A nationwide organization, the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) consists of 23 local professional chapters of agri-marketing professionals with more than 3,000 professional and student members.
Members come from firms marketing products and services to farmers; advertising and marketing communications agencies; media (including farm publications, radio and television stations and newspapers); associations; and individuals providing services to the agribusiness marketing executive.
Student NAMA chapters, with 1,300+ members from more than 30 chapters at leading universities and colleges, comprise an important part of NAMA's membership.
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) serves the food & fiber industry, focusing on our members' professional development by providing access to solutions and opportunities in agribusiness.
To learn first-hand from professionals in marketing, advertising, communications, promotion, sales, public relations, etc., about the various career opportunities available in agri-marketing. Students are then in a better position to select a career that best fits their interests and talents.
To develop valuable personal contacts and working relations between students and agri-marketing professionals. These contacts provide access to internships, co‑op programs, job interviews, referrals, business recommendations and career opportunities. In some student chapters, students have access to a mentor program.
To provide meaningful opportunities for students to practice their managerial skills (planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and controlling) and to demonstrate their leadership abilities.
To attend the monthly professional chapter meetings, seminars and social events and to assist various professional chapter chairs in planning and implementing chapter projects. These meetings provide students the opportunity to become highly visible as prospects for employment after graduation.
To attend the annual Agri-Marketing Conference, and to participate in activities including the National Marketing Competition, the Sales Competition, John Deere Signature Award, Innovative Ideas and various Scholarship Awards. Attending the NAMA Conference provides students with an opportunity to establish personal contacts with marketing professionals throughout the United States and Canada. These contacts are valuable sources for career opportunities.
To assist in making the transition from being a student to becoming a business professional.
Just as professional NAMA chapters must meet criteria to retain national affiliation, so must student NAMA chapters. Specific requirements are outlined in the next section, but a well-developed chapter plan goes a long way in creating a viable and enthusiastic student NAMA chapter.
Set Goals (reminder: these are for the current academic year)
Officers and advisors for the student chapter should meet early in the year and establish goals. Be as specific as possible. Most successful chapters seem to zero in on five items:
1) programs
2) attendance/involvement from members
3) membership growth
4) special projects
5) fundraising
You are encouraged to use the many resources available to establish and meet your goals. Consider involving the local Student NAMA professional chair and agribusiness professionals in your area.
Once you have a plan, share the plan with members and ask for their support. Ask them to serve on a committee, explain your group's goals and encourage them to use their initiative to help accomplish goals for a specific area.
Chapter Programs
Chapter programs should supply students with the opportunity to explore various career paths of agri-marketing and polish their job hunting skills.
Mentor Program
Students explore career opportunities one-on-one with professionals in agri-marketing through a mentor program. Programs usually are developed in conjunction with the sponsoring professional chapter.
Career Fair/Day
Representatives of agribusiness firms are invited to campus to create awareness of internships and career opportunities as well as to recruit employees. This program also can be a fundraiser.
Interview/Résumé Clinic
Professionals are brought to campus to help coach members on interview techniques and résumé preparation.
Student Marketing Competition
The greatest highlight and learning experience for many student chapters is participating in the marketing competition at the annual National Agri-Marketing Conference.
Chapters prepare and present a complete marketing plan from concept through execution. Guidelines for this program are in the Student Chapter Marketing Competition Guidelines section.
Student Sales Competition
2019 was the inaugural year of the National Agri-Marketing Association Collegiate Sales Competition. The NAMA Sales Competition is a basic sales call skills challenge for individual competition. It seeks to advance the practice and professionalism of selling and the sales profession.
John Deere Signature Awards
This program, which started in 2007, recognizes student chapters whose activities encourage student excellence in business knowledge, academic excellence, leadership development and community outreach.
Innovative Ideas
The Outstanding Student Chapter program was replaced, effective with the 2018-19 academic year, with "Innovatie Idea." Award-winning ideas will be posted to the Student NAMA Web Site. Awards are presented annually for innovative plans/activities.
