I recently attended the 69th annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters held in Kansas City (where else?), Nov 7-10. This was my 21st annual fall trek to KC to participate in Trade Talk and all the other fun and educational events that make the annual NAFB conference such a renowned event.

It’s always so much fun to catch up with those I met during my first years in attending the NAFB get-together: Lynn Ketelsen, Linder Farm Network; Rick Coyle, Northern Ag Network; Vic McGill, Katz Advantage; Don Wick, Red River Farm Network; Gene Millard, Millard Farms; Evan Slack, Evan Slack Network; Pam Fretwell, Farm Journal Media; Tom Steever, Brownfield Network; Ron Claussen, AMR and Al Johnson, AgriPulse, just to name a few friends who have been active participants in NAFB way before my involvement.

There’s just something very unique about the camaraderie of this group of ag communication professionals. Even though farm broadcast is a very competitive environment, these folks have still found a way to co-exist. Each and every day they fiercely compete for increased farm audience listenership and increased share of a diminishing sum of ag advertising dollars, but they come together once a year and celebrate the success of their industry and jointly show respect to those who paved the way.

Case in point. I had the good fortune to attend the annual Night of Honors Awards Banquet during the convention. At this special occasion, the farm broadcast industry and its supporters come together to recognize outstanding contributions of individuals and to carry forth time-honored traditions that go back almost seven decades.

I swear there was not a dry eye in the entire banquet ballroom during a video that eulogized Stewart Doan, who passed away in May. Comments from Stewart’s two young daughters made the presentation even more touching. The standing ovation that followed was proof to me just how much NAFB members care about each other and their industry. Additional presentations were equally impressive, including the Meritorious Service Award given to Mike Hansen with RFD Television.

My point is this: Our leaders in Washington can learn a thing or two from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. Sure, there can be disagreement and two opponents can aggressively compete against each other, but at the end of the day, they should be able to come together, find areas of agreement and learn to co-exist. I think that’s what the American people want right now, and our farm broadcasting industry is proof positive that it can be done.

As part of our agency’s ongoing efforts to better understand how ag producers think, act and respond to our clients’ marketing efforts, we have just released an insightful new thought paper: How Multi-Generational Farming Operations Make Major Purchase Decisions.

For the past four months, VP, Strategic Director Mark Smither, along with Account Executive Heather Covrig, have traveled throughout the Midwest to interview 14 farm families in eight states to gain insight into the purchase patterns of multi-generational farm families, and identify ways agri-marketers can effectively influence this important audience.

I think anyone involved in...

Founded in 1951, this year marks our 60th anniversary here at Paulsen Marketing. Recently we held a company picnic for all employees and family members to commemorate this special event. I had the dubious honor of making a few brief remarks about this milestone as part of the gathering.

In preparing my comments, I realized what a daunting task I had before me.

“How in the world do you adequately address 60 years of growth, progress, wins, losses, accomplishments and disappointments in the topsy-turvy advertising agency world in just six minutes?” I asked myself.

It was somewhat overwhelming—and humbling—to...

Guest blogging today is Mark Smither, VP, Strategic Director.

It’s always interesting to see agriculture through someone else’s eyes. On the recent Ag United Tour on July 11, I had the opportunity to meet a young nutritionist from the University of South Dakota. During the bus ride to our first stop on the tour, Mossings’ Dairy in Egan, I asked what she hoped to learn during the day. Her response was quite fascinating.

As a nutritionist, she wanted to know how modern food production practices could be applied to help solve the food desert crisis in some of the poorest, most remote counties in our state. We’ve heard a lot of...

I hope that 2011 is treating you well. So far, the new year is off to a great start here at Paulsen Marketing.

Based on some important trends we’ve identified during the last half of 2010, I’m willing to go out on a limb and make the following Six Predictions for Agri-Marketers in 2011.

1. Continued Growth of Mobile Communications
Last fall, Sara Steever, VP, digital services, and Kristi Moss, media director, published a thought paper titled “Adoption of Communication Tools in Agriculture.” This study of 25 farm families revealed how ag producers are adopting emerging communications technologies. A number of...