Reconnecting at NAFB and New Thought Paper from Paulsen

Just back from our annual pilgrimage to Kansas City for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s (NAFB) annual convention. It’s always a great time to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones.

This year’s convention was one of the best I have attended; the mood was upbeat with everyone feeling bullish on the outlook for agriculture. Excellent commodity prices, good yields and outstanding harvest weather all contribute to that sense of confidence that I felt with everyone I met. Let’s hope we can keep that momentum going!

The NAFB Trade Talk event is a highlight of the convention. Two Paulsen clients participated this year: AgStar Financial Services, Mankato, Minn.; and WildBlue Communications, Denver, Colo. Both clients were pleased with the numerous interviews that various farm broadcasters conducted with them. It’s a great venue for a company to discuss new products or address issues that impact the ag audience.

Congratulations to NAFB Executive Director Mark Vail and his staff for a well-planned and well-run convention.

AgStar Financial Services conducted numerous interviews with farm broadcasters during Trade Talk. Participants included Tyler Evans, account executive, Paulsen Marketing; Heather Leiferman, director of public and media relations, AgStar Financial Services; Paul DeBriyn, president and CEO, AgStar Financial Services; Greg Guse, president, Paulsen Marketing; and Marcus Squier, account supervisor, Paulsen Marketing.

WildBlue Communications was well represented at the NAFB Trade Talk event. Pictured here, left to right, Harry Thibedeau, rural media consultant for WildBlue; Alicia DeGeest, account supervisor, Paulsen Marketing; and Matt Farr, manager, marketing communications for WildBlue.

I’m pleased to announce a new thought paper created by our agency, “Adoption of Communication Tools in Agriculture,” now available for viewing at www.paulsenmarketing.com/agri-thoughts. This paper reflects video interviews with 25 farm families to determine how producers are adapting to emerging communications technologies. It includes our analysis and conclusions that I think anyone in agrimarketing will find interesting and applicable to their marketing communications strategies.

Kudos to Sara Steever, VP, director of digital services, and Kristi Moss, media director for their tireless efforts to complete this project. Sara and Kristi attended the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa earlier this fall to interview ag producers and their families regarding the use of desktop and laptop computers, smartphones and iPad tablets in accessing information for their farming operations.

It’s really quite interesting and even somewhat entertaining to hear what farmers have to say about new information technologies. I hope you’ll take a moment to check it out on our website.

I admit this sounds a little like a proud agency president talking, but I have to mention that Sara and Kristi just returned from addressing the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) with their “Communications Tools” thought paper presentation. We certainly appreciate the invitation from Deb Wilson, advertising sales, with Farm Business Communications. It’s an honor for our agency to share our thoughts with the agrimarketing community in Canada.

Early reports are that the presentation was well-received with lots of questions and discussion following the presentation. Way to go Sara and Kristi!

If other organizations are interested in sharing this presentation with their members, feel free to give me a call.

That’s all for now. November, like the rest of this year is quickly closing. Hope to attend the North Central NAMA November program next week dealing with “Millennials in the Workplace.”

Until then, see you “On the Road.”