Each chapter shares a minimum of two ideas from the current academic year following specific guidelines included in the Innovative Idea Guidelines section. A minimum of two submitted ideas is required to maintain accreditation and participate in the Student Marketing Competition.
NAMA Foundation Scholarships
Each year a number of scholarships are awarded to Student NAMA members. These are outlined in the Scholarship section.
Student and Student Advisor Code of Conduct
When representing a NAMA student chapter at official NAMA events, students and advisors are expected to:
If the Code of Conduct is violated, the NAMA Executive Committee may impose one or more of the following sanctions at its discretion:
Student NAMA chapters must meet accreditation requirements each academic year to retain their national affiliation and must complete all requirements in order to participate in the Student Marketing Competition.
Requirement due by October 15, 2019:
Information on all current student members and advisor(s) submitted via the online form (https://www.formstack.com/admin/form/builder/2463246). (Idea: share the link with students during a chapter meeting and have them enter their information and submit the form.) Recommended minimum is 20 members. If less than 20 members, a chapter plan for increasing membership must be submitted.
Requirements due by November 20, 2019:
1) List of chapter goals for the current academic year.
2) Student chapter dues - $500. To pay online: https://nama.formstack.com/forms/nama_student_chapter_dues_payment.
3) Name of qualified advisor. (See job description)
4) List of department deans, including titles and mailing addresses.
5) Letter from a college dean or department head stating that NAMA is a recognized student organization on campus.
6) Letter from professional chapter president or Student NAMA chair agreeing to sponsor student chapter. Not applicable for student chapters that are not located near a professional chapter.
7) Must submit published bylaws for initial year of accreditation (new chapters only).
Requirements due by February 20, 2020:
1) Submit at least two Student Chapter Innovative Ideas (https://nama.org/student-nama-chapter-innovative-idea-awards)
2) Permanent addresses and emails of 2019-20 graduating seniors.
New Chapters
Newly established Student NAMA chapters must be ratified by NAMA's National Board of Directors. This process generally takes place at the board meeting held in conjunction with the Agri-Marketing Conference in April. A national director from your sponsoring professional chapter should be prepared to submit the student chapter's petition.
All accreditation requirements must be met. It is the responsibility of the student chapter to verify that all materials have been received by the national office. If accreditation requirements are not met, that student chapter wll not be allowed to compete in the Student NAMA Marketing Competition.
Forward Accreditation Materials to:
Student NAMA Liaison/Debbie Brummel
National Agri-Marketing Association
11020 King Street, Suite 205
Overland Park , KS 66210
Phone: (913) 491-6500
Email: debbieb@nama.org
The success factors in building a viable, dynamic student chapter are the elected officers, professional chapter Student NAMA chairs, advisors and an active National Student NAMA Committee.
The other key factors in building a successful chapter include developing an effective leadership and committee structure. Chapter officers often serve as committee chairs.
The executive committee should assign all committees specific responsibilities, written objectives, a timetable for completion and follow-up on their progress. In developing a committee structure, the chapter will be able to:
1) Participate in a greater number of viable projects and activities.
2) Give more students an opportunity to become actively involved in the chapter.
3) Concentrate time, effort and expertise on the projects and activities that are integral to the chapter's success.
4) Become a serious contender for the Innovative Ideas Awards.
Each committee should consist of a chair or elected officer, who should select two to four additional committee members to assist in successfully completing the project or activity.
Student Officers and Chairs
Student officers and committee chairs should be career-oriented, high achievers interested in managing and directing the organization. They must be willing to devote time and effort to making the students’ membership a meaningful, productive experience.
Normally, the officers include:
President
Vice President(s)
Secretary
Treasurer
Ag Board Representative or Student Senate Representative
Promotion/Publicity Chair
Advisor
It is important to recognize that a student's primary responsibility is to his/her studies and, secondly, to those extra-curricular activities that are interesting and meaningful in building a successful career and a dynamic Student NAMA chapter. It is recommended chapter officers be elected in March for the coming year so the summer may be used for planning.
