Tony’s Tractors

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Well we had a very successful North Central Chapter NAMA meeting here in Minneapolis and I’m now connected with more of my NAMA peeps. That’s what I like about NAMA the most - connecting with other people. Pictured here is chapter president, Josh Krenz, Land O’Lakes, getting us started.

I interviewed Josh before we got started. I am very impressed with how the chapter has invited in students for this session and is giving them time on the program, an opportunity to circulate resumes and interact socially with us professionals. You can listen to my interview with Josh here: Download audio file (nama-krenz.mp3)

We started out our meeting tonight with a discussion, including live examples, of online social networking. I was impressed with how many are using LinkedIn and Facebook. However, when it came to Twitter, the number dropped significantly. Keep in mind that you can use Twitter to update your blog and Facebook profile!

After we worked through the online version we moved to a face to face speed networking session.

I led a session like this at NAMA Boot Camp earlier this year. Basically, everyone sits around tables and when I say “go” they introduce themselves to the person across the table and get to know each other. Then after a couple minutes one side of the table rotates to the next one. At the end of the session everyone has met at least a few new people.

Here’s what it sounds like: Download audio file (nama-speed-networking.mp3)

I mentioned students above. Here’s me with the students attending from the University of Minnesota.

I highly encourage all NAMA chapters to involve students in their meetings. It will seriously pay dividends for everyone involved.

So that’s what’s going on in the “great white north” (8 degrees tonight!). I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for networking.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Hello from Minneapolis and the North Central NAMA Chapter meeting. We’re in the cafeteria/meeting room at Colle+McVoy.

This is actually setup time. The tables being set up here are for our speed networking session which will follow my presentation on social networking. We’re going to get to know each other very well by the end of the evening.

I think we’ve got at least 40 people reserved so far. That’s great for a chapter meeting. As I understand it we’ll have students here too for the first time so that’s exciting too.

I’ll update you with more later on, but for now we’re going to finish getting ready.

Popularity: unranked [?]

SWT Group Co Ltd, China (mainland) supplier of Tractor, offers wide range of Tractor products to Eastern Europe, North America, Mid East/Africa, Central/South America, Asia, Western Europe, Australasia.
All Tractor Manufacturers >>

Popularity: unranked [?]

High speed mobile internet access is changing the way that NRCS offices look and work. Now they’re coming to farmers so farmers don’t have to come to them!



For more than 70 years, NRCS has delivered conservation assistance to farmers, ranchers and other landowners. Now they are taking “conservation delivery” to a whole new level using kiosks in business locations and mobile field offices that can drive the full range of technical services right up to a customer’s farm or ranch.

The Mobile Field Office is a pilot project that equips a truck with broadband network connections and remote access to NRCS conservation data and planning systems. With the Mobile Field Office, NRCS conservation planners can print information on soils, practices and technical specifications from field locations. The approach allows clients to take less time out of their busy schedules for office visits or additional meetings to get the information they need.

Popularity: unranked [?]

SWT Group Co Ltd, China (mainland) supplier of Tractor, offers wide range of Tractor products to Eastern Europe, North America, Mid East/Africa, Central/South America, Asia, Western Europe, Australasia.
All Tractor Manufacturers >>

Popularity: unranked [?]

You know I can never get enough NAMA so I’m looking forward to the North Central Chapter meeting tomorrow at Colle+McVoy offices. Here’s the details:



Social Networking:

The next North Central NAMA chapter meeting will be held November 20, 4-6 p.m. at Colle+McVoy. It will include a presentation on social networking by Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm New Media LLC, as well as a group networking exercise.



Job/Intern Networking:

In addition, the North Central NAMA chapter will be hosting its first Intern Networking social along with the workshop. Area businesses looking to hire an intern are welcome to participate as potential intern candidates from over 10 local Universities have been invited to attend, including students majoring in Ag Business, Ag Marketing, Ag Economics, Finance, etc. HR Managers and Marketing individuals are encouraged to attend. Please bring business cards for this informal social networking opportunity.

WHEN:

November 20, 2008

4:00 pm - Registration

4:30 pm - Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm New Media - Social Networking

5:15 pm - Job and Internship Networking *Drinks and hors d’oeuvre served*



Maybe I’ll see you there.

Popularity: unranked [?]

I saw one of these bad boys at the POET Project LIBERTY field day recently although I didn’t get to speak with anyone at Vermeer about it. It is the Vermeer CCX770 Cob Harvester, a wagon-style corn cob collection system which enables farmers to harvest corn and cobs simultaneously.



The Vermeer CCX770 Cob Harvester is designed to tow immediately behind select corn harvesting combines to collect and unload the cobs.

The cob harvester concept was originally developed by an innovative Midwest farmer who saw a need and acted on it, “much like the founder of Vermeer Corporation, Mr. Gary Vermeer, did 60 years ago in 1948.” According to Van Roekel, test harvesting will be conducted throughout 2008 to evaluate performance and efficiency. Vermeer will then communicate product launch plan and availability for the 2009 harvest season.

Popularity: unranked [?]

This may have been the last time I will have the chance to interview the current Secretary of Agriculture - I think this is about the 10th secretary I have been able to report on during my career in ag communications!

Anyway - Secretary Schafer was here at the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in south Florida Wednesday and had a small press “gaggle” after he speech to the group. I had a chance to ask him a few questions pertaining to the biofuels industry on several different topics.

Listen to that interview here: Download audio file (cell-summit-08-schafer-press.mp3)

Popularity: unranked [?]

SWT Group Co Ltd, China (mainland) supplier of Tractor, offers wide range of Tractor products to Eastern Europe, North America, Mid East/Africa, Central/South America, Asia, Western Europe, Australasia.
All Tractor Manufacturers >>

Popularity: unranked [?]

Chuck is out hunting with no internet access, I am on location covering the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit and two groups decide to have dueling telephone press conferences. What’s a blogger to do?

What I did was put my cell phone on speaker and record it on to my mini Marantz. Worked out pretty well too - not all broadcast quality, but if I had to, I would use it.

Listen here - a couple of sound bites from each conference: Download audio file (dueling-conferences.mp3)

The first press conference, held by a group called “Food Before Fuel” which includes food companies and livestock organizations, called for a repeal of “subsidies for ethanol in light of its harmful effects on the environment, consumers and numerous industries.”

The second group - newly-formed Growth Energy - struck back two hours later. . “The federal government has an important role in supporting programs that promote the common good,” said Dave Vander Griend, President & CEO of ICM, Inc. and board member of Growth Energy. “Whether by funding anti-poverty programs like food stamps or championing renewable energy that will jumpstart our green economy and create jobs, we believe that it is good public policy to make smart investments for our nation’s future.”

Back at the summit today. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer will be here this morning.

Popularity: unranked [?]