This week the ZimmCast, sponsored by GROWMARK, will feature interviews from the GROWMARK Annual Meeting.
Carrie Muehling interviewed GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin about the company’s new strategy, based on the acronym ‘GROW’ which is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better.
She also interviewed Illinois farmer Rick Nelson who has served on the GROWMARK board for 28 years and is retiring from it.
Ann Kafer, vice president of human resources and strategy officer talked with Carrie about the GROW acronym which stands for Good Relationships, Resources of Unmatched Value, Optimized Supply Chain, and Winning Innovations.
Finally, you'll hear from Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK director of corporate and government relations on watching farm policy and regulations.
Dr. Shefali Mehta has been tapped as the new executive director of the Soil Health Partnership, a long-term data project that measures and quantifies the impact of farm management practices known to promote healthy soils. Let's meet her in this episode.
Can-Am is introducing a new Defender Series Mossy Oak Hunting Edition HD10 model with improved features that includes an optional roof rack.
The 20th annual Ag Media Summit was held Aug 5-8, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ. This year the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences joined the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Livestock Publications Council and the Connectiv Agri-Media Committee.
In this ZimmCast, we hear from outgoing AAEA president Julie Deering, FMC product development manager Brent Jacobson, Cyndee Smiley with John Deere, AMVAC director of portfolio management and marketing communications Neil DeStefano, and Tracy Mack, GROWMARK Director of Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics
This week's program previews two events coming up starting this weekend. Cindy will be attending the Ag Media Summit while I am working at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the Buffalo Chip Campground.
To start things off I visit with Robert White, Renewable Fuels Association, who talks about what to expect at what has become an annual educational program of activities in Sturgis, South Dakota.
Then I talk with Suzanne Steele, Assistant Director, Communications, The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Suzanne is currently the president of the Association of Communication Excellence. She will talk about ACE and their first time participation in the Ag Media Summit.
Blue Collar meets Green Acres. That's how Comedian, Tim the Dairy Farmer, describes the release of his first album through a production company owned by famed comics Larry "The Cable Guy” and Jeff Foxworthy.
The 50-minute album is called 'Farm Raised' and will be released by Git-R-Done Records on July 20th. 'Farm Raised' will be available throughiTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Spotify, and Pandora. To purchase an actual hard copy CD of the album 'Farm Raised' visit www.timthedairyfarmer.com.
I talked with Tim who says the album naturally focuses a lot on farm life and his experiences as a dairy farmer. “There’s a lot of humor on the farm,” Tim said. “If you’ve ever been on a farm or even just driven by a farm, you’re gonna get it.”
Tim, who is a third-generation farmer and maintains an ownership stake in a Florida dairy, has been performing standup comedy for over 16 years, including for numerous agriculture organizations and companies.
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening. And thank you to GROWMARK our long time sponsor.
I'm pretty sure that most of you have been involved with an activity centered around a tailgate. That's part of why a new tv show is named, From the Tailgate.
In this week's program you're going to learn all about it. The show is hosted by Jamie Johansen, Honey Creek Media. You know her. Our Jamie. Well, Jamie started her own company during the time she was doing work for us and with her sister, Joanna, they have acquired a growing number of projects, including this one. Cindy and I can't tell you how proud we are of them and the work they do. We're still keeping the door open to collaborate on projects when we can.
So, let's learn about Jamie's show. The program starting airing a week ago on KOLZ, Ch. 27 Springfield, MO, Nexstar Media Group.
In this week's program we talk about how the show came about, what kinds of topics Jamie is covering and some of her philosophy about the need for this kind of programming. Jamie is putting her farming background to good use in her agricultural communications career! She is still raising cattle with her husband Kevin and is now having more time to spend with her daughter Harper who this week is showing cattle and pigs which are a first for Jamie.
You can watch the show each Sunday at 5:30pm and it is repeated Saturday at 5:30am and 9:30pm. The show will also be available online very soon.
Happy Independence Day week. This episode of the ZimmCast will introduce you to some other farm podcasters you may not be familiar with. If you are not subscribing to podcasts then get started. There are many really good programs and quite a few that have started recently.
In the program you'll hear The Raven Precision Podcast, the latest information on Raven precision technology; Pork Pod, look at the hot topics in the pork industry; The Business of Agriculture Podcast, listen to Damian Mason's take on topics surrounding the business of food, fuel, and fiber, interviews with industry professionals, and other great original content.
