Brownfield

All a-twitter

Twitter, FaceBook, blogging, podcasting, texting and a whole lot of other topics were part of a discussion at National AgriMarketing Conference in Atlanta, Georgia Friday morning. 

David Brazeal, General Manager of Learfield InterAction (part of the Brownfield team) was a panelist during a very insightful session Friday morning at NAMA.  Despite the fact that most people stayed up WAY too late at the Brownfield party the night before, there was not an empty seat in the room and the conversation was engaging. 

Ag marketers rock out with Brownfield

Wow.  What a fun evening the Brownfield advertising sales team along with President and COO Roger Gardner; Chairman of the Board and Founder Clyde Lear; President of Learfield News Stan Koenigsfeld; and I, Cyndi Young, Brownfield Farm Director; had hosting our agrimarketing partners at the annual NAMA Brownfield party!  We had a full house at the Atlanta Hard Rock Cafe.  The band, Party Nation, entertained us and we enjoyed the company.

And the winners are...

The Best of Show announced during Best of NAMA awards program last night include:

• Advertising: AGCO Application Equipment Division; agency: Bigelow Advertising
• Public Relations: Syngenta Crop Protection;  agency: Gibbs & Soell and Martin/Williams
• Specialty: Valent USA; agency archer>malmo

Congratulations to all.

In Atlanta

I arrived safely and with 100% of my luggage (I only checked one small bag, but it still cost $15) in Atlanta this afternoon for the National Agri-Marketing (NAMA) Conference.

Most of the McCormick Company team headed for NAMA was on the flight with me from Kansas City to Atlanta this morning.  We arrived on time and took the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train from the airport to the Marriott Hotel where the convention is being held.

I registered and ran into several of our marketing partners and other agriculture industry friends, and it looks like a very good crowd is in attendance.

NAMA Conference begins Wednesday in Atlanta

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Conference is this week in Atlanta, Georgia.  Solutions with Sizzle is the the meeting theme.  The conference is designed with the agrimarketer's needs in mind.  Breakout sessions will cover topics such as Creating brands people love, The larger grower's perspective, Performing under pressure, Social media, Powering up your career, What's hot in media research, and Thriving during times of uncertainty.

The conference kicks off Wednesday evening with the Best of NAMA Awards program.  Awards are presented in 61 categories with three Best of Show awards given for advertising, public relations and companion animal/turf & ornamental work. 

Thursday morning during the opening general session, NAMA will recognize an Agribusiness Leader of the Year and NAMA Marketer of the Year.  

NAMA Student Chapter members from colleges across the country participate in a marketing competition.  Each team has developed a comprehensive marketing plan on a specific topic of their choice.  This is a great exercise in marketing and networking.  The student competition finals are held on Thursday afternoon.

For I don't know how many years, Brownfield has hosted a big party at NAMA Conference.  This year's theme is ROCK at NAMA.

Paul Roberts, Roger Gardner, Jeff Moore, Anita Vanderwert, Lauri Bonnot, Stan Koenigsfeld, and me, Cyndi Young, look forward to seeing all of our advertising partners attending NAMA at our annual party Thursday, April 16 at 9pm!

Two weeks and counting

The Brownfield Party at National AgriMarketing Association Convention (NAMA) is just two weeks away!  The invitations are going out this week.  If you are an advertising partner with Brownfield Ag News and/or Waitt Agribusiness and will be in Atlanta, Georgia for NAMA, this is a bash you don't want to miss.

Anita Vanderwert, Director of Ag Sales for Brownfield looks forward to seeing you there!!

Midlands NAMA invitation

MIDLANDS NAMA INVITES YOU TO:

A Panel Discussion
How the New Administration Will Affect Agriculture
Moderated by Ken Anderson, Farm Director of Waitt AgriBUSINESS

Panelist to include:
   Don Hutchens, Executive Director of the Nebraska Corn Board,
   John McCoy, President and Owner of Orthman Manufacturing 
   Craig Head, Asst. Director of Governmental Relations at Farm Bureau or Jordan Dux National Affairs Coordinator at Farm Bureau.

The past few years have been good for the agricultural market. However, the economic recession in the US and ar! ound the world is starting to impact agriculture - commodity prices are unable to gain traction due to the economic news, consumers have reduced their purchases of meat and in turn the demand for feed grains has declined. There has been considerable debate about the economic stimulus plan and the sustainability of global agriculture.
What impact will renewable energy have?
How does the animal rights movement affect agribusiness?
What direction will the EPA take on environmental rules and regulations affecting agriculture?
How will the budget proposal affect payments to farmers?
This is your chance to listen, discuss and pose questions to get the take on agriculture sustainability with the new administration. This is one you do not want to miss!

JOIN US
Thursday, March 19th
3:00 - 5 :00

LOCATION
Farm Bureau Offices
5225 South 16th Street
Lincoln, NE
RSVP BY TUESDAY, MARCH 17th
Steve Johnson, Swanson Russell
E-mail: stevej@swansonrussell.com
Phone: 402-492-3230

Rock NAMA

 The 2009 National AgriMarketing Meeting is only a few weeks away.  I know many of you who visit this blog attend NAMA every year and are looking forward to receiving your invitation to the annual BrownfieId PARTY.  I just received my official backstage pass for the big event! You are going to love the band.  Party Nation is the most entertaining party band in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Roger Gardner, Stan Koenigsfeld, Laurie Bonnot, Paul Roberts, Jeff Moore, Anita Vanderwert and me (Cyndi Young) look forward to hosting our advertising partners in Atlanta.

Brownfield ready to "rock" at NAMA Convention

For as long as any of us can remember, Brownfield Ag News has hosted a party during the National Agri-Marketing Association Convention.  This year's convention will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 15 -17.  The Brownfield Party will be held Thursday evening, April 16.  If you attend NAMA and partner with Brownfield Ag News, you'll be getting an invitation in your mailbox soon. . .

As for the picture, I'm not really a closet rock star.  I'm just getting ready for our party! 

-Cyndi Young

Welcome aboard, Ken!

Please join me in welcoming Ken Anderson as Farm Director for Waitt Agribusiness.  Ken will work from his home office in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Here's the official release:

Lincoln, Ne. (October 17, 2008) – Brownfield, Ag News for America welcomes Ken Anderson as Farm Director for Waitt Agribusiness in Lincoln, Nebraska. 
 
“Ken’s roots run deep in agriculture in the region served by Waitt Agribusiness.  His experience on both sides of the microphone and his high level of professionalism make him a true asset to the Brownfield team,” said Cyndi Young, Brownfield Farm Director.

As Farm Director for Waitt Agribusiness, Anderson joins an award-winning team of agriculture communication experts.  With Ken Anderson on board, there are now nine National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Broadcast Council members on the Brownfield Ag News team.

Anderson is a director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Foundation.  He has also served on the executive committee of the National Agri-Marketing Association and is currently president-elect of the Nebraska Agribusiness Club.

Previously employed with NC+ Hybrids in Lincoln, Nebraska and KRVN radio in Lexington, Nebraska, Anderson was most recently with an advertising firm in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Ken and his wife Ardella have four children and four grandchildren.

Waitt Agribusiness was acquired by Brownfield in 2006 and provides agribusiness news, markets and weather programming for producers in the states of Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.  Brownfield, founded in 1972, is America’s largest ag radio network, providing commodity and livestock reports, agribusiness news and other feature programming to more than 300 radio stations across the Midwest.  BrownfieldAgNews.com features news, markets, weather, event coverage and ag-related features.  Brownfield also offers “Agriculture Today,” a daily e-mail newsletter providing readers with a snapshot of what is happening in agriculture.