The 2010 NAMA Student Marketing Competition was not the only event gaining attention during the 2010 NAMA Conference. This year, 15 students were honored with scholarships during the student luncheon ranging from $500 to $4,000. While the students were handed plaques and envelopes, before they could blow their awards on a night on the town in Kansas City, they were informed, “the checks are in the mail.” But that didn’t damper any of the winners’ spirits.

2009-2010 Student Scholarship Recipients:
$4,000 Scholarship
Successful Farming/Fergie Ferguson
Amanda Sollman – Michigan State University

$1,000 Colle+McVoy/New Holland Scholarship
Melissa Short – University of Florida

$1,000 MoKan Scholarship
Kerri Bates – Kansas State University

$1,000 ABEF Scholarships
Danielle Brown – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Carly Cummings – Iowa State University
Katie Dogs – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Sarah Butterfield – The Ohio State University
Kayla Lehman – Michigan State University
Jamie Thomas – New Mexico State University
Lauren Tatum – New Mexico State University

$500 ABEF Scholarships
Kristin Witte – University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Kelsey Olson – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Elizabeth Burns-Thompson – Iowa State University
Scott Henry – Iowa State University
Karoline Kastanek – Univ. of Nebraska – Lincoln

Sullivan Higdon & Sink hates sheep. Why? Because they are followers – not leaders. Well, you may love them or hate them but during NAMA you can abuse them as part of the interactive We Hate Sheep game. The game was created by t2, an interactive company based right here in Kansas City, the host town for this year’s NAMA.

I was joking with a fellow colleague, Steve Knudsen, who works for the International Agri-Center (they host the World Expo Show each February in Tulare, CA) and he asked the designers, “So is this the Web1.0 version? When will Web 2.0 be launched with the foxes trying to eat the sheep?” I personally think that’s a super idea and maybe next year, SH&S will be back with even more ways to eliminate sheep. And if you haven’t already, be sure to stop by.

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
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Can you guess the number of spots on this really cute stuffed cow? What about the table cloth? If you can, then you can win cash at the J.L. Farmakis booth. J.L. Farmakis is a rep firm that represents agricultural media. So be sure to stop by for your chance to win but don’t get too excited, I’ve already won!

As the trade show kicked off yesterday, there was a sea of students anxiously waiting to get through the doors. Why? Because they were waiting for the announcement of which teams would make it through the finals for the Student Marketing Competition. On Tuesday, 31 teams from around the country arrived for their chance to win. On Wednesday, 31 new products were announced and students presented in 20 minutes or less, why their product was the next “big thing” and how they were going to market it to success.

On Wednesday evening, Curt Blades, with Successful Farming, who has been a champion of the student’s marketing competition for many years, was awarded the Chairman’s award for his role as the Student Committee Chairman. His colleague, Janelle Buxton, was awarded a Horizon Award for her role as Chairwoman of the Membership Committee. Shortly thereafter, Curt took the stage in the trade show hall and began the announcement every student was waiting for. And the finalists are…

• Iowa State
  Illinois State
  University of Minnesota
  New Mexico State University
  CalPoly
  Michigan State

Congrats to all the finalists and good luck this afternoon. You can see photos from the Student Marketing Competition along with photos from all of NAMA in the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
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Last night the students were hard at work practicing for today’s presentations as part of the Student Marketing Competition. All around the Hyatt, you could see members of the 31 competing teams finalizing their presentations, practicing their Q&A’s with professional marketing volunteers and making all around tweaks.

I have spent the day taking photos of all of the student teams (if you haven’t had your photo taken yet then see me at the ZimmComm New Media booth during the trade show) and here is CalPoly having a little fun before their presentation. Their product was a tomato – a common crop in California – but I’m sure CalPloy’s tomato takes growing them to a new level.

Last night I spent a little time harassing the Iowa State students who were making some final changes while the rest of their team made changes on other elements of the presentation. I must admit I hung out with them because I graduated from Iowa State an eon ago. But I must have brought them a bit of good luck because they made it, along with 15 other teams into the semi finals this afternoon.

Yet today, despite the nervousness palpitating around the halls of the Hyatt, the teams still managed to have a bit of fun. You can see all of my photos in the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

Good luck to all of the teams! Your hard work and professionalism has not gone unnoticed!

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
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The students here at NAMA are not just busy trying to win the NAMA Student Marketing Competition. They are also busy selling raffle tickets. For $10, you can get one chance to win a Vizio Flat Screen TV, retailed at more than $2,000. The proceeds from the raffle will benefit the AgriBusiness Educational Foundation (ABEF) which support the NAMA Students Careers Program.

I am proud to say that I bought a raffle ticket from fellow Iowa Stater, Joe (he asked me first) who also secured a sale to one of the Student Marketing Competition Judges.

ABEF and the students thank everyone for their support.

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: . They know.

Are you afraid of social media? Is the leadership in your company afraid of it? Then you need to visit with David Meerman Scott. He’s a recovering VP of Marketing and author of the book World Wide Rave. He is conducting the NAMA Pre-Conference Workshop, “Conquering the Fear of Social Media.” David will also be the keynote speaker at tomorrow’s opening general session. You can find him on Twitter: @dmscott

I spoke with David before his session and he says that he wants attendees to leave the session realizing that “the companies that aren’t engaged are losing out.” He says this is because people are going on line to search engines and social networks to look for products and recommendations. He also recommends that companies create a social media policy which will help management, legal and employees know what they can and can’t do and that helps create more of a comfort zone.

You can download and listen to my interview with David here (mp3).

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album