In this week's program you'll hear mostly from Cindy and the people she interviewed recently. So, let's get started by thanking our sponsor, GROWMARK, Locally Owned, Globally Strong.
First up will be an interview Cindy did with American Egg Board Marketing Communications Manager Marc Dresner. They discuss the AEB's eggciting promotional sponsorship of Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” that has audiences scrambling for new “How Do You Like Your Eggs?” recipes reflecting each of the film’s character’s unique personality or super power. The film has made the Incredible Egg into a nutrition super hero!
Then you'll get to meet Erin Fitzgerald, the new CEO of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. Fitzgerald previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®, a part of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI).
In this week's program I'm going to cover a couple of different topics, although there are some common elements from an educational perspective.
First up is Joanna Guza, Digital Communications Manager, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and also volunteer with GMO Answers. We talk about social networking as a tool to reach people about topics like GMOs, especially during Dairy Month. Joanna has some great insight and advice for using the tools we have.
Next I talk with Paul Teutul, Jr., Paul JR Designs and Discovery's American Chopper. Paul built two motorcycles that run on E-85. One bike is for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip and the other for the Renewable Fuels Association. During the project Paul learned a lot about ethanol and shares some of what he learned. The whole project is part of an on-going educational effort by RFA and uses a lot of social networking.
This is why I love my podcast. I get to talk with some awesome people in all kinds of places and about all kinds of topics!
In this week's program we'll get a preview of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual Congress which will take place in the Netherlands this year. I spoke via Skype with one of the organizers of the Congress, Jacqueline Wijbenga, Adjunct-uitgever, Eisma Businessmedia. We discussed the program and the theme of this year's Congress.
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) annually organizes a world congress. Alternately, the congress takes place in Europe and on another continent. After previous editions in Germany (2016) and South Africa (2017) the conference will take place in the Netherlands in July 2018. The congress organization is appointed by the IFAJ at the request of the NVLJ, the Dutch Association for Agricultural and Horticultural Journalism. The conference will hook on to the centenary that Wageningen University & Research (WUR) celebrates in 2018. The congress organization is controlled by the independent foundation Dutch Roots, which is based on the voluntary commitment of NVLJ members and a conference manager who partly receives paid hours of work.
The Dutch Roots board has set Dutch Roots: small country big solutions as the denominator for the Dutch agricultural product chains. The starting point for the IFAJ2018 World Congress program and the route towards it, is that the foundation and its activities provide a platform for numerous journalistic productions for (agricultural) journalists worldwide.
Looking ahead, the IFAJ Congress in 2019 will be held in the United States in the Minneapolis, MN area. More information on that will be forthcoming.
The gavel has changed hands for the Cooperative Communicators Association. Here's a picture of the new board with new President Chellie Phillips seated in the middle.
We are at the CCA Institute 2018 in Ft. Worth, TX and today and tomorrow there will be a variety of professional improvement sessions taking place with a closing banquet and night of honors and awards.
In this week's program I'm going to share interviews with Nickie Sabo, AMPI, now past president for CCA, Chellie Phillips, Coweta-Fayette EMC, new president of CCA and Matt Wettersten, GROWMARK, meter of CCA.
They will help you understand more about the purpose of the association and what it means to them in their careers and for their cooperative employers.
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
In this week's program I'm sharing several interviews from the ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference.
First up is Aidan Connolly, Alltech VP, who talks about technology and what he hopes to convey to attendees this year.
Next up is USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey. Bill talks Farm Bill, RFS and his department, Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service.
Finally, you will hear from @TheFarmBabe, Michelle Miller, who talks about how she became interested in agvocating and is now considered a top social media influencer for agriculture.
In this week's program you will hear:
We have new members of the #GoldenMic Club, some discussion on sustainability as it relates to the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill and comments from ag equipment companies about the advancement of precision ag.
In this week's program Chuck is sharing some podcasts that you might find interesting. Maybe even worth subscribing to?
Thinks start out with our own The Ethanol Report, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association. In it Cindy talks with RFA CEO Bob Dinneen about the latest RFS news which has a big impact on rural American and agriculture in general.
Then Beltway Beef is showcased, the podcast of the National Cattlemens Beef Association. This episode, hosted by Ed Frank, features NCBA's Ashley McDonald talking about the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef's release of its National Framework for Beef Sustainability.
