NAMA members "jazzed" during best of NAMA season.

Every January industry professionals gather m several cities around the country to honor the best in creative agri-marketing communications. This year was no different.

The first ceremony to kick off the Best of NAMA Season was the Region III Best of NAMA, January 12 in Des Moines, and featured the best creative work from the Cornbelt, Iowa, North Central and Northern Prairie chapters. Over 130 people attended this event that was held in downtown Des Moines on what has to have been the busiest night downtown has seen for a long time. In addition to the Best of NAMA event, there was a George Strait concert being held across the street and HyVee Hall was also hosting a chamber event with over 1,200 people in attendance. Parking was definitely at a premium.

Region III had a total of 390 entries this year and taking the three coveted Best of Show awards for this region were: Advertising--New Holland North America and Colle+McVoy for the New Holland "Future" Campaign; Public Relations--West Central Cooperative and Innova Ideas & Services for "Advance. Excel. Prosper. Succeed;" and Specialty--Pfizer, Inc. and Brown & Associates for the "Solitude IGR Your Flies are Down Intro Campaign."

The Abbey Resort in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was the site of the Region IV Best of NAMA event on January 19. Over 120 people attended the event at the newly remodeled resort. The Region IV banquet, which featured the best in creative from the Badger, Chicago, Heartland, Michigan and Mid-America chapters, had a total of 212 entries for the 2005 year.

Taking Best of Show honors at the Region IV event were; Advertising--Indiana Soybean Group and The Jackson Group for the "Soybean Biodiesel Chemistry Education Kit;" Public Relations--Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Stephan and Brady for the "June Dairy Month Media Relations Campaign;" and Specialty--Caterpillar and Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications for the "Caterpillar Chopper Premier and Tour."

Region II hosted the last regional event of the season. Over 135 people attended the event which was held on January 26 at the Hyatt in Kansas City. Jazzed was the theme of the event which featured a jazz pianist and mardi gras decor. The Region II event honored work from the Gateway, Great Plains, Midlands, MoKan, Rocky Mountain and Southwest chapters. Over 352 entries were entered through Region II.

Best of Show honors for Region II were awarded to: Advertising--Bayer CropScience and AdFarm for the "Reason Launch Campaign;" Public Relations--Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications for the "Veterinarian Partner Program;" Specialty--Care Credit and Stephens and Associates for the "Happy Endings" entry.

In addition to these regional banquets, two NAMA Chapters also hosted Best of NAMA events. Region V chapter Carolinas/Virginia and Midsouth NAMA hosted their events on January 12.

This year, 1280 entries were submitted for regional judging. Regional judging took place in November. Of those entries, 520 were eligible to advance to the national competition.

National winners will be announced at the Best of NAMA Awards ceremony, which will kick off the 2006 Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show, April 19-21 in Kansas City.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]