Kansas City, Here We Come

By Rebecca Colnar, ARC President

The ARC Conference Committee recently brainstormed ideas for workshops and tour stops. There are some definite “knowns,” including the dates – June 18-20. The historic Phillips Hotel in downtown Kansas City will serve as the conference venue.

Lobby of the Hotel Phillips.

The board meeting is slated for Tuesday, with a reception at AdFarm for those in town by late afternoon. A day of learning via ARC workshops will be held Wednesday and will include the Hall of Fame Luncheon, as well as an evening reception at Sage offices. We thank both Kansas City marketing communications agencies for stepping up during our meeting with receptions for our members. Tours will be offered on Thursday, followed by the venerable Golden ARC Awards Banquet.

Some ideas have developed, but they are not set in stone. These ideas include:

Tour ideas include:

More ideas will come and some may change or develop, but the committee has our members’ interests in mind. We want to offer a unique, professional and educational conference that is not only informative but also enjoyable. Stay tuned for details in the spring ARC newsletter or in your e-mail inbox.

The committee is thinking of themes, but if you have a great one revolving around Kansas City and ag public relations, please share! E-mail ideas to cowcamp@vcn.com or kristymach@gandgcomm.com.


ARC Establishes Endowment; Embarks on Plan to Better Secure Organization’s Financial Future

 Charleston|Orwig, Gardner & Gardner Communications make 10-year commitment to ARC Scholarship and Internship Programs

Since the 1950s the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has existed to serving the unique needs of public relations professionals working in agriculture, food, fiber and other related industries. ARC, as its members all know, is the conduit for problem-solving, idea-sharing and collaboration among members, who share a passion for excellence in public relations.

To better secure the future of ARC, the organization has created an endowment and beginning a plan to fund it. And it is pleased to announce that Charleston|Orwig and Gardner & Gardner Communications are the first two marketing communications companies that have committed to support this effort.

Lyle Orwig, Charleston|Orwig

Lyle E. Orwig is contributing $5,000 per year for 10 years for the ARC/ Charleston|Orwig Scholarship Program. G&G is increasing its current commitment to the ARC/Gardner & Gardner Communications Internship Program from $3,000 to $5,000 per year for the next 10 years as well.

These are just two of the ARC programs designed to promote careers in ag public relations that are being endowed. There are many other opportunities listed below for other to consider that will help ensure the long-term future of ARC and its programs and activities.

“I’m happy to have been so blessed in my 45 years in the PR & marketing business that I’m in a position to be able to provide a long-running scholarship. As I begin to scale back in my day-to-day agency work with my two great partners shouldering the bulk of the agency management the agency and our conversion to becoming 100% employee owned through an ESOP, I hope that this scholarship and my continuing involvement in ARC will help bring more talent into the ag industry,” said C|O Founding Partner Lyle E. Orwig. “ARC has been an important part of professional improvement for the industry and my professional development. I’m encouraging other veterans and organizations of this great industry to step up as well to leave a legacy.”

Den Gardner, president of G&G and also executive director of ARC, said: “We’ve only just begun. We are going to attract more legacy members that have a legacy with ARC through some other programs. I’ve been working in ag PR since 1975. I guess it’s time to give a little back for a great career. And my wife Sandy worked in ag for more than four decades (Syngenta and its legacy companies, plus a stint at an ag retailer location for 5+ years) and is now retired. Ag has been our life and lifeblood. A great ride!”

In the early years of the endowment, funds will be used to grant the annual scholarship and provide the dollars for the intern each year for ARC. The remainder of the dollars will be put in the endowment and grow to eventually fund the programs in perpetuity.

“This is a great start to secure the long-term viability, sustainability and vitality of ARC,” said Rebecca Colnar, president of the ARC board of directors. “We are thrilled with this news and are eager to continue the growth of ARC by enlisting other partners. “We encourage other ag public relations professionals and companies to consider contributing to our foundation, which is a 501c3 non-profit. ARC can’t say enough thanks to these supporters for their generosity and vision.”

Ideas to Consider

In the next six months, Gardner and Orwig will contact interested persons and groups about long-term funding for many of its programs and events. There are several ongoing activities and options from which to choose or create.

Gardner & Gardner Communications is celebrating its 10th anniversary of managing ARC in 2019. Through its work with the board of directors, it has accomplished much to bring the organization back from near extinction to a much brighter and better future by bringing value to our members through professional development, networking, recognition/rewards for great PR work through the Golden ARC awards and much more. For example:

Any individual or company interested in contributing to the ARC Foundation Endowment but not specifically tied to a program would of course be welcome to contribute funds as well.