Next up is Chase Adams, former farm broadcaster (you can tell from that voice!) hosting the ASI Sheepcast with Kay Johnson Smith, Executive Director of the Animal Agriculture Alliance. For over 30 years, the Alliance has been on the front lines of ensuring consumers and customers are correctly informed on how food and fiber is produced by America's sheep and livestock producers.
Not exactly a podcast but produced regular nonetheless is Ed Czerwein's Weekly Box Beef Report. The Choice cutout is following the normal grilling season rally helped by rib and loin primal products.
And finally you'll hear a teaser for the new AAEA The Agricultural Communicators Network, Ag Comm Network Podcast.
In this week's program I'm featuring some new members of the #GoldenMic Club. These folks got their first opportunity to be interviewed with one of our Golden ZimmComm Microphones during the Agri-Marketing Conference.
Featured are Curt Dennison, Curt Dennison Photography; Daniel Lamoureux, LaTerre and Jeffrey Ross, Ross Creative Works. I visited with Curt while Jamie did with Daniel and Jeffrey.
If you would like to join the club or schedule the Golden ZimmComm Microphone at your event please contact me. I'll offer ideas for how we can amplify your marketing campaigns.
This week's program includes two #GoldenMic interviews from #NAMA18 (Agri-Marketing Conference). Featured are Matt Wetterson, Kayla Portwood and Melissa Williams with GROWMARK. Matt talks about his responsibilities with GROWMARK and challenges and opportunities. Kayla and Melissa talk about Ag Careers and how important reaching out to young people who want to work in the industry is to GROWMARK.
You'll also hear a conversation I had with Bill Moffit, Ayrstone Productivity. The company has announced a new product for rural and farm wifi connectivity that has been designed to meet growing needs for being able to stream higher bandwidth digital content over a wide area. We use an Ayrstone Ayrmesh wifi network system here at ZimmComm World Headquarters and I can testify to how solid and simple this product is.
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
During the Agri-Marketing Conference the ZimmComm Team welcomed new people to the #GoldenMic Club. In our Connection Point booth we were set up to record interviews with attendees and I'm featuring a few of them in this week's program and in weeks to come.
This week you'll hear Jamie Johansen interview:
Stephanie Stalans, Helena Agri-Enterprises
University of Wisconsin, Madison NAMA Chapter - Student Marketing Competition winner
Andy Atzenweiler, Missour Beef Cattleman
Jeffrey Gocel, a+e Networks
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
In this episode Jamie talks about her trip around the world to Ireland and to Indonesia. She also shares interviews from those trips.
Then Chuck interviews Jenna Oesch, Global Marketing Lead & Customer Experience Council Lead, Monsanto Company, Vegetable Seeds Division. Jenna is Chair of this year's Agri-Marketing Conference which is being held in KC, MO.
ZimmComm is exhibiting once again in the Connection Point.
Next week will be a busy week in Washington, DC. Cindy and Chuck will be there for National Ag Day Activities, the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit and American Coalition for Ethanol annual Fly-in. So this week's program starts out with Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, providing a preview of this year's Summit program which features several panels and lots of well known individuals who will be speaking to the topics.
After that you'll hear Jamie Johansen talking with Maeve Desmond, Alltech, during the Alltech Great Green Getaway in Ireland. Maeve talks about Alltech's founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons, who just recently passed away, and how he founded this amazing company.
In this week's program you'll get to hear the lates episode of the GROWMARK Podcast. GROWMARK has been a long term sponsor of the ZimmCast and we thought we'd feature one of their own podcasts.
Additionally, Chuck talks with Rob McLelland and Heidi Nelson of FLM Harvest about their new initiative called Ultimate Collaboration. Here's more:
A new initiative aims to spark the ultimate expression of cooperation among agricultural leaders in support of producer-funded checkoffs. Ultimate Collaboration will raise awareness of the positive impact checkoffs have on food and rural communities, and serve as a resource to farmers, program stakeholders, the general public and public officials.
It is probably the busiest week of the year for the ZimmComm Team. From the Bayer AgVocacy Forum to Commodity Classic to Pork Industry Forum to Farm and Gin Show and to American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
Lots of interviews, photos, videos and all of it can be found in our online virtual ag newsrooms on AgNewsWire.com.
In the program Chuck shares interviews with Cyndee Smiley, Media Relations Manager for John Deere Ag & Turf. Cyndee talks about her job and passion for agriculture.
Chuck also shares an interview with Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, Ryan Quarles. Ryan was the only agricultural representative in a meeting with President Trump on the Infrastructure Rollout earlier in the week.