NAMA would like to welcome Barry Nelson, Manager, Public Relations for John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center, to the Executive Committee. Nelson replaces Joy Watson, formerly with BASF Corporation, on the committee.

Other members of the Executive Committee include:

President
Stephanie Gable, Ft. Dodge Animal Health

President Elect
Patty Travis, 5MetaCom

Secretary/Treasurer
Monte Reese

Members
Ken Anderson, David & Associates
Carol Anderson, Anderson/Fallon
Vicki Henrickson
Kyle Bauer, KFRM Radio
Beth Burgy, Broadhead+Company

The hotel cut-off date for the NAMA Boot Camp is August 6, 2007. Any hotel reservations after August 6 are subject to higher rates and potential unavailability. If you are planning on attending the NAMA Boot Camp, make your hotel reservations now by calling the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 816-421-1234. The hotel room rate for the NAMA Boot Camp is $119 for a single or double room.

Whether you’ve just entered the rough working world or one who’s been through the NAMA Boot Camp drill before, sign up for this program today to learn more about the agri-marketing industry.

If you would like to register for the NAMA Boot Camp and/or the MoKan Ag Tour visit, http://payment.nama.org/bootcamp07.htm.

If you are interested in sponsoring a session or event at the NAMA Boot Camp, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp visit, http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence is August 31. These awards will be presented at the 2007 Agribusiness Forum, November 13-14, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

The Professional Development Awards of Excellence were created in 2001 to demonstrate NAMA’s commitment to the four professional development areas.

Nominees for the Awards of Excellence must be NAMA members. Nominators should target individuals with direct planning and execution responsibilities in the respective Professional Development Area from agribusiness and related companies. If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact Jenny Pickett at jennyp@nama.org.To download the nomination form in an Adobe .PDF format, visit http://www.nama.org/awards/PDAapplication.pdf.

You can also fill out the form on-line at http://www.nama.org/awards/pdaonlineform.htm.

New speakers have been added to the Agribusiness Forum, Who’s Pulling Our Chain, November 13-14, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

On Tuesday, November 13, Don Reynolds, real world economist, futurist and international expert will kickoff the Forum and a representative from Hy-Vee will help us find out Who’s Pulling Our Chain.

Wednesday, November 14, will begin with Matt McKinney, Minnesota Star Tribune, addressing attendees on Food Safety. Our next speaker will be Mary Rosenthal, NatureWorks. Following the Professional Development Awards of Excellence luncheon, Claudia Mobly, director of the Sam M. Walton College of Business Center for Retailing Excellence, will address attendees. In addition, the Forum will close with a session on marketing to the Rural Lifestyler.

Stay tuned to the Agribusiness Forum web site for session topics, speaker information, registration and hotel information at http://www.nama.org/forum/index.html.

The Agri-Marketing Conference Steering Committee met in Kansas City on July 26 to discuss the 2008 conference program and determine a theme. The theme for the 2008 conference is “Leading the Charge.”

The Agri-Marketing Conference will take place April 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, MO.

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. Check out our sponsors from the 2007 conference at http://www.nama.org/amc/sponsor/sponsors.htm. Take a virtual tour of our exhibitors from the 2007 conference at http://www.nama.org/amc/ts/virtual.htm.

Special thanks to our Steering Committee members:

Leigh Ann Cleaver, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications (Agri-Marketing Conference Chair)
Steve Engle, McCormick Company (Best of NAMA Chair)
Rosemary Schimek, Farm Progress Companies (Trade Show Chair)
Patty Jolliffe, Weyforth – Haas Marketing (Careers Chair)

On June 28, 2007, the Northern Prairie NAMA Chapter held its annual Golfaroo. This year’s Golferoo was held at The Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead, MN.

Nearly 20 golfers enjoyed perfect weather for golfing. After the round of golf, a delicious dinner was served, along with many door prizes. The Golferoo winners were Dave McSparron of the Red River Farm Network, Leah Brakke of AdFarm, Bob Brunker of J.L. Farmakis and Erin Jarolimek of AdFarm.

A big thank you to our sponsors:

Farm & Ranch Guide
Red River Farm Network
Farm Progress Companies
J.L. Farmakis
AGWEEK
Hyland Seeds
American Ag Network

In addition we’d like to thank AdFarm for putting together the announcement.

The July meeting of the Mo-Kan NAMA chapter saw Lynn Parman, vice president of the life science and technology department of the Kansas City Area Development Council, speak to over 40 NAMA members. Parman spoke about how the Greater Kansas City area is known as the Animal Health Corridor.

The 52 city, 18 county area, stretching from St. Joseph to Clinton and from Topeka to Warrensburg, that Parman represents is about one-third of the global animal health businesses. The greater Kansas City area is host to 37 U.S. or global headquarters of animal health companies, including four of the 10 largest animal health companies.

However, the Kansas City area is not resting on its laurels. Parman heads up the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor (KCAHC), an organization made up of the Kansas City Area Development Council, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Life Sciences Institute. KCAHC helps recruit new animal health associations and companies to the Kansas City area.

The July meeting was held July 12 at the Webster House in Kansas City, Mo., and included a lunch, as well as the presentation and networking opportunities.