There’s still time to register for the NAMA Boot Camp, August 17-19, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.

Check out the program below and get registered today!

Tuesday, August 17

5:00 p.m. – Boot Camp Registration
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Welcome Reception
6:00-7:30 p.m. – Opening General Session – Dinner – Networking Activity
Dave Mehlhaff – Session Moderator
Kick off the Boot Camp with a networking activity designed to help you get to know fellow attendees.

Wednesday, August 18

8:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast
8:30-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Producer Panel
Learn how to communicate effectively with producers. The producer panel has become a Boot Camp favorite and attendees won’t want to miss the valuable insights from producers. The panel will be moderated by Janelle Buxton, Sales Executive, Successful Farming and Agriculture Online. Three producers will be joining Janelle to share their insights.

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Break
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Little Red Writing Hood ~ Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co.
The client has asked you to write a communications plan. Don’t despair! Developing a communications plan with concrete objectives, strategies and tactics is a lot like planning a trip in the land of fractured fairy tales. You have to know where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and what to expect when you arrive. This session will provide some useful hints to give you the upper hand in the plan development process.

Marketing to the Animal Health Industry ~ Todd Firkins, Bayer Animal Health; Lonny Duckworth, cattle producer, Butler, MO
Do you market to the animal health industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the animal health arena.

12:00 Noon-1:30 p.m. – Luncheon w/ speaker
The Impact of Digital Media on Farmers and Ranchers ~ Jack Semler, Readex Research
ABM’s Agri Council and Readex Research have joined forces to conduct a major agricultural research study that explores the impact of digital media on farmers and ranchers. Its findings are based on the responses of more than 1,200 owners, operators, and/or managers of farms or ranches.

Jack Semler, president of Readex Research, will be presenting a summary of key findings from this important market research.

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions (choose one)
Marketing to the Row Crop Industry ~ Shane Rourke, John Deere; Ken McCauley, corn/soybean grower, White Cloud, KS
Do you market to the row crop industry? This session is a great way to get two perspectives on the best way to reach that market. Hear from the company side and from the producer side. You will walk away with great insights into the row crop industry.

Recalls, Oil Spills and the Media – Oh My! ~ Daren Williams, Natl. Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Every organization will eventually face the “moment of truth” when something goes wrong affecting your people, products or reputation. Public relations and marketing professionals play a critical role in managing communications during a crisis which can affect the outcome for better or worse. This session will offer practical tips for managing a crisis before, during and after the moment of truth based on the real-life experiences of an ag communicator who has helped manage product recalls, oil spills and the media onslaught that accompanies a crisis. Daren Williams is executive director of communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and former senior vice president of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., where he specialized in crisis communications for clients in the food, agriculture and health care industries.

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Break
3:00-4:00 p.m. – General Session
Marketing to Key Influencers
All boot camp attendees will be together for this last session of the day to hear from an Ag Retailer and a Large Animal Vet. Learn their perspective on the business.

4:30-6:30 p.m. – Reception at Boulevard Brewery
A shuttle will take attendees to a special reception at Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewery. Founded in 1989, Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. The reception will take place in the beautiful Heim Room that features a unique view of the Kansas City skyline.

7:00 p.m. – Dine Around (optional)
Attendees can attend an optional dine-around. This is a great way to get to know your peers and learn about NAMA. This event is optional and dutch treat.

Thursday, August 19

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
9:00-10:00 a.m. – General Session
Career Builder Session ~ Erika Osmundson, AgCareers.com
Learn how to do the best possible job for your employer and enhance your career.

10:00-10:15 a.m. – Break
10:15-11:30 a.m. – Closing Session
Advocating for Ag Panel ~ Moderator: Melanie Acklin, SFP; Daren Williams, NCBA; Mindy Hempler, Syngenta Crop Protection; Charlie Arnot, CMA Consulting
There is a distance between most Americans and the farms that produce their food. It is a gap being filled more and more by detractors that have farmers and big agribusiness as the enemy. Producers, their suppliers and the ag industry are trying to raise awareness of the truth about American agriculture. Join these panel members as we examine what we can all do to advocate for our industry.

Please note: The Hyatt Regency is sold out on August 16 & 17. If you are in need of a room at the Hyatt, please contact Kathi Conrad at 913-491-6500 or at kathic@nama.org.

For more information on the NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/index.html.

To register for the NAMA Boot Camp and/or the MoKan Ag Tour, please visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Register today for the 2010 MoKan Ag Tour on Tuesday, August 17, prior to the NAMA Boot Camp.

The tour is an on-farm experience where attendees will tour as well as learn about different operations. The morning begins with a tour of an Ag Retailer, who is an aerial applicator, to check out the plane/equipment. There will be a short presentation from the pilot. The group will visit a rural meat market and will  tour a 20,000 acre row crop facility as well as a livestock operation.

