IFAJ World Congress, USA » General Information

Thank you from Texas

Diane — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:18:46 +0000

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!

Just a few days away and you’ll be here!

Diane — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:36:56 +0000

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.

Repeating your hotel information

Diane — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:21:57 +0000

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~

South Texas Tour: Passport Numbers Needed

Diane — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:44:24 +0000

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

To bring your computer or not?

Diane — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:16:57 +0000

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.

Just a few weeks until the Congress starts

Diane — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:36:55 +0000

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!

Wondering what to wear?

Diane — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:56:47 +0000

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!

Find out who else is coming to Texas!

Diane — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:38:09 +0000

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.

A tour invitation in English and in German

Diane — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:20:26 +0000

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 U.S. agriculture resources for your research

Diane — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:50:31 +0000

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!