Sessions

Conference General Sessions

OPENING GENERAL SESSION
Thursday, April 27, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Victoria Labalme
Risk Forward: Communicate, Connect and Come Alive

Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Hall of Fame Speaker and show business veteran Victoria Labalme helps people communicate, connect and come alive. She works with professionals to uncover their hidden genius and express themselves in memorable ways and win over the people they serve and partner with.

Labalme’s strategic, results-driven approach blends art and business as she taps into her decades-long performance career. Appearing on television, Broadway and more, Labalme’s creative projects have received critical acclaim from the BBC, Variety, The New York Times and others.

At the Agri-Marketing Conference, Labalme will discuss how the world has changed and led to new roles, expectations and goals—which continue to evolve at unprecedented rates. Fatigue and burnout are becoming commonplace. How do agri-marketing leaders help their teams succeed? The answer: to Risk Forward. Labalme will explain what that means and share tools to lead confidently, engage teams and achieve remarkable results.

Known for her high-energy, engaging and relevant sessions, Labalme’s proprietary systems and strategies have been embraced by top teams at more than 700 organizations including Starbucks, Microsoft, PayPal, Coca-Cola, the World Bank and countless others.

In 2021, Labalme published her book RISK FORWARD: Embrace the Unknown and Unlock Your Hidden Genius. As the founder of RISK FORWARD® and ROCK THE ROOM®, her products and services have delivered stunning results across industries.

SECOND GENERAL SESSION
Thursday, April 27, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rohit Bhargava
The Art of Non-Obvious Storytelling, Marketing and Branding: Create Brand Loyalty, Stand Out From the Competition and Be More Persuasive and Engaging

After 15 years as a brand and marketing strategist, Rohit Bhargava set out on his own. As an entrepreneur he started three companies. Today, he is an innovation and marketing expert, skilled facilitator, keynote speaker and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. The author of eight books, Bhargava explores topics including the future of business, how to build brands with personality and how to create a more diverse and inclusive world.

Each year, Bhargava updates his signature book Non-Obvious with 15 new trend predictions. He has been invited to share his insights with teams at Intel, NASA, Disney, LinkedIn, Microsoft and hundreds of other organizations.

In St. Louis this April, he’ll show you how to apply the secrets of the world’s best storytellers to create a more persuasive marketing and brand that commands trust. You’ll learn how to unify teams and achieve buy-in across your organization to craft and bring your brand story to life every day through each team member’s actions, communications and practices.

Bhargava teaches his signature course on storytelling and marketing at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and for the past 17 years, has authored his acclaimed “Influential Marketing Blog.” Recognized as a “Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business Behavior,” Bhargava is featured regularly as an expert commentator in the Harvard Business Review, The Guardian and on NPR.

CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
Friday, April 28, 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Lyndy Phillips
Laugh More. Stress Less.

We’ve all heard it; we should laugh more and stress less. At the Agri-Marketing Conference, Lyndy Phillips will explain exactly why and how we should do this.

Laughter has been medically proven to reduce stress and heal the body. It helps relieve tension, improve relaxation and open the mind, while contributing to an overall sense of well-being. In some instances, laughter has even been proven to reduce pain and reverse disease.

Happier, healthier people are more productive. On the other hand, those suffering from high levels of stress are less engaged and more absent. And in today’s work environment, a lot of people are stressed. Many of us are working longer, assuming more responsibility and expected to produce, no matter what. As a result, 77% of professionals report regular physical symptoms caused by stress, while one in three say they’re living with extreme or chronic stress.

In this fun, interactive session, audience members will learn how stress affects the body and mind. Phillips will explain the dangers of chronic stress, the importance of reducing it and—most importantly—how to do so by harnessing the healing power of laughter. You’ll walk away with tools to relieve stress, the ability to see the humor around you and most likely, a smile on your face.

Small Marketing Department Workshop

April 26, 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Equipping Your Department to Survive and Thrive
If you’re flying solo or part of a small marketing team this workshop is for you. Join us to kick off your 2023 Agri-Marketing Conference experience with expert tips and training.

As an agri-marketer, you face unique challenges that require special solutions. Whether you’re trying to improve planning and budgeting, stay ahead of evolving trends or develop new strategies, NAMA understands the demands you face. Focused on ag retailers, equipment dealers, small manufacturers and other small or in-house marketing departments, a series of short presentations—Ted Talks style—will share what you need to succeed.

Because “Equipping Your Small Marketing Department to Survive and Thrive” is part of the main conference, no additional fee or registration is required. Just be sure to register yourself and your team for #NAMA23 in St. Louis to catch these big ideas.

These expert-led 40-minute sessions are chock-full of tips and trends to help your marketing department set and reach goals.

Workshop Topics:
In the Trenches – A Panel of Peers
Moderator: John Rozum, AEM
Panelists:
Mark Core, Vermeer
Michele Egan, Chr. Hansen
Steve Tomac, PBI Gordon
Learning from others is the focus of this session. Hear stories and best practices from your peers. Join the discussion and get your questions answered.

