It’s beginning to look a lot like conference around the NAMA office. We’ve had more sponsor and trade show booth sign-ups than this time last year! Now those are companies that are Leading The Charge!

If your company is looking for a lot of recognition, then have we got the opportunity for you! Lead the Charge by sponsoring an event at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 16-18, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

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 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference and confirm your interest to Jenny Pickett at (913) 491-6500 or e-mail to jennyp@nama.org.

Sponsorship benefits are available in an Adobe .PDF format at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/benefits.pdf.

Sponsorship opportunities available are also in an Adobe .PDF format at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/opportunities.pdf.

You can also fill out the on-line sponsorship confirmation form at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/form.htm.

We’re open to new, fresh ideas, so if you have an idea for a new sponsorship feel free to contact Jenny to discuss.

Keep in mind that if you become a platinum plus, platinum, or gold sponsor you receive FREE booth space in the Connection Point (Trade Show)!

For information on the Trade Show (Connection Point) visit http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/connection.htm.

To sign up for Trade Show booth space on-line visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/signup.htm.

Speaker information for the conference is coming soon! Stay tuned to http://nama.org/amc for the latest conference information!

The Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF) is 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 registration.

To register for the Agribusiness Forum or just the Welcome Reception/ABEF Casino Night, visit http://payment.nama.org/forum.htm.

This year, around 1270 entries were received for the Best of NAMA competition. That is 200 more entries than last year’s competition!

The regional entry judging for Best of NAMA will take place November 12-13 in Kansas City. About 50 judges will take time out of their busy schedules to help with judging the entries. First and merit entries will be on display during the Welcome Reception/ABEF Casino Night of the 2007 Agribusiness Forum from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 13.

The regional first and merit winners are eligible to advance to the national judging in February and national winners will be announced at the Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony, which will kick-off the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, Leading the Charge, April 16-18 in Kansas City.

Watch for the number of entries per chapter in the next NAMA e-News.

To register for the Welcome Reception/ABEF Casino Night or the entire Agribusiness Forum visit http://payment.nama.org/forum.htm.

Mark your calendars for the regional/chapter Best of NAMA Ceremonies. These ceremonies are celebrations of those entries that won first or merit in the regional competition.

Entries that win first or merit at the regional competition and score above the minimum point standard are eligible to advance to the national competition in February. Winners of the national competition will be announced at the national Best of NAMA Ceremony which kicks off the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, Leading the Charge, April 16 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dates for the ceremonies are below:

January 10 Region III Best of NAMA Banquet in Minneapolis, MN

January 17 Midsouth Chapter Best of NAMA Banquet in Memphis, TN

January 17 Region IV Best of NAMA Banquet in Lake Geneva, WI

January 22 Region II Best of NAMA Banquet in Kansas City, MO

January 31 Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA Banquet in Raleigh, NC

For more information on the regional Best of NAMA ceremonies, keep checking the Best of NAMA Calendar at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/calendar.htm.

There’s only 2 weeks left to enter your work in the Best of NAMA competition. Entries must be RECEIVED by Friday, October 12.

Entries are sent directly to the NAMA office and judged by industry professionals at a regional level for possible advancement to national competition. A minimum point standard will be used at the regional level. If you place first or merit at the regional competition and score above the minimum point standard, you are eligible to advance to the national competition.

Watch for chapter and regional events in your area. The national awards ceremony will take place April 16, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

To view the Best of NAMA Call for Entries or download the entry form visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Would you like to see the industry’s best work? If so, take part in the Regional Best of NAMA Judging, November 12-13, 2007. If you have 3 or more years of experience in the agribusiness industry and are a NAMA member, you’re eligible to be a judge.

The judging will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This will be convenient for those of you attending the 2007 Agribusiness Forum at the Hyatt and/or the NAFB Convention at the Westin.

Judging Schedule
Monday, November 12 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 13 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Travel arrangements are to be paid for by the judge, but NAMA will cover one night’s hotel stay. The deadline for signing up to judge is Friday, September 28. If you are selected as a Best of NAMA judge, you will be notified by October 5.

To sign up to be a regional Best of NAMA judge visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/judging.htm.

It’s time to get started on putting your entries together for the Best of NAMA competition. The deadline for submitting entries is October 12 – less than a month away!

The Best of NAMA program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Entries are sent directly to the national NAMA office and judged by industry professionals at a regional level for possible advancement to national competition. A minimum point standard will be used at the regional level. If you place first or merit at the regional competition and score above the minimum point standard, you are eligible to advance to the national competition. The national awards ceremony will take place April 16, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center.

What’s Eligible
If you’re a NAMA member you’re eligible to submit your company’s communications materials produced for first use in 2007. (If entered in 2006, the EXACT SAME entry will not be eligible in 2007.) Additions or modifications to an ongoing campaign will not be eligible year after year. Entries are open to agricultural, ornamentals, turf, livestock veterinarians and any other ag-related products or services whose primary audience is farmers, ranchers and growers (except as otherwise noted). New International categories were added last year to showcase work in other countries. Please submit translations where necessary. Each entry should be submitted through one region only.

Support Your Chapter
Your local chapter receives $25 per regional entry. So, enter your work in Best of NAMA and support your local chapter at the same time.

If you have not received your Best of NAMA Call for Entries in the mail yet, you can view the categories and download the entry form on-line at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.