It's hard to believe summer is winding down, and we are heading towards fall and harvest! As we head into fall, that means more national events are coming up like Farm Progress Days and World Dairy Expo. I'm pleased to announce a new service from your organization that was an idea from a broadcast member. Under the News Service Tab, look for Coverage Opportunities. This will be a place to match up broadcasters covering an event with broadcasters looking for coverage from an event. All you have to do is e-mail Tom Brand, offering to cover an event or looking for event coverage, and it will be posted to the page. Check the page often and if there is something you are offering to cover or need coverage of, you will be able to contact that broadcaster directly and work out the arrangement between the both of you. Tom is hoping to have the page done in a forum type in the future so you will be able to post directly to the page. As time goes on, we may expand to include broadcasters looking for a vacation fill-in or other temporary needs. I hope you find this page useful.
Our Annual Convention is just around the corner, Waves Of Opportunity, November 9-11 in Kansas City. Tony St. James has set up a great event including professional improvement seminars, Trade Talk and the return of the NAFB Exchange where sales and management members will be able to meet with agencies to talk about their stations and or networks. Space for the Exchange is limited so if you have not sent Mindy an email, do so today!
Speaking of your station or network, have you updated your NAFB Planner profile? With our new research that has been very popular, it is very important to update your profile! Not sure how to update your profile? Just email or call Mindy and she can walk you through it.
The NAFB Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2016 Awards. If you have someone you would like to nominate for Farm Broadcaster of the Year or Horizon Award, please click here to submit your nominations. Awards Committee Chairman Russell Nemetz has also announced the dates for The Newscast, Marketcast, and Feature Contest dates; market or news stories airing between Thursday, September 1 through Saturday, September 17 are eligible for entry into the 2016 Awards. Entries are due by September 21, and can be submitted online.
The United Soybean Board, the National Corn Growers Association, the ASU Biodesign Institute and the Arizona Farm Bureau are offering some professional improvement for NAFB Members! Scholarships are now available for Biotech University, October 28 at The Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University in Phoenix. This one-day education opportunity will provide information on biotechnology and includes lectures by prominent scientists, a briefing on current issues, a tour of the ASU Biodesign Institute and a tour of a farm where biotechnology is used. Scholarships to assist with travel expenses are still available. Visit the NAFB website to complete the application. Due date is August 26.
If you have any question or ideas for your organization, please drop me an email or give me a call! It was a call from a member that led to the new Coverage Opportunities service so if you have an idea or concern, let’s talk about it! It is an honor and pleasure to be your President. For those attending Farm Progress Days, I will see you in a few weeks, otherwise, have a safe late summer!
Brian Winnekins
