Welcome and we’re glad you’re here. The activities have started with the annual golf tournament and student marketing competition practice sessions. Professionals are being greeted by friendly NAMA staff as they check in for another great conference.

I’ve started a Conference Photo Album and will be adding to is over the next several days so check it often.

We’d like to say a special thank you to Successful Farming for sponsoring the NAMA Blog this year. They can be found in the NAMA Connection Point trade show which opens up after the Best of NAMA awards tomorrow night.

The first panel discussion on day two of Trends focused on How Marketers are Building New Community Ties.

3G-enabled smart phones, the “Tweeting Farmer,” and unusual partnerships are all part of the new ag community. This general session will feature practical case studies from marketers inside and outside of agriculture that have forged new links with their customers using new media and non-traditional collaboration. Joe Grigsby, VML, Leslie Bradshaw, a farm kid and University of Chicago educated Communications Manager with New Media Strategies in Washington, D.C., and Joel Jaeger, Commodity Update shared their experiences.

I interviewed each of them for you:

Joe Grigsby Interview (mp3)
Leslie Bradshaw Interview (mp3)
Joel Jaeger Interview (mp3)

NAMA Trends In Ag Photo Album

It’s not all work, work, work at a NAMA meeting.

Last night at the Trends in Agriculture conference attendees could get their picture taken with the Car of the Heartland which is being promoted by Furniture Row Racing. They were our reception sponsors.

Even during the receptions though, connections are being made and future business is being started. One of the great benefits of participation.

It’s one thing to say there’s a new ag community. It’s another thing to live in it as a farmer. At the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference a panel of producers addressed this subject. The panel included a row crop farmer from Texas, a dairy producer from Wisconsin and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

Their task was to share specific examples of how success and growth today require more than good agronomic practices. A lot of the discussion focused on the growing anti agricultural forces that are reaching consumers with messages that are not based on good science and often meant to obtain a political agenda. They all agreed that new technology offers communications channels that can help farmers tell their story.

I spoke with one of the panelists, Daphne Holterman, Rosy-Lane Holsteins, after the session. She says that they all realize that they can’t just be “a farm in our little neighborhood or rural communities anymore but we have to be a big player in a bigger pond.” She says it’s important to talk out about being the true environmentalists. The digital age is making this more necessary than ever.

You can listen to my interview with Daphne here: Daphne Holterman Interview (mp3)

Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

Our opening keynote speaker is David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Finanace and Small Business Management, Virginia Tech and President, AgriVisions, LLC. His topic is “Defining the New Ag Community.”

David set up his session with a number of facts and figures including the fact that 70% of North American farm ground will change hands by 2025 and that women and minorities will become major decision makers. Then since we’re all agrimarketers he started talking about the move to the digital world. He asked participants how many were involved in social networking and podcasting. Only a couple of hands were raised for podcasting. I think he was surprised by that.

He offered the 10 C’s of going digital which include: Commitment, Collaboration, Consumers, Customers, Community, Connecting, Competition, Control, Communication and Cost & Capital Return. He offered a parting thought that “success in social media/digital is balance of high tech and high touch.”

You can listen to my interview with David here: David Kohl Interview (mp3)

NAMA Trends In Ag Photo Album

The Trends In Agriculture Conference is underway and I’ll be your NAMA Blogger once again this year. We’d like to thank Paulsen Marketing for being the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

Here you can see the staff getting members checked in at registration which is located on the upper level in the lobby side hallway. The Board has concluded its meeting and I interviewed member Beth Burgy, Broadhead+Co, about what they decided. It sounds like an initiative to survey members and find out what other professional organizations they belong to and what their preferred methods of communication are will be conducted. Hopefully that will help NAMA better engage with members.

You can listen to my interview with Beth using this link: Beth Burgy Interview (mp3)

I’ve also got a photo album started that I’ll be adding to periodically which you can find here: NAMA Trends In Ag Photo Album

Celebrating in wild abandon at the student NAMA awards was Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products. He “de-throned” two time Hard Ass award winner, Mike Gustafson. Now there’s reason for a party!

I’m not exactly sure how this award is determined. You’ll have to ask the judges. I’m just thinking that I’m glad that trophy will be hanging on Paul’s wall! This award is given to a student competition judge who is very “hard” on the competitors.

Make sure you congratulate him when you see him.

NAMA Photo Album