Search - Pro Farmer

A seasoned ag communications professional, Rick Purnell is passionate about the positive impact farms and agribusiness have in rural and urban communities. Rick is even more passionate about how a farm or ag operation can develop a true identity within its community. Engaging today’s media, public forums, local government and civic organizations is just one aspect of strengthening relationships with rural and in-town neighbors. I’m active in initiatives to build community support for the professionals who grow our food. I can demonstrate communications approaches for individual operations that create short- and long-term community, zoning and legislative support. Find out more at www.rprcompany.com.

This blog is all about celebrating America’s farm families and learning more about what America’s farmers provide for us every day.

Andy Zenk is an Agribusiness Consultant with AgCountry Farm Credit Services, specializing in succession and retirement planning. In this position, he helps families work through the complex issues of farm transition, estate planning and business planning. He serves as a guide to help mentor and monitor the process of planning for retirement, constructing detailed plans based on the goals and needs of each person. He helps families design and implements necessary estate planning instruments. He also helps farmers with business entity formation and continuation plans, dissolutions and any other business planning issues they may have. Andy has a legal background as an attorney, and is currently licensed to practice law in Minnesota, North Dakota and Colorado. He holds a law degree with a business concentration from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Before joining AgCountry Farm Credit Services, he practiced law in Colorado in the areas of estate planning, asset protection, real estate and business planning. Andy lives with his wife Laurie and their four children in west-central Minnesota. He enjoys spending time at the lake, walleye fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. Although, most of his time is spent chasing his four children around (ages 8, 6, 4 and 1), which is his favorite thing by far.

Brock Schimbeno has nearly a decade’s experience using futures/options to assist producers in hedging their crops. He has developed in-depth knowledge of fundamental and technical analysis to coincide with his expertise in options strategies. Blackmore Commodities was founded as a result of Schimbeno’s desire to educate American farmers about the usefulness of options in their grain marketing strategies.

Jonathan is an emergency management coordinator with a passion for all things weather. He is currently a municipal emergency management coordinator in a primarily rural township. He also works in emergency management at the county level and in 9-1-1 communications. Jonathan grew up in western Pennsylvania and became interested in weather at a young age following a large tornado outbreak on May 31, 1985, during which his grandmother’s town was virtually wiped out. From that point on, Jonathan attempted to learn all that he could about weather, the atmosphere and environment. Despite being accepted to the University of Oklahoma’s meteorology program, Jonathan opted to stay close to home and attend Messiah College, where he pursued a degree in English with an emphasis on writing. He currently lives in south-central Pennsylvania with his wife and son.

The 2008 Farm Journal Forum is being held Dec. 2 – 4 in Washington D.C. This blog will help you prepare for the event, along with supplying photos, video and audio from the Forum. The 2008, entitled What will change bring? Impacts of a New Congress and Administration in the New Era of Agriculture, is likely to be a one-of-a-kind event. Don’t miss it. Learn more at www.FarmJournalForum.com.

Justin is the Vice President of KIS Futures., an independent brokerage located in Oklahoma City. He focuses on agriculture and energy price risk management. Justin has been featured in agriculture trade publications, regional radio shows, and national newspapers.

Hello, and thanks for checking out my blog. My name is Alex Tiller and I am fascinated by agriculture and farming. I grew up in rural Ohio and spent many summers working on farms when I was younger. My family still owns farmland in the area. I visit lots of farms in different areas that grow all kinds of different crops and I share what I find with the world via this blog. You can contact me via my email link at: http://www.alextiller.com

Valent U.S.A. Corporation markets and sells fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, bio-insecticides, insect growth regulators, nematicides, baits and plant growth regulators for the agricultural, horticultural, turf, ornamental, industrial vegetation management and professional pest control markets. For more information about Valent products, Valent U.S.A. Corporation or the full product line, call 800-6-VALENT (682-5368) or visit the Valent Web site at www.valent.com.