Agricultural Relations Council Annual Meeting
2023 ARC Annual Meeting
June 13-15, 2023
Des Moines, Iowa
Register Here
Tuesday, June 13
2:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting – Boardroom, second floor
6:00 p.m. Welcome reception at hotel bar, Proudfoot & Bird, sponsored by Bader Rutter
7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own
*** All education sessions held in Grand ballroom and meals in Wedgwood ballroom – both on 2nd floor ***
Wednesday, June 14
8:00 a.m. Breakfast – sponsored by National Association of Farm Broadcasting
Welcome to Iowa, Erin Nash, National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB)
Keynote Speaker: Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Introduce:
McKenna Greco, ARC Intern and Jackie Miller, ARC Scholarship Recipient
9:15 a.m. Education Session I – Overview of Ag Issues in Iowa
Panelists:
Aaron Putze, Chief Officer of Strategy and Brand Management for the Iowa Soybean Association
Emily Ibach, Head of public affairs and state government relations for Pivot Bio
Ben Gleason, Executive Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council
Spencer Vance, Director of Customer Engagement, Albaugh LLC
Moderator: Sally Behringer, President and CEO, MustangRED Communications
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Education Session II – Journalist panel: What Reporters Want from PR Pros
Panelists:
Dustin Hoffmann, Supervising Editor/Farm Broadcaster, Iowa Agribusiness|Radio Network
Gil Gullickson, Regional Editor, The Furrow
Mark Dorenkamp, Anchor/Reporter, Brownfield
Moderator: Lori Hallowell, VP/Director of PR, Bader Rutter
Noon Lunch
2023 Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame Induction
Sponsored by AgriMarketing
Deron Johnson, Curious Plot and Janice Person, Grounded Communications LLC
1:30 p.m. Education Session III – Building Blocks of Crisis Communication
Panelists:
Cindy Cunningham, PR Managing Supervisor, Woodruff
Mark Yontz, Strategic Communications Director, Wixted and Company
Leah Daniels, President, NewsWorks
Moderator: Sally Behringer, President and CEO, MustangRED Communications
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Education Session IV – Social Media Best Practices
Panelists:
Avery Amensen, Sr. Public Relations Consultant, Flynn Wright
Devin Benish, Digital Media Manager, Iowa Soybean
Mallory Cates, Digital Marketing Analyst, Blue Compass Interactive
Moderator: Laurie Langstraat, VP of Public Relations, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS)
4:30 p.m. ARC Business Meeting
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour – Wedgewood Mezzanine
6:30 p.m. Golden ARC Awards Banquet – Wedgewood
Thursday, June 15
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast – Proudfoot & Bird – sponsored by Curious Plot
8:00 a.m. Depart by bus
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Des Moines Water Works
10:00 – 11:15 a.m. World Food Prize Facility
12:15 – 2:00 p.m. Wills Family Orchard, box lunch catered by Kue’d, sponsored by NCIS
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Stine Seeds Company
4:45 – 6:00 p.m. Big Grove Brewery, brief tour, beverages and appetizers
Sponsored by MustangRED Communications
HOTEL INFORMATION
Hotel Fort Des Moines
1000 Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
$149/night + taxes
The hotel cut-off date is 5/30/2023
WHERE GREAT STORIES UNFOLD
Step back into history and celebrate the return of an icon, where worldly wanderers gather and visionaries find inspiration. Stay where celebrities like Elvis and Johnny Cash once stayed before taking the stage at sold out shows. Where John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson once ate dinner and met on domestic policy. Founded in 1919 to rival the greatest hotels of the era, Hotel Fort Des Moines is a perfectly preserved landmark where history is both celebrated and made.
For a century, the hotel has stood as a beacon amid the Des Moines community, delighting a world-class guest list. Through sedulous efforts, it has been thoughtfully transformed and meticulously preserved, from the retro light fixtures adorning the rooms and gathering spaces, to the ornate furnishings that reflect the hotel’s origins. This iconic destination, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, beckons distinguished guests and curious travelers from across the globe, celebrating a storied past while anticipating the myriad of stories yet to unfold.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact:
Sandra O’Rourke
sandra@cornerwindowcommunications.com
952-758-5811