At the conclusion of the IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit there were a number of tours.
Thanks to Denny McClintic I have a photo of the group that went on the South Texas tour. He also sent a few more which have been added to the IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit Photo Album. I think I have more coming from the other tours which will be added to the album when I receive them.
Looks like this group had a good time.
We’ve got lots of photos for your viewing pleasure in our online photo album. We had some problems with it and had to delete them and re-upload them this morning. We might have a few more to add too but I think you’ll find plenty to provide you with lasting memories.
Here’s the link to use for IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit photos:
We are so happy that all of you were able to attend the Congress and the Ag Media Summit. We will continue to make entries here with pictures and coverage. If you have something you want to post, let us know so we can create a link to it or post it here. Thanks to everyone for your support — we hope you had a great time!
All registrants to the IFAJ Congress 2009 received a great wild west souvenir to take home with them. These leather note pad holders were all printed with our names. We certainly hope you enjoy them.
If you attended this year’s IFAJ Congress for your first time I’d love to know your thoughts on meeting with fellow ag journalists from other countries. Did you find it helpful? What did you get out of the relationships you made?
Although I could not attend the combined IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit that doesn’t mean I didn’t stay in touch. I called Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest, and Co-Chair of the event when he was on a break to find out how it went.
Greg says the mix of U.S. and international visitors has worked out great and the event is a success. Many of our international guests commented that the “cowboy spirit” they’ve experienced is just what they hoped it would be. Greg says he’s caught that spirit too. Sounds like a lot of hats and boots are going home from this conference.
So listen to my chat with Greg to hear his thoughts on the conference. Just click on the audio player below.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Mike Wilson of Farm Progress Companies opened the general session of the 2009 Congress in Fort Worth Saturday morning with a few words about the direction of the organization.
Mike reported on the further development of the IFAJ website and plans for future congresses that may include the first ever congress in South America. “We’re trying to go to as many different countries as possible,” Mike said. IFAJ is adding two new countries this year – Slovenia and Kenya.
He also talked about a history of IFAJ which is being compiled. During an interview with me, Mike related how in the ’60s the United States first became involved with the group, which originally started in Europe over 50 years ago. “It was called the International Union of Agricultural Journalists and when the Americans were approached and they said we will join but we really have a problem with the word ‘union’ so they changed it to ‘federation’ and the Americans became a part of it.”
He also talked about hiring the first IFAJ part time executive secretary Connie Siemes from Holland and what that has done to help free up the officers to do less paperwork and more member work.
Listen to an interview with Mike here:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It was the Flinchbaugh-Stenholm show Sunday morning at the first combined session for the IFAJ Congress and the Ag Media Summit. A full house was entertained by the musings and mutterings of “The Great Debate” between former Texas congressman Charlie Stenholm and retired K-State ag economist Barry Flichbaugh.
The crowd had lots of questions for the two after their debate over ag and international trade policy, as did several reporters after the fact. It was interesting to hear the international journalists ask questions about climate change policy and animal rights activism. Our own Joanna Schroeder and Kansas Ag Network reporter Greg Akagi also interviewed them both.
Listen or download to a mix of reporter interviews with Charlie Stenholm here – international questions followed by Greg and Joanna’s interview:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The executive committee of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has already met and the program is underway. President Mike Wilson of Farm Progress Companies reported that the organization is working on increasing membership from different countries and that the website is becoming a more effective tool in getting information out about what IFAJ is and what it does. They hope to expand the website into different languages in the future. There are currently brochures about IFAJ available for download on the website in five languages – English, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese.
We’ve got an online photo album started which will be added to throughout the combined IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit: IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album. Please check it often and feel free to download photos for your use.
Please post any questions you have here for details you wish to know about as you finalize your plans to Texas. We are ready for you! Safe travels to everyone.
Here is a repeat post for you that is very important to know:
Some of you have asked for the address and phone number for the headquarters hotel during the IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit. Here it is: Worthington Renaissance Hotel, 200 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, 76102; Telephone: 817-870-1000 (country code 00+1). Check it out, I think you’ll like it! http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dfwdt-renaissance-worthington-hotel-fort-worth/
We’ll see some of you in less than a week! Safe travels~
I received this note from from our Janet who is coordinating the post-Congress Tours. If you have already sent your passport number to her there is no need to respond. There are only a couple of you who still need to respond, but it is very important!
