One of the best things about a NAMA function is the networking opportunities or as I like to say “lobbying.” Breaks like this one are very important to the people who come here.

How high would you rate networking opportunities at a NAMA function?

Day 2 of the Agribusiness Forum is underway and the opening session is going. Lots of people here this morning. They must have been good little boys and girls or else the coffee (which is excellent) has worked very well.

Here’s the first panel talking about Ag Distribution – Role, Influence, Challenges.

If you couldn’t make it do you have any questions for our panelists? If so, leave them in comments and we’ll see if we can get you an answer.

Tom Smull, Associations, Inc., is the president of NAMA this year. I got him to talk about the board meeting, the Forum and next year’s convention.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Smull Interview

After the awards we were educated and informed by Mark Pearson, Market to Market & The Big Show, who is a farmer, broadcaster and I’m not sure what all else. His presentation was “I’m Your Customer, Listen To Me.” Actually we didn’t need the microphone and speakers to listen to him. He projects very well.

The final Professional Development Award of Excellence was presented to Margaret Wallace Oldham, Beck Ag Com, Inc., in the area of sales.

During a brainstorming session with FMC Corporation, Oldham was asked by the sales and marketing managers in the room about how FMC could bring differential value to their newly identified Star Retailers without simply adjusting pricing in the marketplace. Oldham, a 13-year Ag industry veteran including six years as Director of Business Development with Beck Ag Com, began to understand FMC’s objective to differentiate not only themselves but also their customers, the Star Retailers. Under the premise customers who are strong, profitable and knowledgeable build a stronger agriculture industry and create greater success for all – the FMC Business Academy was born. The FMC Business Academy offers Star Retailers an opportunity to gain access to third party subject experts, share innovative ideas and work on skill sets to improve their business. All of the Academy’s offerings are designed to be Just-In-Time- Learning (JITL) for timely impact on both the retailer and FMC’s business.

The next Professional Development Award of Excellence was presented to Janice Person, D&PL, in the area of public relations.

When Person joined D&PL in 1996, the company was in the throes of revolutionizing the cotton industry with its role as innovator in biotechnology. She was the first public relations manager in the company and has aided the company as it has evolved. In the years that followed, Person has used her background and expertise as a communications professional to advocate and coordinate the professionalism of D&PL’s communications with customers, others in the industry, employees and shareholders. The past decade has been one of immense change for D&PL, changes that placed increasing emphasis on the communications of technical, scientific or business sensitive information.

The next Professional Development Award of Excellence was presented to Dennis Gehler, CROPLAN GENETICS/Land O’ Lakes in the area of product/species management.

Gehler is the Founder of Midwest Forage Association and of Hay Markets International. Gehler is currently in the process of launching Roundup Ready® Alfalfa. The CROPLAN GENETICS product name of Consistency 4.10RR positions the product benefit instead of the product attributes. They have planted more acres of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa than any other seed company and have maintained the highest standard of trait stewardship. He has also positioned CROPLAN GENETICS Forages through use of Genetics…Management…Production story.