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.

Don't forget that the early deadline for registering for the Ag Media Summit is quickly approaching. After June 30th, you'll pay more. There are still plenty of rooms available at the hotel, however, they are going fast. Don't delay in that little detail. I hate to have people stay in other hotels.

Click here to make your hotel reservations for Ag Media Summit in St. Paul. Crowne Plaza Riverfront-- rate: $125

Ready to register? Click here to go directly to the registration site.

Why wait? Do it now!

“FEATHERS, HOOVES AND FRUITS” – Sample some of the “best of” Minnesota agriculture on this diverse tour. First up: an innovative turkey operation near the Twin Cities where we’ll learn why Minnesota leads the country in turkey production. Next stop: Garlin Dairy, one of the top dairies in the Midwest. Milk production averages more than 30,000 lbs per cow, which is 50 percent above the national average. The dairy features a 50-stall rotary milk parlor and a cross-ventilated special needs barn for dry and fresh cows. After a quick stop in charming downtown Stillwater, we’ll tour St. Croix Vineyards and view cold-hardy cultivars developed by the University of Minnesota to spur grape production in the state. In true vine-to-wine fashion, we’ll sample some of the winery’s award-winning wines! At your leisure, you may stroll through the neighboring Aamodt Apple Farms to view another University of Minnesota trademark, the popular Honeycrisp apple variety. Sample some of the “best of” Minnesota agriculture on this diverse tour. First up: an innovative turkey operation near the Twin Cities where we’ll learn why Minnesota leads the country in turkey production. Next stop: Garlin Dairy, one of the top dairies in the Midwest. Milk production averages more than 30,000 lbs per cow, which is 50 percent above the national average. The dairy features a 50-stall rotary milk parlor and a cross-ventilated special needs barn for dry and fresh cows. After a quick stop in charming downtown Stillwater, we’ll tour St. Croix Vineyards and view cold-hardy cultivars developed by the University of Minnesota to spur grape production in the state. In true vine-to-wine fashion, we’ll sample some of the winery’s award-winning wines! At your leisure, you may stroll through the neighboring Aamodt Apple Farms to view another University of Minnesota trademark, the popular Honeycrisp apple variety.

“NEW MEDIA MARKET BASKET”- Ag and food companies large and small are texting, tweeting and FaceBooking their way to success. On this very special field trip, you’ll learn how companies in farming are engaging with customers in new ways. We’ll begin at the Mill City Farmer’s Market, located next to the world-renowned Guthrie Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, and hear from purveyors on how they tap the power of social media to build a loyal customer following. From this vibrant gathering place of Minnesota’s most prominent organic and sustainable food producers, we’ll head over to Colle+McVoy, a strategic marketing agency located in downtown Minneapolis, for an exciting panel discussion on New Media. Experts in mobile, digital and social media will be on hand to share their insights and success stories, and answer your questions about the future of communications in agriculture. Finally, a tentative stop at Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, who have chosen to deliver for Twins’ fans a whole array of Minnesota-based foods.


www.agmediasummit.com and www.agmediasummitregistration.com have more information.

Here is option #1 -

FUELS OF THE FUTURE - This tour will spotlight Minnesota companies taking a leading role in renewable fuels. We’ll kick off the tour at CHS Inc., which balances its biofuels business with producing and marketing petroleum products. John Litterio of CHS Renewable Fuels Marketing will address the group. Next, we tour Guardian Energy’s new 100 million-gallon ethanol plant, a joint venture between six Midwestern farmer-owned ethanol plants. Randall Doyal, the CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel, will provide insights into the ethanol industry, and describe the significance of this plant.

We also will tour Rahr Malting’s biomass cogeneration facility. A leading provider of malt to the North American brewing industry, Rahr has partnered with a neighboring Native American tribe to build a facility that helps Rahr meet part of its own heat and power needs, while providing some “green” power to the grid. Rahr works with farmers and food manufacturers to take on their biomass, from corn stover and cobs, to wood and Cheerios byproducts. We conclude our tour at Syngenta, where we’ll view its new LEED Gold-certified regional headquarters, and hear from David Witherspoon, vice president of renewable fuels, on how Syngenta is unlocking the full potential of the corn plant by using enzyme expression to build on the success of corn ethanol and make it more profitable and sustainable.

www.agmediasummit.com and www.agmediasummitregistration.com have more information.

Paul Andre Best of the Bunch Photo Contest
Get your cameras out and start snapping away or find that winning photo in your files because it’s time for the Best of the Bunch Photo Contest! Held each year during the Agricultural Media Summit it is named after Paul Andre,retired editor of BEEF magazine and long time coordinator of this contest.Cash Prizes are awarded!

Rules...Read carefully!
•Enter each photograph in one of three categories:
A. Livestock
B. Livestock industry people
C. Livestock scenic (such as a landscape)
D. General (the sky’s the limit!)

• There will be a small entry fee ($5) but we have added larger cash prizes.

• Each category will pay $100/first; $50/second; $25/third.

• ALL entries will go on the LPC web site and remain on there for one year with your name attached to the entry. We feel that this is a way of "advertising" for your photo(s) and then it's also like an online "portfolio" for you.

•All entries must be original un-retouched photos.

•There is no limit to the number of entries you may enter.

•All photographs must be mounted on lightweight stock. Minimum size for entry is 8”x10” to 10”x12”. With the mounting the maximum size of entry can be no more than 10”x14”.

•All photos must be identified with name, affiliation and category. This should be typed or printed on white paper and affixed to the back of each photo. Unidentified photos will be disqualified.

•Those entering photos must work for a member publication of LPC (name must appear in the masthead) or be a service member of LPC. Student members of LPC are also eligible to enter.

•Any photograph that has won a division in the Best of the Bunch contest previously is not eligible for entry.

•The photo contest committee reserves the right to reassign entries to appropriate category, if necessary.

•Entries will be taken until 11 a.m., Monday, July 26 at the registration desk.

• You may enter without attending the Summit but contestants are responsible for making arrangements in getting their photo(s) returned.

•For more information or questions contact Chairman Amy Bader, at amy@coloradocattle.org

•LPC retains the right to use any of the photos submitted in the Best of the Bunch Photo Contest for publishing in print or on the web.

•The LPC Executive Committee has the discretion to select the directory cover photo from the winners of each category.

Congratulations to these four finalists in the Forrest Bassford Student Award program. Each of these young ladies will receive a $750 travel scholarship for the Ag Media Summit in St. Paul, Minnesota in July. They will present their portfolio to the judges along with a personal interview. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 26, at the student luncheon and will receive a $1250 check to be added to the travel award monies.

Lisa Brown - Oklahoma State University

Nicole Ely - Kansas State University