Reminder: We need your passport number by June 20, if you have signed up for the South Texas tour following the IFAJ Congress. This is because one of the tour stops, the Port of Corpus Christi, has strict security procedures. In order to obtain security clearance prior to the tour, we need to submit visitors’ passport information immediately. Please e-mail this information to me dianej@flash.net or to Janet Hunter (who e-mailed you several days ago requesting this information).
Janet Hunter janet.hunter@farmcreditbank.com
I know what it’s like to decide if I’m going to take my laptop computer with me when traveling so I’m offering some information that might help you make your decision.
First of all, we will have a Media/Press Room that will have computers and printers for you to use. If you do bring your own laptop then you can also plug in to the wired service in that room if that’s easier. The hotel also has FREE wireless internet service in the public area called “Bar Wired” which is a coffee shop/internet cafe located very close to all of the Congress and Summit activities. You can also purchase it for service in your room but since there are a couple of free options, you might as well take advantage of these choices.
Now you can make your own decision.
Please be sure to read through all of our posts because the most important information has already been listed. We’ll continue to update you, but for now we’re just finalizing the details and are getting ready for your arrivals. Still have questions? Your buddy is there for you!
This event is what we consider “business casual”. The following are examples for women to wear: pant suits, light sweaters, khaki pants and summer skirts. Men usually wear very nice pressed jeans, khaki pants but sometimes also wear a sport coat or jacket. Usually men do not wear ties to the workshops and sessions during the day.
Friday night and Sunday night parties will both have a western theme. So plan on blue jeans or shorts and your belts, boots and hat!
For those of you going on the tours: We have been very careful to select locations that do not put you out in a field in the heat of the day. Most will have buildings with air conditioning. Regardless, wear loose fitting clothing that will be comfortable to travel in. We will have plenty of water and other cold beverages for you on all tours.
The only formal night is Tuesday night’s awards dinner. Ladies, we encourage you to bring a nice dress, sparkly sequins are fine! Gentlemen, you will definitely want to wear a suit jacket with ties.
IMPORTANT: Hotels in the U.S. have air conditioning and THEY USE IT! So if you tend to be cold natured or do not like air conditioning, you must bring a wrap or sweater. YOU WILL NEED IT! Have any more fashion questions? Let me know!
On Friday (26 June) I’m going to post a list of everyone who has registered from outside of the U.S. for the Congress. This way you can see who is coming from your country and other friends you have met from other Congresses. I am also going to include your ARRIVAL day because many of you have added on an extra night and we want to be sure that we have that correct. Keep in mind, we are going to pick you up at the airport, so this information is very important for you to check. Keep informed by communicating with your “buddies” too!
NOTE: Go to www.agmediasummit.com download your copy.
Janet Hunter, who is working on our post-Congress tours, sent this to me and even translated it for all of our German speaking friends:
IFAJ friends,
The 2009 Congress is only six weeks from now. If you have any questions about the meeting or the agricultural tours, please e-mail your IFAJ buddy or me. We in Texas look forward to welcoming you to Fort Worth.
IFAJ Freunde,
der Kongress 2009 beginnt in nur sechs Wochen. Wenn ihr Fragen bezüglich des Treffens oder bezüglich der landwirtschaftlichen Führungen habt, bitte sendet eurem IFAJ-Partner oder mir eine E-Mail. Wir in Texas freuen uns darauf, euch in Fort Worth willkommen zu heißen.
Janet Hunter janet.hunter@farmcreditbank.com
Some of you have requested some information on sources for agriculture in the U.S. Here are some links that you can go to prior to coming to the Congress. Steve Werblow, our co-chairman of the program committee furnished this information:
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service publishes great papers on markets and economics. There’s an index online at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Browse/. There are papers and articles on many topics, from individual crops to labor to trade issues, other countries, etc.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service (http://www.nass.usda.gov/#) is a great place to find data on anything agriculture.
This is the USDA’s 2002 book on topics that are mainly organized around federal programs and priorities such as cultural and economic diversity, Factbook of Agriculture http://www.usda.gov/factbook/
The Texas Department of Agriculture has a fact sheet online at http://www.agr.state.tx.us/gt/channel/render/items/0,1218,1670_1693_0_1692,00.html
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As we find more information we will post it here. Want to know more? Let us know how we can help you. Post a comment here!
I’ve noticed many of you are flying on American Airlines and I just received this e-mail that I thought I’d pass on. Check it out and, for those who are flying a different airline, the rules are similar, but please check with your specific airline to be sure of restrictions.
The latest and final version of the program for this year’s Congress is now ready for you to download and view.
Just click on this link: IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit Final Program (5.2MB pdf)
We hope you’ve got your registration in and are looking forward to a great event in Texas!