A big part of the NAMA Agrimarketing Conference is the student chapter marketing competitions. For this year’s “Leading the Charge” event, students from Virginia Tech have chosen to promote Blue Ridge Apple Chips for a company based out of Western Virginia. Team member Josh Stephens (pictured shaking hands far right) touts the apple chips as a healthy, on-the-go snack for busy-bodies living in the fast track… like us bloggers.

You can listen to Laura McNamara’s interview with Josh here, where he explains why his team chose Blue Ridge Apple Chips. He also comments on what he’s learning through the NAMA experience… and he’ll tell you, marketing isn’t easy.

But then, that’s why we are all here at the NAMA Agrimarketing Conference isn’t it… Interview with Josh Stephens (2 min MP3)

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

The first breakout session at the 2008 NAMA “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing Conference focused on advertising. A group of panelists opened discussion on “Ag Advertising: How the Best was Won.” Tim Naylor, the chief creative officer for Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie, moderated the panel discussion. Other panel members included representatives from Colle + McVoy, Rhea & Kaiser, Bader Rutter and Martin Williams.

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

The NAMA Board of Directors’ Meeting met to tackle important issues and topics on the agenda. Thanks to Laura McNamara I have a pic of the the NAMA Chapter Leaders getting down to business at the Chicago meeting room at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center in Kansas City. NAMA’s “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing Conference will be hosting events here through Friday.

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

The Best of NAMA Awards featured lots of firearms and noise and cowboys on stage announcing the winners.

I’ll try to get some summary information posted by tomorrow. Right now the Connection Point is about to start and things are going to get busy.

We’ve got a great looking crowd of professional agrimarketers on hand for this year’s Agri-Marketing Conference. I’ll have a lot more posts coming so keep checking back.

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

NAMA Chapter Leaders got together to lunch and learn. In a morning session they discussed the challenges they face and created a plan to address those challenges.

One of the presenters was Greg Ehm, Two Rivers Marketing, pictured in the blue shirt. I spoke to him at the lunch that followed their workshop.

Greg says that one of the biggest issues that came up was “time.” It seems like there are so many things competing for our time today that sometimes chapters are suffering from not enough member involvement. Greg says that the NAMA office has hired someone to help chapters with their challenges. I’m going to find her for an interview and introduce you to her soon.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Ehm (2 min MP3)

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

Student NAMA members are all dressed up for their preliminary heats in the annual marketing competition. You can see them getting together in groups for photos in various locations.

There’s a student lunch today which I’m going to try to visit for a while. Exhibitors will be setting up for the Connection Point and I’ve got to get that taken care of too.

Other items on the agenda today include the Chapter Leader Workshop, Board meeting, First Timer Reception, Best of NAMA and the Connection Point opening reception.

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.

The 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference is underway. I just got in a little while ago and picked up my registration packet. Lots of stuff in there. I’m looking forward to being your NAMA Blogger once again.

The lobby of the Hyatt looks beautiful as usual and you can’t miss registration.

I’ve started a convention photo album and will be added to periodically over the coming days so make sure you check it often: 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

The NAMA Blog is sponsored by Successful Farming.