At the first day dinner NAMA presented the Professional Development Awards of Excellence. The first award was presented to Bev Larson, NK Brand/Syngenta Seeds in the marketing communications area. Presenting the awards was Tom Smull, NAMA President.

Larson began her career with the legacy company of Syngenta Seed’s NK Brand, Northrup King, in 1976, when she was a publications assistant who wrote and edited a variety of internal dealer and grower newsletters and publications. Today, she manages a multi-million dollar advertising and PR campaign. Larson plans and works with internal marketing groups, as well as a public relations agency and an advertising agency. She is also the key contact for three NK Brand marketing managers.

I know Monte Reese already had his picture posted but he won the Putt Putt Hole-In-One contest and is seen here collecting his prize. Congratulations Monte. It took extreme concentration and just, well, a hole lotta luck.

So after that point changing extravaganza, which seemed to go on forever, we had a winning team. They weren’t all there but I did get to snap a photo of the ones who were.

Can you identify them? If so, please do so in the comment section.

This is the “real” results of the Putt Putt tournament. Please note that the Earthly Beef (my team) had the lowest score. However, they had this thing called the “Sheleileigh.” I have no idea if I’m even spelling that right at this point. The idea was to raise more money by having people buy these things which then added points to someone else’s team score. Pretty nefarious if you ask me.

That’s why it was important to have a picture of the “real” results.

I’ll let you come up with a name for this golf team. I didn’t get it written down but I think the last part of their team name started with a “B” and ended with something that rhymes with “itches.”

They should have won a prize for the team that had the most fun. Ask them how they got the ball into the cup on one hole when it came up just short.

At the welcome reception we got to play putt putt. Here’s Judi Lampe, Mother Earth News, getting ready for a hole in one. She was on my team and thank goodness she agreed to play with us. We needed the help!

The end of the opening session ended with a panel discussion and attendance was great. A question & answer session followed the speakers. Then it was off to get ready for the welcome reception.