Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. i’m Chuck Zimmerman.

The beginning of February was a very busy time. Although Cindy and I are not traveling to conferences and shows for work we’ve had some great talent on site while we gather their photos and interviews to create virtual newsrooms. These were 2026 CattleCon (Steven Orr, Paramount Broadcasting (All Ag All Day) and the 2026 CIRB Annual Meeting (Laura McNamara). You can find these virtual ag newsrooms on AgNewsWire.com. These posts are available to all ag media who want or need an image or an interview. There is more to come.

We’re using photos and interviews and other audio as individual posts on AgWired.com. If you subscribe or just search you can find plenty of information online too.

So, let’s turn to the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau for an interview on AI in Agriculture. Laura interviewed Willie Vogt, Ag Technology Observer (and good friend), about his topic and presentation.

Speaking about AI, there is a lot of information showing how fast AI is developing and what it may change how communications and marketing are managed. These includes agriculture and all industries. I’ve spent most of my career learning and using the latest gadgets and internet based programs. After over 40 years I don’t know how much I will need to know for AI. How about you?

Well that’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

Part of December into January was a little rough for the ZimmComm Team. Between some bugs going around to two short trips to see family. But now all’s well and it’s time for a new episode.

In December we posted some “Oh the places we’ve been!” details. We started in the new year by curtailing our business travel after over 20 years and nearly 900 events around the world. Interestingly, of all the states and countries we traveled to the state with the most events has been Missouri at 112.

Now here in January we actually are able to continue doing photos and interviews and virtual newsrooms for several of our long time clients. How you say? We’re retaining the services of others to do the on-site work while we do the posting and distribution at ZimmComm World Headquarters.

We’re really happy to announced that two of the first events in 2026 will be handled for us on-site by Laura McNamara, one of our very first freelancers back in 2007-2008. She graduated from Mizzou and covered many events for us at that time. She’s been around the world and has evolved as a top-notch photographer.

The first event of 2026 that Laura worked with for us was the Beltwide Cotton Conferences which were held in San Antonio. This young lady did interviews at a technical conference on cotton like she's been a farm broadcaster her whole life! Coming up next will be the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting in Indian Wells, CA in early February.

So, in this ZimmCast I’m going to share a couple of the interviews Laura did. 

First is an interview with Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council on Seizing Opportunities for U.S. Cotton.

Following up is an interview with Hank Jones, a Louisiana conference coordinator, with a Consultants Conference recap of the presentations.

So, what do you think? That’s the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you listening.