclude a very successful year for their student chapter, ISU NAMA held an end of the year cookout for all Agriculture students and members of Heartland NAMA, their sponsoring professional chapter. The cookout featured a video slide show showing the accomplishments of the chapter throughout the year and a presentation showcasing the trip to the National Agri-Marketing Competition in Dallas, Texas last April.

Michigan State University
After leaving the Dallas conference, MSU NAMA went to the DaShazers Cattle Company in Texas. This was an incredible opportunity where they were able to see the operations of a very prestigious Hereford seed stock ranch.

Last spring Deanna Nelson received the Outstanding Senior Award in Agribusiness Management given within the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics. Members had a wide array of internships this past summer, interning at ADM, Syngenta Seeds, Best Buy, AgriGold, Liberty Renewable Fuels, and Wilbur Ellis. After an enjoyable summer break, the MSU NAMA chapter is gearing up for a very promising year!

Sam Houston State Unversity
Sam Houston State University is starting the new school year off with a bang. They are conducting their first meetings of the year and recruiting new members to the team. One of the main goals for the year is to become further involved with the Texas professional NAMA Chapter. They also plan to hold may activities such as hosting the first annual career fair for the department.

University of Wisconsin – Madison
For the second consecutive year University of Wisconsin-Madison NAMA students will raise funds for travel to the national marketing team competition and other student activities by helping harvest grapes at Botham’s Vineyard and Winery near Barneveld, Wis. The vineyard is owned by Peter and Sarah Botham. Sarah is also the UW-Madison NAMA and Marketing Team advisor as well as a faculty associate in the Life Sciences Communication department at UW. The harvest is usually completed in one weekend with the help of approximately 50 volunteers per day from NAMA and the local community. Everyone works eight hour days pending cooperation of the weather.

Purdue University
The Purdue University student NAMA chapter has began the new year with outstanding new membership numbers. The club is working on its annual Resume Book to pass out to companies at the College of Agriculture’s Career Fair. The club is also beginning to organize the NAMA Mentor program for members to have a NAMA professional mentor and introduce them to the business world.

University of Wisconsin – Platteville
UW-Platteville NAMA started the year early this summer by hosting a brat sale at Cabela’s “Kids Fishing Day” event in Prairie Du Chien, WI. Kids were able to “fish” in a small pond set up in front of the store. The UW-Platteville NAMA Chapter provided brats, burgers, hotdogs, and even ice cream cones to the families. Thanks to local sponsors and Cabela’s the brat sale was a big success.

Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University student chapter of NAMA had an exciting spring semester. It had one of the largest chapters it has had in years. It had a class of over twenty students. The product that the students chose to compete in Dallas with was Catfish Crisps. NAMA was actually able to make a trip out to the processing plant to see the actual process of how catfish were processed and filleted. The NAMA team also had several fundraisers over the course of the semesters such as raffles of season tickets to different Mississippi State University sporting events and various other items.

John Deere has created a new award for Student NAMA Chapters. The John Deere Signature Award was designed to create a new level of recognition within the NAMA Student Careers Program that will give heightened exposure to outstanding student chapters who excel in encouraging student opportunities for business knowledge, academic excellence, leadership development and community citizenship.

“The John Deere/ABEF Signature Award for Outstanding Student Chapters will help further recognize those student members who are making a difference in their communities, their schools, and agri-marketing,” says Mike Gustafson, Manager, Creative Group, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center. “John Deere is proud to be a part of the Student NAMA member learning experience. An experience we at Deere feel is essential for the next leaders of our industry,” says Gustafson.

How it Works
Student chapters will receive points for exciting elements in Student NAMA (Outstanding Student Chapter, Outstanding Advisor, Scholarships, Marketing Competition) and also for other elements noted in the Student Chapter Guidelines.

What you can win
First place winners will have their school name engraved on the John Deere Signature Award traveling trophy. In addition, cash awards will be presented as follows:

$3,000 to first place
$2,000 to second place
$1,000 to third place
$500 each to 4th place and 5th place

If you are a student advisor, please pass along this information to your students!

For more information on the John Deere Signature Award visit, http://www.nama.org/student/oscguidelines.htm#deere.

Tis the season for chapter meetings. Take some time out of your busy schedule to attend a chapter meeting and spend some quality time networking with your peers! Take a look at some of the upcoming chapter meetings:

Cornbelt NAMA – September 20
The Cornbelt NAMA chapter invites everyone to a meeting and tour at the recently opened Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, IA, on Thursday, September 20, 2007.

Shannon Textor, director of market development for Iowa Corn will discuss the Iowa Corn Indy 500. Bruce Neeley is the executive director of the Heartland Acres Agribition Center. Neeley will share the inspiration behind the new center, how funds were generated, what’s planned for the future and the initial results that they’ve seen thus far. A tour of the facility is included.

Cost for this Cornbelt event is $15 for members and students and $20 for non-members. This price includes the tour and lunch. If you’d like to attend, please contact Luann Pisarik at luann@jlfarmakis.com or 319-895-6723 by Sept. 10.

Mark your calendars for the next Cornbelt NAMA meeting and tour on Thursday, November 1st. It will feature speakers from Diamond V and Kirkwood Community College.

Midlands NAMA – September 20
You are invited to attend the first fall meeting of the Midlands NAMA Chapter on Thursday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, East Campus Union.

Hear from a panel of Ag industry professionals and current students on the value of summer internships and how the experience has helped both groups. The UNL student NAMA chapter will be on hand, so companies could meet potential future hires.

Cost: $21 (includes a $6 University parking pass). Please RSVP by Friday, September 14 if you wish to obtain a parking pass. RSVP to Vernon Benes at vbenes@beckag.com.

