Welcome To IFAJ 2009

Welcome To Texas

Fort Worth is home to the 53rd IFAJ Congress

Howdy y’all!

That means “welcome” in Texas. You had better get used to that greeting because you’ll hear it frequently at the IFAJ Congress in Fort Worth, TX, in 2009. This will be a one-of-kind Congress because IFAJ will be sharing some of the professional development programs that are planned for the U.S. Agricultural Media Summit (AMS).

Don’t worry, there will be plenty of IFAJ-only events, but we have a unique opportunity to capitalize on some excellent seminars and speakers that the AMS group is planning.

For example, there will be sessions on:

• How to take digital photos like a pro.
• Ways to kick-start your writing with better story ideas.
• Designing web sites to boost online traffic.
• How to keep your team creative and happy.
• Ways to work effectively with different generations.

As with all Congresses, plan on seeing Texas up close. For perspective, Texas – known as the Lone Star State – is slightly larger than France.

During the meeting, we will have tours to family farms with a variety of agriculture products, and ranches with real cowboys. Plus, we’ll offer three, post-tours you won’t want to miss – trips that will take you to north, south and west Texas – each with unique looks at this vast state with infinite variety. Watch the web site for details on what tour each will provide, and for Congress updates.

Mike Wilson, Farm Futures and Greg Lamp, Corn and Soybean Digest
Congress Co-Chairs

Congress Update

A very exciting event will be held in Fort Worth, Texas. It’s the annual Congress for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) that will be held in conjunction with the 2009 Ag Media Summit (AMS). The last time the IFAJ Congress was held in the U.S. was in 1992 in the Illinois/Indiana region.

The dates for the joint IFAJ Congress and Ag Media Summit will be July 29 through August 5, 2009. The location is the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. We are expecting this to draw more than 200 international IFAJ members and guests.

On the 29th, our international arrivals will begin with the majority of the IFAJ activities taking place on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, August 2, the two events will “blend” and the IFAJ delegates will start to take part in the AMS activities. The AMS basically stays on a similar schedule with the big welcome party on Sunday night followed by our usual schedule of workshops on Monday and Tuesday. The grand opening of the InfoExpo will also take place on Monday afternoon and extend through Tuesday, just like it does now. The Congress always ends with a big send-off party on the final night and we will adhere to this tradition and incorporate our awards functions into the biggest party this event has ever seen! Officially the event will be over Wednesday morning August 5th, although that day the post-convention tours will begin. (more…)