It's already time to complete your forms for the 2011 Hall of Fame and Headliner awards that will be announced at this year's LPC Royal Gala on October 29. The award forms are very simple and do not require very much time so think about those who you feel are deserving and nominate them. Any member may nominate them for this prestigious honor. The formal presentation will be presented next year in New Orleans at AMS 2011 and then their personal plaque will be hung in the Hall of Honor in Kansas City at the 2011 Royal Gala.

Click below for the forms.
http://www.livestockpublications.com/forms.php

Hall of Fame Guidelines:
LPC annually inducts one of its distinguished leaders into the Hall of Fame. This honor is reserved for those who have adhered to high standards of professionalism in all aspects of their endeavors. The award is open to anyone who has been listed on the masthead of an LPC member publication or a service member. Contributing editors who come from the ownership organization of a member publication are also eligible. Nominees may be persons who are currently active or those who have moved on to other endeavors. The award is open to persons in sales, circulation, production and editorial.

Headliner Guidelines:
The LPC Headliner Award honors a person from outside the livestock publishing field for actions that produce a positive change in livestock production and marketing. These actions could range from genetic research to marketing advances or scientific discoveries. The important factor is that these actions produce a positive change.
 Submit completed forms to awards chairman, Kathy LaScala, klascala@vancepublishing.com

By now you should have received a copy of last year's directory listing in the mail and now these are needed back to Diane by Wednesday, August 25. You can scan and e-mail back or fax them back as the directory is being worked on right now. You might still owe dues so be sure to get them in to so you are considered an LPC member for 2010-11. Questions - dianej@flash.net or 817/336-1130.

You know how you receive e-mails and have no idea how you got on the list. Well this link is from one of those e-mail blasts but i have discovered that they offer some really good information. Here is a link with a soft sell attached but it's a cheap soft sell, so if it makes me more efficient, maybe I'll buy. Click here to work on tidying up your Macintosh.

Many of you tuned in to the Midwest Workshop last week in Des Moines after we sent out a quick note as it was getting ready to start. We are thrilled with the enthusiasm about this idea and it worked great as a test project. Here is the link to the entire workshop. Thanks very much to Jeff Caldwell at Successful Farming for taking on the task of coordinating this. Enjoy! http://midwestworkshop2010.blogspot.com/

What ‘Frontline’ Consumers Want to Know Most About How U.S. Foods are Produced

A Demeter Communications SegmenTrakTM Webinar,  For Media Only, Wednesday, April 28, 2-2:30 pm CT 

Agricultural producers, food-manufacturers and those who communicate on their behalf are sifting through an emerging, diverse set of consumer demands.

From grass-fed to sustainably-grown, consumers seem to want more than ever from agriculture and food manufacturers. What do they really want to know about food production? Where do they look for information about how food is produced? Are new forms of media best for reaching product-astute consumers? Learn about “frontline consumers,” and find out what they can tell us about questions the food producers and processors will face tomorrow. 

You are invited to join the webinar to learn:

· What consumers most want to know from U.S. farmers who produce their food.

· Consumers’ preferred information sources, on food production, for children.

· How consumers perceive grain farmers, livestock farmers, and their motives.

· What consumers would like to change about how their food is produced.

Keep in mind this is for Media only. Demeter Communications is a LPC service member. To find out more: 

Questions or comments? E-mail us at info@demetercommunications.com or call 217-351-1807

We've got a great crowd coming to Iowa next Tuesday. Call me at 817/336-1130 or send me an e-mail at dianej@flash.net if you still want to come. I need to know by this Thursday April 29 please. It's $60 for members of LPC and AAEA and only $80 for non-members. Read on for more information. It's going to be a great one!

Event will be held at the Comfort Suites, 11167 Hickman Rd., Urbandale, IA 50322. Room rate $99  (515) 276-1126
Ask for the Livestock Publications Council rate. You need to book right away to get the rate. 

The AMS registration information, program, speakers, fees, and everything else we can tell you about this year's event is now online in a downloadable format. Go to www.agmediasummit.com and you'll see it posted there and on the Programs page. The online registration will open on May 1. Also to note, the committee decided to DROP the registration fees this year after last year's event combined with the international guests. That sure is good news!

Received this tip this morning from Jennifer Ryan a former ACT student and LPC travel award winner. It's an easy-to-read article on how to link your Facebook and Twitter accounts. http://mashable.com/2009/05/25/twitter-to-facebook/

Anyone have any more tips? Let me know!