The schedule for the Ag Tour is as follows:

Schedule:
7:45 a.m. Leave the Hyatt Regency Crown Center

8:30 a.m. Tour a row crop and cattle farm operation in Richmond, MO

11:00 a.m. Tour Pence Aerial Service, an Aerial Applicator’s Operation at the Carrollton Airport (including plane) and discussion about what Aerial Applicators do for Agriculture and what the National Agriculture Aviation Association does to promote safety and stewardship.

http://penceaerialservice.com/

http://www.agaviation.org/aboutuspage.htm

12:30 p.m. lunch on bus while commuting to Ray Carroll County Grain Growers at just outside Carrollton, MO

1:15 p.m. Tour a large and progressive Ag Retailer, Grain Elevator, and Ethanol Plant which is a Coop (owned by growers)

Ray Carroll County Grain Growers

http://www.ray-carroll.com/EZWeb/SiteWizard/index.cfm?FuseAction=DisplayPage&PageID=733&ExpandDepartment=401&Spg=733

ethanol plant:

http://www.showmeethanolllc.com/

3:00 p.m. – Return to Hyatt

Cost for the MoKan Ag Tour is $50 and includes a boxed breakfast & lunch as well as beverages.

To register for the MoKan Ag Tour, visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=22.

Doane Advisory’s 26^th annual conference is scheduled for October 18^th & 19^th at the Embassy Suites in St. Louis, Missouri.  The speakers will include experts from the Federal Reserve, High Quest Partners, Confluence Investment, and Doane Advisory.  In additional, a panel of crop consultants will give a “from the field” perspective.

NAMA members can register for just $400 – that’s a $100 discount off the normal registration cost.  Visit www.doane.com/outlook2010 to view the entire agenda and register.  Please put NAMA member in the comments section for the discount.

Trends In Agriculture
Mark your calendars for the 2010 Trends In Agriculture fall meeting, October 5-6 at The Marquette in Minneapolis, MN. Programming for the fall Trends meeting is underway and more information on sessions will be available soon!

If you are interested in sponsoring a session at the 2010 Trends In Agriculture meeting, please contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or at jennyp@nama.org.

Best of NAMA Call For Entries
The deadline for submitting entries for the Best of NAMA competition is Friday, October 8.

The Best of NAMA awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Actually, the best of the best, since companies/agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level. The national awards ceremony will take place April 13, at the Hyatt Regency, Kansas City.

More information on the Best of NAMA Call for Entries is on the way!

Executive Committee
The NAMA Executive Committee will be meeting this week in Lake Tahoe, California. Kevin Ochsner, Adayana, Inc., will be joining the Executive Committee to help committee members establish NAMA’s strategic plan. The meeting will take place August 4-5.

Executive Committee members include: Susie Decker, Farm Progress Companies (National NAMA President); Vicki Henrickson, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications (President-Elect); Beth Burgy, Broadhead + Co. (Secretary/Treasurer); Paul Redhage, FMC Agricultural Products; Kenna Rathai, Kenna B. Rathai Communications; Robert Ratliff, ProfitableFarming.com; Ken Dean, SouthWestern Association/Western Farm Show; Marvin Kokes, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Becky Peterson, Farm Credit Services; and Jenny Pickett, National NAMA.

Careers Committee
The Careers Committee will meet August 27 at the Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications offices in Naperville, IL. The committee will be discussing the responsibilities of the committee as well as any Marketing Competition Guideline changes and planning for the Student Marketing Competition at the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 13-15, 2011.

The Careers Committee includes: Wes Meador, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications (Careers Chair); Kristen Marshall, Nicholson Kovac (Vice Chair); Stacey Noe, Iowa State University (Advisor); Jennifer Christie, John Deere, Ltd. & Student Advisor for University of Guelph; Deron Johnson, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications; Michelle Tollefson, Pfizer Animal Health; Matt Bornhorst, Agriculture Future of America; Mike Butler, Archer>Malmo; Amy Barron, Novus International; Janelle Buxton, Successful Farming & Agriculture Online; Sara Thieding, Makhteshim Agan of North America; Jill Loehr, Wyffels Hybrids; Carrie Jorgensen, McCormick Company; Amy Jolliff, Bader Rutter & Associates; and Paul Redhage, FMC Agriculture Products (Executive Committee Liaison).

Several of the North Central Chapter’s leaders (Sheri Hansen, Padilla Speer Beardsley; Josh Krenz, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Lori Maude, Broadhead + Co.; Teri Otte, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Melissa Richard, Padilla Speer Beardsley; and JoDee George, Weber Shandwick) met at the Padilla Speer Beardsley offices on Thursday, July 22 to plan the upcoming chapter year.  By the end of the morning, topics had been chosen and responsibility of each assigned to specific leaders.

Chapter members can look forward to a variety of programs, including generational issues, crisis communication, legislative updates and another fun night at a Twins game.  In addition, the North Central Chapter will host a reception at the closing of NAMA’s Trends in Agriculture Conference, being held at The Marquette Hotel in Minneapolis on October 5 and 6.

The deadline for nominating a peer for the Professional Development Awards of Excellence has been extended to Monday, August 2.  The awards will be presented at the 2010 Trends In Agriculture meeting which will be held October 5-6 in Minneapolis, MN.

These awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in each of the Professional Development Areas (PDA). Awards of Excellence will be presented in the areas of (1) Marketing Communications, (2) Product/Species Management, (3) Public Relations and (4) Sales.