NAMA chapters celebrate Ag Day.

This year many NAMA chapters held Ag Day events. Below is a brief description of some of those chapter programs.

Iowa NAMA

The Iowa Chapter of NAMA hosted a series of four events in Central Iowa with over 500 people in attendance. The events were held at four different metro locations March 21-24.

The Ag Day committee contacted Iowa Commodity groups and ag producers to solicit donations and materials to distribute during Ag Week.

All events were open to NAMA members and employees where the events were being held.

Cornbelt NAMA

Cornbelt NAMA members participated in the Annual Celebration of Agriculture in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, March 24. This annual celebration dinner was hosted by over 70 area supporters of agriculture and was attended by 600 producers, agri-business professionals, association representatives, academic leaders and students.

Former Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman was the keynote speaker for the event and a reception hosted in part by Cornbelt NAMA.

Chicago NAMA

The Chicago NAMA Chapter sent National Ag Day posters and Ag Day Fact Cards to their members and suggested that each member post these in prominent locations for the guests that come into their offices.

Gateway NAMA

For National Agriculture Day this year the Gateway NAMA chapter put together a direct mail campaign which included materials from the Agriculture Council of America and a Quick Facts Sheet from the recently completed "Importance Of Agribusiness To The St. Louis Economy" report by the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club. The information packet was mailed to schools, government leaders, media and all chapter members prior to Ag Day.

Missouri-Kansas NAMA

As part of the 2005 bi-state observance of National Agriculture Day, more than 600 school children and educators from across the Kansas City metropolitan area attended a pizza party, Mar. 10, at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kan. Local commodity groups taught the students how the ingredients in pizza come from farms and ranches, and how each is processed and delivered to the grocery store or restaurant. The celebration concluded with magician Rex Getz's "The Magical World of Agriculture" presentation.