If you have been lucky enough to be in Texas in the month of April, then you have been treated to seeing the beautfy of the official flower of Texas blooming in excess. The bluebonnets blanket the countryside and a drive south from Fort Worth is worth the price of a tank of gas. They are most prevalent in the region around Austin to College Station to Fredricksburg but we also have them in the Fort Worth area. My friend, Lea Stokes, who is also a past LPC president and board member, sent me this over the weekend. The dogs, Tango and Cash, (sorry not sure which one is which in the picture!) are her prized possessions. This photo exudes spring in Texas and I just had to share. Hope your week is as colorful!

It's time to register for the upcoming Midwest Regional Workshop! Just send your name, address, company and e-mail to Diane at the LPC office. It's a great bargain -- only $60 for members of LPC and AAEA and only $80 for non-members. Read on for more information. It's going to be a great one!

Event will be held at the Comfort Suites, 11167 Hickman Rd., Urbandale, IA 50322. Room rate $99  (515) 276-1126
Ask for the Livestock Publications Council rate. You need to book right away to get the rate. 

Midwest Regional Workshop
May 4, 2010
Tentative schedule
8-9 a.m.  Registration with cinnamon rolls from the Machine Shed
8:55 a.m. Welcome – Karen Simon, AAEA president and Marilyn Brink, LPC president
9-10 a.m.  Videography: Tell your story
Crystal Young American Angus Association, Assistant Director of Public Relations, Creative Media Coordinator. Come hear how the AAA is making video a major component in their national advertising campaign this year and why. Equipment, editing, posting and more will be covered.
10-11 a.m. A new time & new tools for ag journalism  
We’ve got a veritable agricultural revolution happening right now, right in front of us, and if we can’t find a million good stories in it, we’re duds. And just like America’s farmers today, we need to be more tech savvy and more attentive to our customers than ever before. Freelance writer Chuck Offenburger will talk about how to get the job, and then get the job done.
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Yellow Tail or Yellow Fail?  
Kay Johnson, executive director of the Animal Ag Alliance, explains how social media and one-on-one contacts played a role in educating Yellow Tail about HSUS.  Find out what Yellow Tail had to say.
12-1 p.m. Lunch from the Machine Shed
1-1:30 p.m. Winery helps life-long dream
Bill and Rona Wyant own the Fireside Winery near Williamsburg, Iowa. Listen to how they started in the wine business, how they developed it, and how it fits in with their traditional farming operation. You’ll be able to taste some of their offerings at the reception following the meeting.
1:30-2:30 p.m.  Click! into great photography
Professional photographer, Dan Welk, owner of Click! Photography in Des Moines invites participants to bring their photo gear as he discusses tips and tricks to great photos.
2:30-2:45 p.m. Break
2:45-4 p.m. Your social media toolbox
Nathan Wright with Lava Row will provide a practical discussion of emerging trends and marketing best practices in the social technology space. He is extremely knowledgeable on new media marketing tactics and you are sure to gather some great ideas to add to your toolbox.
4 p.m. Conclusion. Wine and cheese reception

Through the last few months I have heard more rumblings than usual from my friends and acquaintances about their satisfaction at their jobs. It makes me sad to know that people are going to work and not happy about it. I've been trying to put my arms around the issues that I hear and then see if I can sort out the common denominator. Well, I think I have discovered the major issue... and it's sad because most of these people are IN the one industry that they have the biggest problem with -- COMMUNICATION. Hello!!!! This is a problem! 

Ironically, this morning I was perusing my e-mail and received one from a professional organization that I am a member of. I clicked around on a couple of links and landed on this article. http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/03/important_reminders_for_anyone.html  It is a simple, to-the-point article and needs to be passed around. I hope it might hit a nerve with some of you and possibly needs to go to some others in your organization. It's OK, you can blame it on me.

Be sure you have your calendars marked for Tuesday, May 4, for the workshop co-sponsored by Livestock Publications Council and American Agricultural Editors' Association. The workshop will feature sessions mainly on writing and photography and be held at the Living History Farms, Urbandale, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines. The hotel headquarters are the Comfort Suites at Living History Farms -- room rate $99. More details will follow in the next few weeks. 

This was seen in a San Francisco paper. Any ideas on what to do next?

http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/17/smallbusiness/small_business_lending_falls/index.htm

Check out this story about EDJE Technologies from owner Ed Tlach. 

