An Ag Day salute.

As I push my cart through the grocery store, I can't help but marvel at the supply, the variety, and the quality of food products all around me. Potatoes, bananas, apples, beef, pork, chicken, milk, cereals ... what an incredible selection!

Dropping a package of cheese in the cart, I reflect on how lucky I am to live in a country where food is so readily available, and at such a reasonable price. How we, as Americans, spend only 10 percent of our income on food--less than any other nation. In Europe, it's 14 percent; Japan, 21 percent; China, 48 percent.

Reaching for a pork roast, I think about the farmers and ranchers who produce this bounty. Like many of you, I grew up on a farm. I have seen the blood, sweat and tears that farming extracts. So many things you can't control. It's a tough job. Not without rewards, but challenging--physically and mentally.

Grabbing a loaf of bread and heading for the checkout, I remind myself how fortunate I am to be part of this great industry--and I vow to do even more to help share this message with other consumers.

This is my Agriculture Day salute to the men and women who produce our food, fuel and fiber--and the people who process and deliver those products to us. Thanks for all you do.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tom Taylor (GRP)--President High Plains Journal, Dodge City, KS [phone]

Tom Smull (IOA)--President-Elect Associations, Inc., Des Moines, IA [phone]

Sheri Seger (CNA) Secretary/Treasurer Progressive Farmer, Chicago, IL [phone]

Stephanie Gable (CAR) Bayer CropScience, Durham, NC [phone]

Patty Travis (MIA) 5MetaCom, Carmel, IN [phone]

Susie Decker (COB) Farm Progress Cos., Marion, IA [phone]

Monte Reese (ROM) Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Bd., Centennial, CO [phone]

Ken Anderson (MIL) David & Associates, Lincoln, NE [phone]

Carol Anderson (MOK) Eidson & Partners, Kansas City, MO [phone]

CHAPTER PRESIDENTS *

Badger (Wisconsin) Suzie Duwe [phone]

Carolinas/Virginia, Angela Bendorf Jamison [phone]

Central California NAMA, Tim Alderson [phone]

Chesapeake (Baltimore, Philadelphia) Mike Ricciuto [phone]

Chicago, Jim Haist [phone]

Cornbelt (Quad City Area, IA, IL) Louann Hausner [phone]

Desert Southwest Lee Dueringer [phone]

Eastern (New York) Howard Lane [phone]

Florida Gary Cooper [phone]

Gateway (St. Louis) Sue Derscheid [phone]

Great Plains (Dodge City, Wichita) Pete Weil [phone]

Heartland (Illinois) Krista Wolf, [phone]

Iowa (Des Moines) Jana Rieker [phone]

Mid-America (Indiana) John Ameis [phone]

Midlands (Omaha) Steve Johnson [phone]

Midsouth (Memphis) Bill Pittard [phone]

Missouri-Kansas, Melissa Sanders [phone]

NAMA Cal (Los Angeles/San Diego)

NAMA Pacific (San Francisco/Sacramento) Adam McCarthy [phone]

North Central (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Jessica Lamker [phone]

Northern Prairie (Dakotas) Becky Peterson [phone]

Ohio, Joe Monahan [phone]

Rocky Mountain (Denver) Mike Flesher [phone]

Southeastern (Georgia) Judy Austin [phone]

Southwest (Dallas/Ft. Worth/Houston) Brian Markwardt [phone]

* Updated as chapter presidents are elected.

COUNCILS

Agri Broadcast Management Council, Kyle Bauer [phone]

Commodity Promotion Council, Mike Wegner [phone]

National Agri-Marketing Association 11020 King Street, Suite 205 Overland Park, KS 66210 E-mail: [e-mail] Web Site: www.nama.org

Ken Anderson, David & Associates, NAMA Vice President