By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Telling Your Story is the theme of the Illinois Commodity Conference, set for Nov. 23, at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington.

Reservations are still being accepted for the event, which brings together the state’s various producers and the trade associations that represent them for a yearly exchange of ideas, and the rekindling of old friendships and partnerships.

This year’s conference will run from registration at 7:30 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m. It features a special emphasis on social media and a producer’s role in “authoring, illustrating, editing and publishing” their own farming story rather than allowing others “to present an image or story of their own creation,” according to Ron Moore, board chair for the Illinois Soybean Assoc. (ISA).

The annual gathering will commence with a networking session in the Center’s exhibit hall, where commodity groups and leading agribusinesses will promote themselves through informational booths and exhibits. At 10 a.m., “Who Are Illinois Farmers?” will be presented, featuring “farmer image data” designed to increase consumer confidence in American producers.

Speakers will take the stage beginning at 11:30 a.m. and continue until around 3 p.m., with an awards luncheon from 12:30-2 p.m. Featured speaker Michele Payn Knoper, a motivational trainer with Cause Matters Corp., will offer farmers a remedial course in entering into conversations with non-farm audiences via social media at 11:30.

In addition, David Martosko, research director at the Center for Consumer Freedom, will provide an update on what farming sees as anti-agriculture activities of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and encourage producers to stand united by using blogs and other social media tools. Martosko will speak during the awards luncheon.

Rounding out the featured speakers is Jim Wiesemeyer, agriculture policy and trade expert with Memphis-based Informa Economics. Wiesemeyer will offer insights on the current political climate and suggest ways in which producers can cause change, beginning at 2 p.m.

“The emphasis of this year’s Commodity Conference is on farmers doing a better job communicating with our customers – the grocery buyers – about how we provide them with a safe and plentiful food supply,” said Doug Winter, ISA board treasurer and a member of the conference planning committee.

“The HSUS and other animal rights groups are spreading some untrue, off-the-wall stories about modern agriculture.”

Winter said the theme of this year’s Commodity Conference serves to spotlight and enhance ISA’s initiative in conjunction with the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA), known as the Farmer Imaging Campaign.

“The imaging campaign is targeted at getting more farmers comfortable with communicating directly with the people who buy our products, in essence in the more urban areas,” he said. “We felt this year we would provide a means for (speakers) to come in and provide background on different ways to accomplish this, and the different issues we might be discussing with our customers.”

The conference is a joint venture between the ISA, ICGA, Illinois Beef Assoc., Illinois Milk Producers Assoc., Illinois Pork Producers Assoc. and Illinois Wheat Assoc. Winter said the coalition of producers’ associations meet in person or via conference call every winter to discuss possible themes for the following year’s commodity conference.

“We review what the most pressing issues are that affect the ag community. We strive for topics that provide the most value to producers,” said Winter, who also serves as District 16 director for the ISA.

Conference organizers describe the meeting’s mission as the promotion of leadership and cooperation among Illinois’ ag commodity groups, the enhancement of market opportunities and the education of producers.

Registration for the 2010 Illinois Commodity Conference is $90 and includes lunch. For more information or to register, call 309-557-3703.

A brochure for the conference may be downloaded at www.ilsoy.org