Our theme this year is “Think Big” and I know we’re going to see that demonstrated in a number of ways throughout the Conference.

For example, these are the registration bags thanks to The Western Producer.

They’re big and will be great to carry around and collect stuff during sessions and the trade show.

This year NAMA turns 50 so it’s a pretty big celebration and where better to do that than at the annual convention?

This table is right outside of the registration area and where you get your bags of goodies that include some very important information such as who’s doing what at their booth in the trade show.

I’ll see if there’s a current total of how many are registered and post it as soon as I find out. The rumor mill says over 900. Let’s see how accurate they are.

Registration is open here at the Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show and people are wandering around and getting their bearings.

The golf tournament got off to a good start and the students are practicing their presentations.

When you come into the lobby to check in to your room just keep walking and you’ll find these ladies waiting to provide you with your materials.

The NAMA Executive Committee is meeting this morning so there is work going on as people start to arrive here in Dallas.

The skies are cloudy but hopefully this won’t affect our golf tournament this afternoon.

I’m wandering around the various meetings that are taking place and getting some pictures like this one. Besides the NAMA Executive Committee, other organizations use this opportunity to hold their meetings.

For example, the American Agricultural Editors Association is holding their board meeting right now.

Welcome to the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference & Trade Show in Dallas, TX.

Here’s the site of our convention this year, the Hyatt Regency.

Once again this year I’ll be your NAMA blogger and I’m looking forward to an active time with lots of pictures and interviews.

I’ve started my own online photo album which you’re invited to visit from time to time as I add to it over the coming days.

Although some activities take place tomorrow like the annual ABEF golf tournament, most of the action kicks into high gear starting on Wednesday.

There’s way too much activity going on here for just one lonely blogger to cover it all but I’ll do my best and post mainly each evening from the day’s activities.

So keep your eye right here as we Think Big in Dallas.

The last presentation at the Agribusiness Forum yesterday was given by Sano Shimoda, BioScience Securities.

Although the title of the session started out with “The Final Frontier . . . ,” Sano thinks we’re just beginning. He’s very optimistic about the future of American agribusiness.

In reference to biofuels, which were a topic of discussion here, he says that we’re going to have to become cost competitive in order to fully develop our capabilities.

You can hear my interview with Sano here: Sano Shimoda Interview (4 min MP3)

One of the presenters this afternoon was Hugh Whaley, Osborn & Barr Communications.

Hugh was representing the soybean industry and the United Soybean Board in particular.

He says that there was a lot of interest from the group in the kinds of soybean varieties that are in development that will help provide more oil for both food and fuel use.

He also says that feeding soybeans to animals is still the biggest use of the commodity but that may be challenged in the future as the biofuels business grows.

You can hear my interview with Hugh here: Hugh Whaley Interview (4 min MP3)