REGIONAL BEST OF NAMA ENJOYS THIRD YEAR OF SUCCESS.

The Best of NAMA/Golden ARC Awards, sponsored by the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), honor the best in agricultural marketing communications. 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 program enjoyed its third year of the regional judging concept. The awards process began in November 2000 when companies and agencies entered their work in the regional competition. A portion of the regional entry fee was returned to the chapter where the person submitting the entry is a member.

Entries were judged in one of five regions across the country. Overall, 1,182 entries were judged in the five regions, with more than 80 judges participating. Regional judges were required to have at least three years of industry experience. The judging took place in San Diego; Kansas City, Mo.; Minneapolis; and Chicago.

First-place and merit winners from each region were then eligible to advance to the national competition. National judging took place Feb. 15-16 in Kansas City, where 21 judges evaluated 415 entries. National judges were required to have at least five years of industry experience. National judging was conducted exactly as regional judging, with teams of judges evaluating specified categories. Judges worked at their own pace, except when judging radio, television and audio/visual presentations, which were judged by a group.

For the second year, the public relations judging stretched over two days because evaluating public relations entries can be extremely time consuming. In addition, judges provided written comments about these entries. This feedback will be sent to entrants at a later date.

Judges determined first-place and merit winners in advertising and public relations. First-place entries were then eligible for Best of Show awards, presented in the areas of Advertising and Public Relations.

All awards will be presented at the Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show in Denver on April 11.

NATIONAL BEST OF NAMA JUDGES

Michael Annear, Lessing-Flynn Advertising

Janelle Aust, Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

P. Lynn Balinas, Charleston/Orwig Inc.

Bill Brewer, CMF&Z

Beth Burgy, Valentine-Radford Inc.

Gary Custer, Stephens & Associates Advertising Inc.

Donna Dunn, American Agricultural Economics Association

Debra Dunsford, Biggs/Gilmore Communications

Lisa Harris, Osborn & Barr Communications Inc.

Wendy Hiatt, Meyocks & Priebe Advertising Inc.

Susan Jenkins, Colle+McVoy Marketing Communications

Marcus Johnson, Miller Meester Advertising Inc.

Carroll Merry, Countryside Marketing Inc.

Jean Merry, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc.

Tony Minnichsoffer, Syngenta Seeds Inc.

Margaret Patterson, Caterpillar

Roger Randall, AgWeb.com

Sarah Schmidt, Farmland Industries Inc.

Bill Stadick, Bader Rutter & Associates Inc.

Linda Tank, CHS Cooperatives

Steve Taylor, Missouri Beef Industry Council