The structure for what will be considered a grant to the foundation to endow other programs is:

The goals over the next few years, Colnar explained are clear:

ARC has never been a large organization in terms of numbers. It’s always been about quality of membership and it has made a large impact since the 1950s with quality members from throughout the country. It has often operated on what one might call a “shoestring budget.” Colnar noted, keeping with that metaphor: “We’d like to add at least one or two pair of shoes to the organization.”

For more information on how to begin an endowment with ARC, please contact Executive Director Den Gardner at: arc@gandgcomm.com.


Many Reasons to Renew Your ARC Membership for 2019

By Kyle Wieskus, Membership Director

Have you delayed renewing your ARC membership? There are many reasons to renew in 2019. Join the more than 120 members who are committed to excellence in agricultural public relations.

Some of the things to look forward to as an ARC member in 2019:

Renewing memberships as a group provides tremendous savings for your organization. Perhaps this year, you’ll even consider increasing your organization’s presence in ARC by adding more members. And we have made that even easier to do by continuing our Young Professionals Program again for 2019.  With every two paid memberships from an organization, you get a FREE Young Professional membership! (YP must be 35 years or younger).  ARC membership is $190 per year for the first member and $115 for the second and all subsequent members.  Now, with the Free YP program – you can get 3 memberships for only $305! Please contact Membership Director, Kyle Wieskus at kylewieskus@gandgcomm.com to take advantage of the Young Professional program.

ARC will also continue to offer the special $100 rate to state Farm Bureau or Commodity Group Members. Please note that online registration and payment at this special $100 rate is not available.  Please contact me, Kyle Wieskus, membership director, directly at kylewieskus@gandgcomm.com.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the ARC office with any questions about your membership. We look forward to having you on board again in 2019.


ARC and NAMA Collaborate for Successful Meet-up at NAFB’s TradeTalk

As many of our PR professionals know, NAFB’s Trade Talk consists of long hours and lots of running on behalf of employers or clients. That is one reason ARC joined the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) to co-sponsor a reception for the organizations’ hardworking members and prospects. Nearly a hundred professionals attended the late afternoon reception, held Wednesday November 7 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.

This was the second annual cocktail hour hosted for ARC and NAMA members.  ARC’s official photographer, Deron Johnson of FLM Harvest, snapped a few photos of the successful meet-up.

ARC and NAMA meet-up at NAFB.
Deron Johnson, FLM Harvest; Sally Behringer, MustangRED Communications; Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Calling all Students! ARC Seeks Internship and Scholarship Applicants

The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) is pleased to announce year five of its scholarship program for college students studying ag communications. The organization, through its foundation and a grant from Charleston|Orwig, will grant one, $1,500 scholarship for the 2019-2020 school year. The scholarship is funded through the ARC Foundation thanks to donations from many members and hall of fame recipients.

Students will have until March 15, 2019, to submit their applications. Notices of the scholarship program will be sent to universities in January announcing the program, and will also contact the Ag Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) students through its state chapters.

Click here for more details on the ARC Scholarship.

Maddie Bezner, the 2018 ARC intern at NCBA.

The internship is unique in ag communications in that it is a collaboration of the organization (ARC) and the host company. The ARC portion of the funding comes from a grant from Gardner & Gardner Communications to the ARC Foundation. ARC will coordinate the internship program and selection.

For more details on the internship, click here.

 


2019 Golden ARC Awards

Deadline to enter is April 12, 2019.

It’s time to start thinking about your best work from 2018. The Golden ARC Awards contest will be open before you know it. The Golden ARC Awards contest honors the stellar work created by professionals in the agricultural industry.  The format and requirements for the Golden ARC Awards are similar to other leading PR awards programs, based on best practices for public relations and public affairs campaigns and tactics.

2018 Golden ARC Award Winners at the ARC Annual Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky.

Entries may be submitted until April 12, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Entry fee per CAMPAIGN category is $125 and per TACTIC category is $75.

Winners will gather and share in their accolades at the ARC annual meeting, June 18-20 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Golden ARC de Excellence award for the best all-around entry in the campaigns division will also be presented at the awards dinner.

The Golden ARC Awards Program began in 1990 and came to be recognized as the most esteemed award in the agricultural public relations industry. The restructured Contest reflects the many hats worn by today’s PR practitioner – with categories recognizing everything from full campaigns to tactics such as media relations and innovative new uses of social media.

The Golden ARC Awards contest honors the stellar work created by professionals in the agricultural industry.  The format and requirements for the Golden ARC Awards are similar to other leading PR awards programs, based on best practices for public relations and public affairs campaigns and tactics.

For more information, check out the Golden ARC Awards page.