There once was a young man ...

There was once a young man who, upon graduating from a state ag college, went to work in the oil industry. His daily tasks included counting grease guns and spark plugs, sticking fuel oil tanks, and auditing river barges, a job that pushed the limits of intelligence to be sure. Having enough of the "good life" after four years, he yearned for a change.

He soon found himself accepting a job in the field of agriculture. Good grief, what in the world did he know about that? Other than occasionally baling hay, chopping pond ice for water or feeding cattle, he was clueless. He had no industry contacts, little knowledge of ad agencies, the commodity markets or the significance of strong demographics. He knew nothing about selling, marketing, target audiences or communications. He didn't even know what "Elephant accounts" were.

Then along came NAMA. At the insistence of his boss, he joined ... and was introduced to networking, contacts tutorial programs and marketing seminars. He started to attend chapter meetings, national conventions, and regional workshops. In short, he learned, through NAMA, how to succeed in the business of agriculture.

True story. What's also true is this. Our marketplace has no sympathy for those who don't continue to learn, and that's where NAMA comes in. NAMA brings connections, training and career enhancing opportunities not found anywhere else.

As I proudly begin my year as your NAMA president, I ask that each of you perform just one simple task. Engage yourself in the business of NAMA. Become involved and committed, for there is no better association than NAMA to help prepare you today for tomorrow's challenges.

I know I did ... and it did.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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

Tom Smull (IOA)--President-Elect Metro Iowa Plus, Des Moines, IA [phone]

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

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

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

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

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

Ken Anderson (MIL) NC+ Hybrids, Lincoln, NE [phone]

Carol Anderson (MOK) Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., Kansas City, MO [phone]

CHAPTER PRESIDENTS *

Badger (Wisconsin) Susie Duwe [phone]

Carolinas/Virginia, Robert Simpson [phone]

Central California NAMA, Tim Alderson [phone]

Chesapeake (Baltimore, Philadelphia) Mike Ricciuto [phone]

Chicago, Bob Schenck [phone]

Cornbelt (Quad City Area, IA, IL) Russ Parker, [phone]

Eastern (New York) Howard Lane [phone]

Gateway (St. Louis) Steve Bosenbloom [phone]

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

Heartland (Illinois) Krista Wolf, [phone]

Iowa (Des Moines) David Thompson [phone]

Michigan

Mid-America (Indiana) John Ameis [phone]

Midlands (Omaha) Steve Johnson [phone]

Midsouth (Memphis) Andrea Steadman [phone]

Missouri-Kansas, Ken Dean [phone]

NAMA Cal (Los Angeles/San Diego)

NAMA Pacific (San Francisco/Sacramento) Bob Foiles [phone]

North Central (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Scott Whitman [phone]

Northern Prairie (Dakotas) Cliff Meyer [phone]

Ohio, Joe Monahan [phone]

Rocky Mountain (Denver) Mike Flesher [phone]

Southeastern (Georgia) Mike McClellan [phone]

Southwest (Dallas/Ft. Worth/Houston) Clark Springfield [phone]

* Updated as chapter presidents are elected.

COUNCILS

Agri-Broadcast Management Council, Kyle Bauer [phone]

Agricultural Relations Council, Amy McDonald [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