Depending on the size of the membership, the scope of the chapter's projects and activities planned for the year, and the time officers have available, it may be necessary to elect an additional one or two vice presidents or appoint additional committee chairs. These individuals could manage and coordinate the activities of major committees to insure that sufficient time and effort are available to successfully complete all chapter projects and activities.
Whether or not additional officers or committee chairs are needed will be apparent once the present officers have finalized the chapter's planned projects and activities for the year. If additional officers are needed, they can be elected at the next regular chapter meeting.
It is recommended chapter officers and committee chairs use the time they have available for NAMA in leadership capacity rather than attempting to perform all major functions themselves.
The following sample job descriptions for officers and committee chairs were developed as examples of ways to share the responsibility of managing a successful chapter and involving many chapter members and can be altered to fit an individual chapter's needs.
Objective:
To provide overall direction and leadership to the student chapter, making membership in the NAMA chapter a meaningful and productive experience for all members.
Responsibilities:
Objective:
To provide the leadership and creative direction essential to the student chapter's growth and retention of members.
Responsibilities:
A free student recruitment brochure is available from the national office. Request the number of copies you need from Debbie Brummel, debbieb@nama.org.
Membership Ideas:
Objective:
To provide leadership and creative direction for programs that will build a dynamic, career-oriented student chapter with a meaningful purpose for members.
Responsibilities:
Suggested Program Topics:
Objective:
To provide the leadership and coordination essential to developing the chapter's marketing plan. To create a meaningful learning experience for those involved.
Responsibilities:
Objective:
To provide leadership and direction in keeping chapter records and developing the chapter's annual report.
Responsibilities:
All student chapters must submit at least two Innovative Ideas to meet acreditation requirements. All accreditation requirements must be met to enter the Marketing Competition and it is the chapter's responsibility to insure that materials are received in the National NAMA office.
Objective:
To provide the leadership and direction essential for building a financially sound chapter with the resources to support student participation in professional chapter and national NAMA activities.
Responsibilities:
Examples of Fund-Raising Projects:
Objective:
To provide leadership and coordination with other departmental clubs building the status of the NAMA chapter as a leading professional group on campus.
Responsibilities:
Objective:
To create awareness of chapter activities and events within the chapter membership, the professional NAMA chapter and the college.
Responsibilities:
Please include these individuals on your mailing list for minutes and newsletters:
Objective:
To be available to the members of the Student NAMA chapter to advise and counsel them on chapter projects and activities.
Responsibilities:
Objective:
To serve as the link between the Student NAMA chapter and its sponsoring professional chapter. The Student NAMA chair has responsibilities to the professional chapter board and the student chapter.
Responsibilities:
Attending Chapter Meetings
Students and advisors should participate in as many professional chapter meetings and events as possible. Many chapters set a lesser student fee for attending professional meetings.
Attending the Agri-Marketing Conference
Each student chapter is encouraged to send as many students as possible to the annual Agri-Marketing Conference. A reasonable student registration rate is provided, and by pooling transportation (vans, buses) the cost can be reduced.
Be sure to offer the services of the student chapter to the president of the professional chapter.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Arizona State University |
Auburn State University Cal Poly - Pomona |
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo
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California State University - Fresno
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Delaware Valley University | Illinois College |
IIllinois State University | Iowa State University |
Kansas State University | Michigan State University |
Mississippi State University | Murray State University |
New Mexico State University | North Dakota State University |
Pennsylvania State University | Purdue University |
Sam Houston State University | South Dakota State University |
State University of New York - Cobleskill | Texas A&M University |
The Ohio State University | University of Delaware |
University of Guelph | University of Illinois |
University of Minnesota | University of Missouri-Columbia |
University of Nebraska - Lincoln | University of Saskatchewan |
University of Tennessee - Knoxville | University of Tennessee - Martin |
University of Wisconsin - Madison | University of Wisconsin - Platteville |
University of Wisconsin - River Falls |
Virginia Polytechnic & State University |