Mark your calendars for upcoming Midlands NAMA Events:
October 23 – Low-lin Oil & Healthy Food
November 20 – Generational Employment Gap

North Central NAMA – September 27
Join North Central Nama for their first chapter meeting of the new season, “What’s New with New Media?” panel discussion on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The subject is one in which NAMA members at the North Central and the National levels have expressed high interest. Our panelists include Cindy Bauer, Marketing Manager for Red Wing Software Co.; Jim Brophy and Bob Giblin, Morgan&Myers Digital Services and Knowledge Center Managers; and Jeff Miller, WATT Publishing Online Sales Manager.

Each panelist will give an 8-10 minute oral presentation, followed by audience Q&A. Panelists will share highlights of learnings and observations their company (and business category) is doing in this ever advancing digital world.

The meeting will take place at the Sheraton Hotel (I-494 and Hwy 100/Normandale Blvd–NW corner of the intersection. This is the former Radisson South), 7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN.

Please RSVP to Amy Berge at Adculture, aberge@adculture.com by SEPTEMBER 25, 2007.

Chesapeake, Eastern & Carolinas/Virginia NAMA – October 1
The Chesapeake, Eastern and Carolinas/Virginia NAMA chapters would like to extend an invitation to everyone for a legislative meeting at the Phoenix Park Hotel (near Capitol Hill and one block from Union Station), 520 N. Capitol St., NW (corner of North Capitol and F streets) in the Georgian Room, Washington, DC 20001, on Monday, October 1.

You’ll enjoy some networking time with members from Eastern, Chesapeake and Carolinas/Virginia chapters followed by a luncheon and a session on farmer perspectives and the impact of current ag legislation with Dan Looker, Business Editor & Washington Policy, Successful Farming magazine. Next, you’ll learn about the direction of USDA ag policy with Dale Moore, USDA Chief of Staff. Then hear about Congressional Farm Bill issues and decisions with U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge, House Committee on Agriculture. Lastly, you’ll hear Senate Farm Bill debate highlights with Christy Seyfert, U.S. Senate Senior and Lead Minority Staff Member on commodity programs.

A fee of $70 per attendee for the event and luncheon will be collected via cash or check at the registration table the day of the event.

Please RSVP with your name, company/organization, address, phone and email to: paul.redhage@fmc.com by September 24. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

If your chapter has an upcoming event planned that is not listed on the NAMA Calendar, please send the program information to Kathi Conrad at the NAMA Office at kathic@nama.org.

For a complete calendar listing of events visit, https://www.namablog.org/?page_id=16.

Monsanto has pledged to give the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) $30,000 over a 3-year period to support the Student NAMA Marketing Competition that is held in-conjunction with NAMA’s Agri-Marketing Conference in April.

About the Student Marketing Competition
NAMA Student Chapter members are invited to participate in a marketing competition at the Agri-Marketing Conference. Each team develops a comprehensive marketing plan on a specific topic of their choice.

Previous topics have included seed products, marketing commodities such as consumer foods, and financial services for farmers and ranchers. Students are encouraged to seek advice from professionals and university professors when creating the plan and presentation.

The competition is judged and critiqued by professional agri-marketers. As a team member you can learn marketing and communications skills while gaining exposure to the business community. The winning team receives a traveling plaque, money for the chapter, and recognition at the conference.

About the ABEF
The primary goal of the ABEF is to provide today’s agri-business students the tools they will need to succeed tomorrow. These tools include industry knowledge, leadership skills, networking abilities, public speaking experience and critical analysis skills.

The development of these skills clearly will help these students and young professionals as they build successful agri-marketing careers. Any success they experience, will obviously benefit the industry as a whole.

ABEF also recognizes the importance of providing similar opportunities for all agri-business professionals – from recent college graduates to the most seasoned veteran.

As members of the agri-business industry, we are more than just professional peers. We share a fellowship and ABEF extends this fellowship to the young people planning to enter our industry.

If you are interested in contributing to the ABEF, contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via email at jennyp@nama.org.

To support young, aspiring ag professionals, the National Agri-Marketing Association, Eastern Chapter, presented its first annual student award grant at New York City’s John Bowne High School graduation awards ceremony on May 31, 2007. Wendy Elliot, Pfizer Animal Health, presented the award to graduating senior Alida Sanabria. Alida is an animal science major in John Bowne’s specialized agriculture program and is active in the student FFA chapter. Alida will enter the pre-veterinary science program at Cornell University this fall.

Gibbs & Soell Public Relations matched the NAMA grant amount, resulting in a total award of $600.

Steven Perry, assistant principal and director of agriculture of John Bowne High School, says, “Our school welcomes the involvement of groups like NAMA through this special award program. Alida worked especially hard to achieve her academic successes and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was six years old. The NAMA award will help in moving Alida closer to her goal at Cornell.”

John Bowne High School is located in Queens, NY. The school’s specialized agriculture program is nationally recognized as an outstanding urban agricultural education offering. One of the unique aspects of the program is the relationship between classroom instruction and hands-on experience. During the school year, students take classes in plant science and animal science, in addition to courses in traditional academic subjects. Students develop their agricultural experience on the school’s land laboratory and in both urban and rural agriculture jobs during the summers. John Bowne graduates go on to agricultural and technical colleges and many out-of-state institutions throughout the northeast before establishing themselves in leadership positions in agricultural professions.

Earlier that evening, the Eastern Chapter convened for its summer chapter meeting at CIBO Restaurant in NYC.

For more information, please e-mail Catherine Wang at cwang@gibbs-soell.com.