Tyson Foods CEO urges FFA members to tell agriculture's story

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  Tyson Foods

  Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith urged FFA members to use social media to tell agriculture's story.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Tyson Foods CEO and President Donnie Smith urged FFA members to tell the story of agriculture, using social media as a way to get that story out to the masses. Smith delivered a keynote address during the third session of the 87th annual National FFA Convention, held October 29 through November 1 in Louisville, Kentucky.
  He began his talk by requesting audience members pull out their phone send out the hashtag, #MyAgStory, on social media, reported AgriNews.
  “Every time you put out something on social media you’re telling a story, so how about telling the story of agriculture,” he said. “The fact you know agriculture and have the ability to communicate, it means you have an awesome responsibility to protect the future of agriculture.”
  Smith told FFA members that they will be faced with helping to solve perhaps the biggest challenge of the next generation: feeding two billion more people by 2050. By using their voices to tell the story of agriculture, the problem can be fixed, he said.
  The challenge is not how to grow more food, Smith said, but how to grow consumer confidence in a country when consumers are so far removed from the farm. It is challenging because people who don’t necessarily understand agriculture are in the conversation, he added.
  Smith urged students to do their part in stopping the story of agriculture from being told by people who don’t understand it or might have an agenda to harm it.
  “I want to inspire you to use your voice to take back the story of agriculture,” he said.
  Smith explained that Tyson Foods wants to stay connected with young people through social media. “And we get connected to them, then we all get it … we get their passion, we get their ag stories and we get to help continue to tell those stories over and over again.”

International Poultry Scientific Forum donates to Ford Foundation

The International Poultry Scientific Forum presented a check for $18,047.11 to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation during the Foundation's September meeting.
"We are pleased to accept this donation on behalf of the Ford Foundation," said Foundation Chairman Monty Henderson. "The Foundation is committed to the future of the poultry and egg industry through education and research. We are grateful to the International Poultry Scientific Forum for contributing to our efforts toward the long-term sustainability of our industry." The money will go towards meeting the Foundation's goals of providing financial support for poultry production student recruiting efforts at universities and colleges and funding industry research.

Alltech’s Agribusiness Summit focuses on growing businesses

Alltech’s 2010 Agribusiness Summit in Lexington, Ky., May 16-19 will include speakers and attendees from the world’s richest economies as well as emerging markets. The program will include speakers from:
*JBS S.A.
*Almarai, the integrated dairy foods company in the Arabian Peninsula
*Rabobank, an international financial services provider committed to the food and agribusiness
*2 Sisters Food Group European food company
*Harvard Business School
*University College Dublin
Presentation topics building a global dairy powerhouse, the power of a brand, franchising, high raw material costs and environmental concerns.
The Agribusiness Summit will include case studies of the Guatemalan fried chicken restaurant chain Pollo Campero and Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina.

Victam Asia 2010

It is hard to judge a show if it is your first visit. Victam Asia 2010 has been billed as the "biggest ever" and, talking to exhibitors, the commercial stands occupied more space this year than in previous editions.
However, in comparison with European shows, the number of attendees seemed low.
Victam does not attract the crowds that some other shows do but again, talking to exhibitors, their impression was that visitor numbers were lower this year. Once official figures are published, however, a different story may emerge.... Read the full blog on www.animalagnet.com.

2010 International Poultry Expo offers 'Grower Days'

The 2010 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo will offer $5 on-site registration for growers. The event, sponsored by U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the American Feed Industry Association, will be held Jan. 27–29, 2010, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The normal cost of the event for growers is $60.
The expo features equipment, products and services for all phases of poultry and feed production and processing. Registration will open each morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta. A completed registration form and a Grower Days coupon are required. Coupons are available from state poultry organizations and on the International Poultry Expo Web site.

Ag scholarship deadline February 1

The application deadline for the next round of Westchester Foundation college scholarships is February 1, 2010. The scholarships are given by the foundation to high school seniors accepted for enrollment and students already enrolled in a course of study related to agriculture or agribusiness at accredited colleges, universities and community colleges.
The scholarships can be renewed annually for up to four years, provided the students maintain acceptable grade point averages. While the amount awarded for each scholarship varies by individual and economic need, successful applicants may anticipate a minimum of $1,000 per year to fund any expenses related to attendance at the college of their choice.
The foundation’s board of directors selects recipients based on academic qualifications, community and school involvement, leadership potential and financial need.
Applications can be downloaded from the Westchester Group Web site and must be received no later than February 1, 2010, to be considered for scholarship funds for the fall semester of the 2010–2011 school year.