As the trade show kicked off yesterday, there was a sea of students anxiously waiting to get through the doors. Why? Because they were waiting for the announcement of which teams would make it through the finals for the Student Marketing Competition. On Tuesday, 31 teams from around the country arrived for their chance to win. On Wednesday, 31 new products were announced and students presented in 20 minutes or less, why their product was the next “big thing” and how they were going to market it to success.

On Wednesday evening, Curt Blades, with Successful Farming, who has been a champion of the student’s marketing competition for many years, was awarded the Chairman’s award for his role as the Student Committee Chairman. His colleague, Janelle Buxton, was awarded a Horizon Award for her role as Chairwoman of the Membership Committee. Shortly thereafter, Curt took the stage in the trade show hall and began the announcement every student was waiting for. And the finalists are…

• Iowa State
  Illinois State
  University of Minnesota
  New Mexico State University
  CalPoly
  Michigan State

Congrats to all the finalists and good luck this afternoon. You can see photos from the Student Marketing Competition along with photos from all of NAMA in the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
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Last night the students were hard at work practicing for today’s presentations as part of the Student Marketing Competition. All around the Hyatt, you could see members of the 31 competing teams finalizing their presentations, practicing their Q&A’s with professional marketing volunteers and making all around tweaks.

I have spent the day taking photos of all of the student teams (if you haven’t had your photo taken yet then see me at the ZimmComm New Media booth during the trade show) and here is CalPoly having a little fun before their presentation. Their product was a tomato – a common crop in California – but I’m sure CalPloy’s tomato takes growing them to a new level.

Last night I spent a little time harassing the Iowa State students who were making some final changes while the rest of their team made changes on other elements of the presentation. I must admit I hung out with them because I graduated from Iowa State an eon ago. But I must have brought them a bit of good luck because they made it, along with 15 other teams into the semi finals this afternoon.

Yet today, despite the nervousness palpitating around the halls of the Hyatt, the teams still managed to have a bit of fun. You can see all of my photos in the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

Good luck to all of the teams! Your hard work and professionalism has not gone unnoticed!

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: . They know.

The students here at NAMA are not just busy trying to win the NAMA Student Marketing Competition. They are also busy selling raffle tickets. For $10, you can get one chance to win a Vizio Flat Screen TV, retailed at more than $2,000. The proceeds from the raffle will benefit the AgriBusiness Educational Foundation (ABEF) which support the NAMA Students Careers Program.

I am proud to say that I bought a raffle ticket from fellow Iowa Stater, Joe (he asked me first) who also secured a sale to one of the Student Marketing Competition Judges.

ABEF and the students thank everyone for their support.

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference
is sponsored by: . They know.

Are you afraid of social media? Is the leadership in your company afraid of it? Then you need to visit with David Meerman Scott. He’s a recovering VP of Marketing and author of the book World Wide Rave. He is conducting the NAMA Pre-Conference Workshop, “Conquering the Fear of Social Media.” David will also be the keynote speaker at tomorrow’s opening general session. You can find him on Twitter: @dmscott

I spoke with David before his session and he says that he wants attendees to leave the session realizing that “the companies that aren’t engaged are losing out.” He says this is because people are going on line to search engines and social networks to look for products and recommendations. He also recommends that companies create a social media policy which will help management, legal and employees know what they can and can’t do and that helps create more of a comfort zone.

You can download and listen to my interview with David here (mp3).

2010 National Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

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.

You don’t need to be registered for the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference to attend the ABEF Golf Outing on Tuesday, April 20, prior to the start of the conference! So gather your foursomes together today and sign up to play!

The ABEF Golf Outing will take place at The National Golf Course. A chartered bus will leave the Hyatt Regency Crown Center hotel at 11:30 a.m. to take everyone to the golf course and a boxed lunch will be provided. Tee time begins at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony and reception will cap your day on the greens.

Cost is $150 per person. To register for the ABEF Golf outing, please visit, www.nama.org/amc/golfregister.htm.

Hole sponsorships are still available as well, to sponsor a hole contact Jenny Pickett at jennyp@nama.org.

It’s not too late to register for the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference, From America’s Heartland to the Rest of the World, April 21-23, in Kansas City.

We’re excited to announce that the registration numbers for the 2010 Agri-Marketing Conference are up compared to previous years. Don’t hesitate, register today!

Check out who registered for the 2010 conference as of April 6, 2010. Visit http://www.nama.org/amc/2week.pdf to view the registrants.

To register for the conference visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=8.

We look forward to seeing you in Kansas City!