Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Certified Propane Specialists Meet

Certified Propane Specialists from across the GROWMARK System met in Indianapolis to learn about new technologies and efficiencies in the propane industry.

Keith Milburn, IMS director, gave a demonstration of the new wEBS system, which will allow more streamlined service to residential and business customers. Program participants also learned about "Extreme Professionalism" from Dave Rich, GROWMARK senior trainer, Southern Region.




A representative from BlueBird bus service gave a presentation on their new propane-fueled school bus line, and Rick Roldan, NPGA president, adressed the group as well.

The attendees were then able to attend the PERC seminar and trade show, where they visited with manufacturers and others about the latest trends.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

GROWMARK Employees Earn Microsoft Certification

Five GROWMARK Information Management Systems (IMS) employees earned Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certifications by passing the Microsoft Dynamics Financials version 10.0 exam.

The globally-recognized standard of demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Dynamics was earned by: John Bevill, applications specialist; John Boitnott, applications support specialist; Rachel Hensley, applications support specialist; Brandy Passmore, applications support specialist; and Sally Whaley, applications specialist.

This certification is one of the requirements for GROWMARK to maintain Gold Certified status with Microsoft.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Charlesworth named C-FAR Chairman of the Board


Jim Charlesworth, GROWMARK marketing research director, has been named chairman of the board for the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). He has served on the board for four years.

C-FAR’s mission is to advance profitable, consumer-sensitive, environmentally sound food, agricultural, and related systems by securing funding for relevant research and outreach and fostering public participation in program guidance.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

2010 GROWMARK Media Day

The third annual GROWMARK Media Day was held on March 23. The group of media representatives from across Illinois toured three System facilities and listened to presentations by GROWMARK division representatives.




Tour stops included the Alpha Distribution Center, WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, and Sunrise Ag Service Company's Illinois River facility in Havana.




Participants enjoyed the tour format and commented they learned a great deal from all the presenters.

Monday, March 15, 2010

2010 FS Marketing Conference

The 2010 FS Marketing Conference was held on March 10 in East Peoria, Ill. More than 350 System employees attended the one-day event.

The morning keynote speaker was Scott McKain, vice chairman of Obsidian Enterprises. He spoke about ways to differentiate your business from others who provide similar goods and services. To create distinction, he recommended using four cornerstones: clarity, creativity, communication, and customer experience focus.

The Agronomy, Energy, Facility Planning and Supply, and Logistics Divisions each offered a panel discussion about ways to connect with customers. Making customized recommendations, building on proven performance, embracing change, and providing operational excellence were all demonstrated.










Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula was the wrap-up speaker. He used the acronym "COACH" to sum up his philosophy on teamwork and leadership. To succeed, you must be Conviction-driven, Overlearn, be Audible-ready, have Consistency, and be Honesty-based.










Monday, March 8, 2010

GROWMARK Announces Iowa Essay Contest Winner



Evan Rethmeier of Laurel, Iowa, has been named the Iowa state winner of the 2010 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “Exploring Careers in Agriculture.”



In his contest entry, Rethmeier said: “I have a particular interest in the crop specialist – client relationship from the crop production farmer’s point of view. Just as my father is part of such a relationship today with his farming operation, one day I may be part of such a relationship also.”
Rethmeier is a student at Newton High School and a member of the Newton FFA chapter. His FFA advisor is James Horn.



As the contest winner, Rethmeier will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference, held in Des Moines during April. The Newton FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of his accomplishment to help future students.



Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Amy Andrews, Vinton Shellsburg FFA; Cassie Galm, Spencer FFA; Logan Kinyon, Creston FFA; and Brandy Zumbach, North-Linn FFA.



Students were asked to describe an agricultural career that interests them and interview a local FS employee about opportunities in that career field.



This is the seventeenth year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

Gentry Elected to Illinois Forage and Grassland Council Board


Dave Gentry, GROWMARK forage/turf and retail products manager, was elected to vice president of the Illinois Forage and Grassland Council (IFGC) board of directors. He has served on the board since 2008.

IFGC provides the framework that unites industry, producers, educational, and government institutions for the production, marketing, and wise use of forages and grasslands.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

GROWMARK Employees Recognized by NCFC

Seventeen GROWMARK System employees were recognized at the 2010 National Council of Farmer Cooperatives’ (NCFC) Information Fair, a communications contest that recognizes excellence in the publications, member relations, and marketing products of farmer cooperatives.

