During the National Best of NAMA judging, in Kansas City, 21 judges
had the difficult task of picking the best of 465 entries. Choosing the
best of these entries required some difficult decisions on the part of
the judges.
But it wasn't all work for the judges. The night prior to
judging they were treated to dinner at City Tavern in Kansas City. After
the dinner, guest speaker Dan Taylor, Writing Specialist from Hallmark,
spoke to the group on brainstorming and creativity.
The Best of NAMA, sponsored by the National Agri-Marketing
Association, honors the best in agricultural marketing communications.
Both companies and agencies submit their work for this competition,
which is one of the tools used to evaluate creative marketing
communications and public relations success in the industry.
The regional awards process began in October 2007. Companies and
agencies entered their work to the regional competition. Part of the
regional entry fee was, in turn, returned to the chapter where the
person submitting the entry is a member. Entries were then judged in one
of six different regions. Overall there were 1,271 entries in the six
regions with more than 50 judges participating. These entries were
evaluated over a two-day period in November in Kansas City. Judging was
held in conjunction with the Agribusiness Forum.
Regional judges were required to have at least three years of
industry experience.
First place and merit winners from each region were then eligible
to advance to the national competition. National judges were required to
have five years of industry experience.
Judges determine first place and merit winners in advertising and
public relations. First place entries are then eligible for Best of Show
awards, presented in the areas of advertising, public relations and
specialty categories.
All awards are presented at the Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas
City on April 16.
BEST OF NAMA NATIONAL JUDGES
Sally Behringer, Nicholson Kovac
Julie Balmer, McCormick Company
Leigh Ann Cleaver, Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications
Jean Custer, Case New Holland
Emily Dahlbeck, Archer>Malmo
Katana Ewbank, AdFarm
Megan Fairchild Anderson, Padilla Spears Beardsley
Randy Happel, Two Rivers Marketing Group
Phil Johnson, Colle+McVoy
Erik Johnson, Bader Rutter
Burke Johnson, Martin Williams
Lani Jordan, CHS
Mike Kane, Osborn & Barr Communications
Steve Kopcha, University of Missouri
Tom Kroll, NuFarm Americas Inc.
Eric Painter, Rhea Kaiser Marketing Communications
Thane Paulsen, Paulsen AgriBranding
Bill Pool, Adculture Group
Craig Roads, Broadhead + Co
Chris Schultz, Two West
Marcy Tessman, Charleston/Orwig Inc.
Special thanks to all the judges and companies that participated.
AM
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