New mp3 audio presentations from the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference in Dallas are now available.

If you were a registered attendee of the conference, you were sent the password to access the files. If you were not a conference attendee, you can order presentations at http://payment.nama.org/07conferencepresent.htm.

If you were a conference attendee and misplaced your password, please e-mail Kathi Conrad at kathic@nama.org.

The 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference is over. We hope you took home many big ideas! If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to fill out the on-line survey at http://www.nama.org/amc/survey.htm. Your feedback will help in the planning of the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 16-18 in Kansas City!

On another note, we would like to thank all of our conference sponsors that helped to make this conference a success. We couldn’t have done it without you! For a complete listing of this year’s sponsors visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/sponsors.htm.

If you’re interested in signing up for a sponsorship for the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, e-mail Jenny Pickett at the NAMA office at jennyp@nama.org to convey your interest.

In addition, presentations from some of the conference sessions will be posted on the web site around the first of May.

Still thinking big about the Agri-Marketing Conference last week? Don’t let the memories of the conference fade, check out the Conference Photo Gallery at http://www.nama.org/amc/photogallery/index.htm. Special thanks to Denny Eilers, Iowa Photo Farm, Inc., for the photos!

Need some Best of NAMA photos? The Best of NAMA Photo Gallery can be found at http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Still can’t get enough pictures? Check out photos by Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm New Media, LLC, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimmcomm/sets/72157600059994008/.

The Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony kicked off this year’s 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 11 in Dallas.The Best of NAMA awards competition recognizes excellence in creative agri-marketing communications. Companies and agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level.

Entries were first judged at one of six regional levels in November and the top two entries were eligible to advance to the national judging which was held in February in Kansas City. Nearly 1,100 entries were submitted at the regional levels and 434 entries were judged at the national level.

This year’s award ceremony was emceed by Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson, WGN Radio, and award presenters were Jim Haist, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications, and Steve Engle.

Three Best of Show awards were given in the areas of Advertising, Public Relations and Specialty categories. Below are the Best of Show winners:

Advertising
Client: National Pork Board, Clive, IA – Becca Hendricks
Agency: The Richards Group, Dallas, TX – Travis Hopper
Entry: The Other White Album

Public Relations
Client: McDonald’s Corporation, Oak Brook, IL – Tara Hayes
Agency: Morgan&Myers, and Golin Harris (Cooperative Consumer Agency), Waukesha, WI – Judy Rupnow
Entry: McDonald’s Food Quality Symposium

Specialty
Client: Nestle Purina, St. Louis, MO – Candy Caciolo
Agency: Colle+McVoy, Minneapolis, MN – Michelle Frys
Entry: Purina Pro Plan Everyday Heroes Print Campaign

Look to the AgriMarketing Magazine web site for a listing of all the winners at http://www.agrimarketing.com/nama2007front.php.

The Best of NAMA awards Ceremony was another outstanding production this year. The program was shortened due to some schedule changes that allowed everyone to attend the trade show afterward and still have time to go to dinner. The comments I heard about this were all very positive.

Here’s a short list of winners as announced via AgriMarketing magazine where you’ll be able to find the full results in the April issue:

Last evening at its annual Best of NAMA celebration held in Dallas, TX, the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) presented 61 first place awards for outstanding ag communications activities during 2006.

Taking home Best of Show awards were:

* ADVERTISING-National Pork Board, West Des Moines, IA; Agency: The Richards Group, Dallas, TX,

* PUBLIC RELATIONS-McDonald’s Corp. Oakbrook, IL; Agency: Morgan & Myers and Golin Harris (cooperative effort), both located in Waukesha, WI, and

* SPECIALTY-Nestle Purina, St. Louis, MO; Agency: Colle+McVoy, Minneapolis, MN

Companies taking home the most awards were:

* CaseIH-4
* Dow AgroSciences-4
* John Deere-4
* Valent-4

Agencies taking home the most awards were:

* Colle+McVoy-9
* archer>malmo-4
*B ader Rutter-4

Come to the conference early and learn how to present your ideas with power. Laurie Richards, Laurie Richards & Associates, will host the pre-conference workshop, “Presenting Your Ideas With Power” on Wednesday, April 11 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

This interactive workshop will polish your speaking skills regardless of your experience or level of development. Learn how to organize your thoughts to make your point clearly and to gain support.

Laurie Richards has hosted her own television show, managed one of the nation’s fastest growing public relations agencies and launched award-winning public affairs programs. Her published works include, Speaking Without Fear, Managing People for Success, and Give Stress a Rest. Sign up for the Pre-Conference Workshop at http://www.nama.org/amc/reserveworkshop.htm.

Don’t miss some of the biggest thinkers in agri-marketing at the Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Join in applauding the achievements of the winners as awards are presented in 61 categories with 3 Best of Show awards given for advertising, public relations, and specialty work.

After the Best of NAMA Ceremony, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, invite you to toast the winners at a wine tasting in the Connection Point from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Great prizes will be given away during the tasting, don’t miss your opportunity to win!

The early registration deadline and hotel cut-off date for the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Think Big,” is this Wednesday, March 21. Make your reservations on or before March 21 to ensure the early registration rate and secure a hotel room. Registration rates will increase after March 21 and hotel reservations made after that same date are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability.Register now for the agri-marketing event of the year at http://www.nama.org/amc/register.html or call the NAMA office to register at 913-491-6500.

To reserve your hotel room on-line visit http://dallasregency.hyatt.com/groupbooking/dfwrdnama2007