Bob Weaber is a longtime friend of mine and is an assistant professor in the Animal Science department at the University of Missouri. He has a Ph.D from Cornell and master's from Colorado State and is a brilliant young man. I'm proud to post this (with his permission) in regards to the latest HSUS debacle. He sent this to the upper management at Casella wines who produce YellowTail wine.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

I'm very disappointed in your decision to support HSUS in the USA. They are a radical organization bent on destruction of animal agriculture and pet ownership. In 2008, HSUS had revenues >US$131 Million, yet only spent ~US$6.7 Million on animal shelters. That's about 5% of their budget. The HSUS has committed one of the largest frauds on the American people by high-jacking the term "humane society' from the American Humane Society; a group that actually spends money and focuses on the rescue and shelter of pets. If you want to support pet rescue that's great, but do it with the right outfit (http://www.americanhumane.org/). Not HSUS!!! H$U$ is a terrible charity group as rated by American Institute of Philanthropy, a fiercely independent charity rating organization. See the scathing article posted by Consumer Freedom here: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/4074-hsus-got -a-c-minus.

HSUS's radical policies and stated intent on ending livestock production (small and large farmers and ranchers) in the US only work to promote a vegan lifestyle. My whole family works in livestock and food production from university instruction to retailing to ranching. And we all USED to purchase your great products. YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT TO FOCUS YOUR FUNDS DONATED AT HSUS ON ANIMAL RESCUE DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. That just frees up other HSUS funds to devote to destruction of animal agriculture. So, since you chose to continue supporting HSUS and thereby not supporting your fellow agriculturalists, my family and I have chosen to NOT support you either until you change course. I've already posted my opinion about YT's support of HSUS on my FaceBook page and am telling everyone I know not to purchase your products. You need to end your relationship with HSUS or plan to discontinue your business in the US. As you know, this is a major PR disaster in the US, especially among rural and agricultural communities. As the parent company and US importer you must understand how significant this misstep is and your need to reverse course.

Just watched the new video from Drovers -- looks like its their first. These editors are now having to learn the video business too. You can see Greg Henderson and John Maday have put their pens down and picked up a microphone. I like it -- this is a very well done piece. Let me know if you are doing the same, we'll post your links too.

http://www.drovers.tv/video-library/drovers-tv-february-9th-2010/

Are you interested in combining all facets of agricultural communications into one summer internship? Do you want to gain experience in writing, photography and digital media?Read full description here: http://www.livestockpublications.com/postings.php

NOTE: Job postings may be posted by any LPC member. I just cleared some old ones out so check back often if you are looking for a job as I'm sure there will be new ones posted soon. 

The Hereford World has been celebrating 100 years of publishing about Herefords. Its not necessarily 100 years of the Hereford World (since the name has changed and the merger of the Polled Hereford and Hereford breeds years ago) but it's a very impressive number of years for the Hereford breed. Editor Angie Denton is pulling out highlights from issues and giving us a sense of how it was back then.

Cheryl Oxley, member of the LPC Hall of Fame, has added another award to her list when she was recognized as the Distinguished Woman award for the American Angus Auxiliary during their annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. I know that the Auxiliary doesn't give these every year so congrats to Cheryl who has been at the Angus Journal and Angus Productions Inc. as production and advertising manager for many years. Found that release in Missouri Beef Cattleman. 

Gelbvieh World is looking for new stock photos for the publications. It says they don't pay but all you freelance photographers wanting to get your foot in the door or build your portfolio might want to consider. Of course they would prefer to have pictures with Gelbvieh cattle, they are interested in general beef production too. Contact jennifers@gelbvieh.org

Through the years one of the things that I have missed being able to do is comment on the variety of items I see in your publications. I receive over 60 monthly mags and I'm not sure how many weekly publications - 15? or 20? I should be nominated as one of the best recyclers in Fort Worth because they all fill my recycling bin -- eventually. You see, I DO look through each and every publication I receive. Sometimes my bucket gets full and I'll sit down on a Sunday afternoon and just look through them, tearing out things I want to go back to or dog earing a page for a later airplane ride. Anyway now I will get to comment on things I notice through this blog. So get ready -- in the next blog --- here we go!

I'm trying to re-post information from last week's e-mail that was sent out regarding new developments for LPC plus am adding new items of interest.  Once I get in the rhythm and get a bit more organized, there will be photos and other interesting tidbits thrown in. For now, I just want to get this information out to you!

Welcome to the first post for LPC on its new blog feature. This will be the new means of communication for LPC and hopefully you will get in the habit of checking it, sign up for the RSS feed, or become familiar with finding information on here. I'm Diane Johnson, the executive director, and will be creating most of the posts but we will also have board members and committee chairmans posting when things come up. I have a lot to post, but want to be the first to welcome you with this initial post. Let the fun begin!