Even with a down economy, the need for effective marketing doesn’t go away. How do marketing agencies help focus their clients’ strategy and maximize their efforts?

Now is your chance to ask! Join Wisconsin’s premier ag-focused agency leaders for an intimate discussion on navigating a challenging economic landscape.

Thought leaders at Bader Rutter, Charleston|Orwig, Filament Marketing and MorganMyers are coming together for a special panel discussion to share their experiences counseling clients through economic booms and busts. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to have your questions answered!

When:
Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Where:
Delafield Brewhaus
3832 Hillside Dr.
Delafield, WI 53018

Cost:
$40 – Badger NAMA members
$60 – Non-Members
$20 – Student

Registration opens at 4:00 pm

Discussion begins 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

There will be a buffet dinner and open bar

Questions can be directed to Jake Wolter, jwolter@bader-rutter.com.

The Cornhusker NAMA Chapter kicked off the 2016-17 meeting year with an entertaining excursion to historic and scenic Nebraska City – the oldest incorporated city in the state. The half-day meeting kicked off with a hearty country breakfast at Lied Lodge. The Adirondack architectural design and styling of timbers and stone serves as a resource for the Arbor Day Foundation and other forestry related organizations. Here, members enjoyed a tour of the Lodge’s unique, highly efficient and sustainable biomass heating and cooling system that burns wood chips derived from recycled pallets to fuel the entire 140-room facility at one-third the cost of conventional HVAC systems.

Next was a tour of Arbor Lodge, the magnificent 52-room mansion and home of J. Sterling Morton. Probably best known as founder of Arbor Day, Morton was a highly successful and fragile businessman and newspaper editor who also served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland. Those attending were then treated to a relaxing tractor-pulled wagon ride adventure through the heavily wooded, gently rolling 260-acre Arbor Farms and Nursery. This National Historic Landmark and birthplace of Arbor Day includes a 22-acre nursery that inventories over a thousand different shade and ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials. The tour concluded with a stop at the famed apple orchard and vineyards where members got to pick a newly ripened apple from one of the trees representing more than 150 varieties.

Once a vast prairie void of trees, the 260-acre Arbor Farm now boasts dozens of tree species. In the distance atop the hill with picturesque views of South Table Rock Creek below is Arbor Manor, home of Arbor Day Founder J. Sterling Morton. Hazelnut Research Field (foreground) – second largest in the U.S. – helps show the way to better food production practices, environmental health and innovative agroforestry practices.

Members of the Cornhusker NAMA Chapter enjoy a picture-perfect outdoor fall outing to Arbor Farms, Nebraska City. The group enjoyed spectacular views of the famed 260-acre farm from the scenic outlook of Lied Lodge

Members of Cornhusker NAMA learn more about the Arbor Foundation and how trees got their start on barren Midwest prairies thanks to Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton. There, the group toured the sustainable biomass heating and cooling system that uses wood chips from recycled pallets to heat and cool the 140-room lodge for one-third the cost of conventional HVAC systems.

GMOs, trade and transportation – oh my! Jim Massey from The Country Today moderated the Sept. 15 “Advocacy in Agriculture” panel with Badger NAMA. The group discussed issues important to ag, the upcoming election and how we can all be better advocates for agriculture. Panelists included Tom Thieding from the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, John Holevoet from the Dairy Business Association, Mandy Masters from Wisconsin Pork Producers Association and Kim Bremmer from Ag Inspirations and CommonGround.

The panel stressed that advocacy has changed with increased consumer involvement and action from the ag sector is critical, especially with many legislators disconnected from agriculture. Bremmer shared, “it’s better to do something imperfectly than do nothing flawlessly,” so the responsibility to educate consumers and legislators lies with all of us. Attendees left feeling inspired and assured that this election isn’t the end for agriculture.

Iowa NAMA members gathered at Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston on October 13 to hear Dave Patterson share his top ten list for successful B-to-B marketing communications.  Dave, with John Deere Financial, addressed how new technologies continue to provide marketing professionals with expanded, data-driven media options, and unique creative and content-related techniques.

He noted that at the same time, some fundamental marketing principles that were relevant generations ago continue to be relevant today.

New Member List:
Welcome our new members for September 2016:

AT LARGE
Anna Cork, Technekes

BADGER
Erica Tessmann, Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Assoc.

CAROLINAS/VIRGINIA
Erin Barger, John Deere
Samuel Burgess, BASF
Ryan Burkett, Stratagon, Inc.
Luke Lathan, BASF
Maureen McCormack, John Deere
Colby Mower, BASF
Leon Zinck III, Farm Market iD

CHESAPEAKE
Brittany Jablonsky, The Farm Credit Council
Kyle Rubeling, imre

GATEWAY
Brittany Phillips, Brighton Agency

HEARTLAND
Sabrina Burkiewicz, Illinois Farm Bureau
Sean McGuire, Fastline Media Group, LLC
Edgarita Norris, Fastline Media Group, LLC

IOWA
Brooke Brinkmeier, NuTech Seed, LLC
Laura Crowell, USDA-NRCS
Jason Johnson, USDA-NRCS

MID-AMERICA
Megan Harrison, sandbox
Sean McGuire, Fastline Media Group, LLC
William Secor, Purdue University

MIDSOUTH
Ross Pruitt, University of Tennessee – Martin

MISSOURI/KANSAS
Jennifer Anshutz, Callahan Creek
Rebecca Nutt, TLG

NORTH CENTRAL
Pam Mariutto, broadhead.
Emilee Wendorf

NORTHERN PRAIRIE
Darren Ebensteiner, IRONCLAD Marketing
Hayden Strickler, North Dakota State University

OHIO
Meghan Bennett, Provimi North America

SOUTHEASTERN
Andy Lucas, Georgia Farm Bureau

SOUTHWEST
Danhong Chen, Sam Houston State University

WESTERN PACIFIC
Bryce Peacher, HM.CLAUSE

Finalizing your schedule for World Dairy Expo week? Here’s one reception you can’t miss.

Join Badger NAMA at show close on Thursday for a reception in the Exhibition Hall Balcony. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be available as you make new agri-marketing connections and catch up with old friends. This a free, casual event for all NAMA members and friends.

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016

Time: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Location: Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall Balcony

Includes: Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres

Cost: Free!