Earning first place honors were: Karen Jones, publications and news specialist, and Tiffany Loercher, graphic designer, in the Employee Publication category; Ann Kafer, director, Corporate Communications and Marketing Services, and Amy Bradford, corporate communications manager, in the Multimedia Presentation category; Krista Wolf, manager, brand strategy and marketing communications, and Bev Long, marketing communications manager, in the Advertising Campaign category; Jenny Haycraft, marketing communications specialist, Jeff Bunting, seed corn product manager, Howard Brown, manager, agronomy services, and Kevin Black, insect and plant disease technical manager, in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide category; and Haycraft and Marty Dunton, GROWMARK FS, in the Advertising Brochure category.

Second place honors were given to: Jones and Jane White, creative design manager, in the Annual Report category; Jones in the Color Photography category; Haycraft and Dunton in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide and Advertising Brochure categories; Haycraft in the Advertising Leaflet category; Haycraft and Bob Williams, Frontier FS Cooperative, in the Direct Mail category; and Jones in the Online Publication category.

Third place honors were earned by: Jones in the Column category; Dorothy Ahlenius, corporate communications and marketing services administrative coordinator, in the Annual Meeting Promotional Materials category; Haycraft and Lance Ruppert, crop protection marketing manager, in the Advertising Leaflet category; Haycraft and Dunton in the Advertising Brochure category; and Haycraft and Williams in the Direct Mail category.

Honorable mention went to: Jones in the Feature Article, Column, Color Photography, and Online Publication categories; and Haycraft, Mike Scheer, manager, agronomy marketing and communications, and Ron Durdle, energy marketing and communications manager, in the Direct Mail category.

NCFC is a national association representing America's farmer cooperatives. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose members include a majority of our nation's more than 2 million farmers, ranchers and growers.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

GROWMARK Employees Recognized by NAMA

Two GROWMARK employees were recognized at the Region IV Best of NAMA awards ceremony, a communications contest sponsored by the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA).












Earning first place honors were Krista Wolf, manager, brand strategy and marketing communications, and Bev Long, marketing communications manager, in the Regional Multi-Media Campaign and Televison – Single or Series categories for the “Local Answer to Your World of Needs” campaign.

NAMA is the nation’s largest professional association for professionals in marketing and agribusiness.

Friday, January 29, 2010

MID-CO Winter Outlook






The 2010 MID-CO COMMODITIES Winter Outlook meeting was held on January 26 at the Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington, Ill.








Attendees listened to presentations by MID-CO staff about the corn, soybean, and wheat outlook for the year. Presentations were also made about the dollar and its current role in the world economy.








The event was well-attended and a great opportunity to network and learn more about marketing and the services MID-CO offers.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

GROWMARK Honored with Ag eBusiness Excellence Award

AgGateway, a non-profit consortium of businesses serving the agriculture industry, awarded GROWMARK with the sixth annual Ag eBusiness Excellence Award for its pioneering use of technology and implementation of the AgGateway tools and standards.





Tim Piper, GROWMARK executive director of IT and chief information officer (center) and Gary Garrett, GROWMARK IT project planning manager (right), accept the Ag eBusiness Excellence Award from Josh Wall, AgGateway representative.

The award is sponsored by AgGateway’s technology business partner, CSC, a global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services, and was presented to GROWMARK for the second time in six years. CSC will present a donation this month to The Boys & Girls Club of Prairie Central (Illinois) in recognition of the award.

AgGateway, which helps member companies improve their profitability and productivity by educating, promoting and expanding participation in eBusiness in agriculture and agriculture-related businesses, initiated the award to recognize member companies which best demonstrate the objectives of AgGateway, including implementation of eBusiness standards, use of implementation tools, industry education, and overall promotion and expansion of eBusiness in agriculture and agriculture-related businesses.






Josh Wall, AgGateway representative (left), presents a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Prairie Central (Illinois) to Ann Moody, GROWMARK seed operations manager. Moody is the treasurer of the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club.

“By taking advantage of eBusiness technologies and AgGateway’s tools, GROWMARK was able to improve speed and accuracy of shipment notifications, contracts and invoices,” said Rod Conner, president and chief executive officer of AgGateway. “In addition, GROWMARK’s customers have seen improvements in service, saving time and freeing employees to deliver even better customer service.”

“We’re honored to receive this award,” said Bill Davisson, GROWMARK chief executive officer. “GROWMARK is committed to leveraging the newest technology to improve the way we do business, minimize our costs, and deliver the best service possible to our member-owners.”