Launching Success: Maximizing Your Marketing Resources for High-Performing Product Launches
Liz Gaston - AgBiome
Liz has led marketing communications efforts to launch two novel products from regulatory approval to commercialization in the last five years at AgBiome, a biological agriculture innovator. From telling AgBiome’s R&D story to communicating the unique problem- solving capabilities of their products, Liz will share her unique expertise in connecting with ag audiences without limitless resources. Learn the ins and outs of launching a new agricultural product through Liz’s industry insights, marketing tips, and best practices to successfully coordinate a small marketing team and maximize resources to achieve a big impact.

Beyond the Press Release
Sandra Mason – AEM
We’ve written them and we’ve sent them out. News releases are a commonly used public relations tactic, but are they the most effective tool to secure earned media? During this segment of the workshop, Sandra Mason, APR will share her insights on securing earned media – with and without a press release.

Breakout Sessions

Thursday, April 27, 2 - 3 p.m.
(3 concurrent sessions)

7 Non-Obvious Trends that Matter for Your Industry
Rohit Bhargava

This engaging session based on Bhargava’s latest book (published in March 2023) will spotlight the ideas and instigators that are transforming industries like agriculture and shaping our future society. Delivered with trademark stories and infused with actionable insights, you’ll receive an exclusive, advance look at some of the biggest and most consequential trends influencing our post-pandemic world. If you want an entertaining glimpse into the future, paired with insights you can use to your advantage right away, this session is sure to deliver.

Telling a More Nuanced Story of Rural America
Lynn Franz, Director of Brand & Engagement Strategy, Land O’Lakes
Kalyn Grokett, Animal Nutrition Brand Marketing Manager, Land O'Lakes

As a convener brand sitting at the intersection of consumers and the agricultural community, Land O’Lakes, Inc. is uniquely positioned to bridge the urban-rural divide. Determined to debunk myths and change perceptions, its team set out to expose overlooked truths to tell more authentic stories about rural vibrancy. Interviews with both rural Americans and subject experts helped identify five key learnings demonstrating the value of rural America. Hear more about the research process and how Land O’Lakes is applying its findings to its communication efforts.

State of Marketing Study
Blake Miller, Senior Director of Product Marketing, Salesforce

What should marketing leaders be thinking about in 2023 to stay ahead of trends and future-proof their organizations for success? In this session, you’ll learn about the current state and trajectory of marketing’s digital transformation, trends in marketing data management, and how collaboration is changing as many teams operate remotely.

Thursday, April 27, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
(2 concurrent sessions)

The Art of Teamwork
Victoria Labalme

No matter how much our world changes, the people surrounding us remain essential to our professional trajectories. But as business processes and the ag industry continue to transform, the way we work together should evolve too. This session will help you master the art of teamwork today by focusing on:

“Team”: What it really means and how to discover individual strengths within yours
How to create a fun and productive workplace
10 tips to dramatically enhance workplace professionalism
Simple ways to improve team communication
How to show appreciation for and give recognition to team members

Navigating The Digital Marketing Landscape...Now and in the Future
Patrick McNamara, Head of Industry, Business & Industrial Markets, Google
Darren Robinson, Sr. Account Executive, Business & Industrial Markets, Google

Digital marketing is evolving constantly. To stay ahead of the curve, businesses need to innovate and evolve their marketing strategies at a rapid pace as well. In this session, Google leaders will share how to leverage Google’s ecosystem as a powerful tool to drive business objectives, including:

Taking advantage of available agriculture insights and trends
Using artificial intelligence (AI) advertising products to identify the highest-value customers
Understanding and approaching changes in privacy
Building a brand in the digital environment

Friday, April 28, 9 - 10 a.m.
(2 concurrent sessions)

Conversation Critical: The Ups and Downs of Today’s Ag Economy
Moderator: Jeff Moore, Director, Strategic Accounts, Farm Progress
Darin Newsom, Senior Market Analyst, Barchart
Don Close, Chief Research and Analytics Officer, Terrain

The global and U.S. economies have been on a rollercoaster ride since COVID-19 entered the picture. As we monitor consumer trends, and what many believe is an impending recession, agri-marketers must prepare for the resulting effects on the ag economy.

Guided by moderatopr, Jeff Moore, Farm Progress, panelists Darin Newsom, Senior Market Analyst at Barchart and Don Close, Chief Research & Analytics Officer at Terrain will discuss the current climate.

Lessons From a National Farm-to-Retail Innovator and CEO
Sarah Frey, founder and CEO, Frey Farms

Sarah Frey founded Frey Farms in 1992. Headquartered in southern Illinois, the certified woman-owned agribusiness is the leading U.S. grower, shipper and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. Sarah oversees the diverse operations of the Frey family of companies, which include land acquisition, regenerative agriculture initiatives, raw ingredient manufacturing and a full-scale beverage business.

In this session, we’ll probe the various aspects of Sarah’s business—from farm to distribution to retail—including how consumer trends are impacting her current and future marketing and business decisions.

Conference General Sessions

Small Marketing Department Workshop

Breakout Sessions

Connect

Students Connect