It’s Simple
NAFDMA’s Celebrate Excellence Program is designed to satisfy 3 primary objectives toward NAFDMA’s goals for Innovation, Education, Participation and Networking:

   1. Stimulate Peer Learning – They promote the sharing of ideas, innovations, strategies, and favored practices in an interactive environment.

   2. Celebrate Excellence – The contests recognize creativity, reward hard work and highlight best practices as determined by NAFDMA peers through a ballot process.

   3. Advance Best Practices - Through the process of review and voting, all NAFDMA Conference attendees observe various approaches to the same objective, analyze their own favorite    examples, and tune-in to adaptations that will work for their business. Top vote getters of several contests will be asked to give presentations at the conference the following year. Relevant conference programming is ensured through meaningful input from the entire Convention Membership; it advances best practices in our industry by promoting more detailed discussion and modeling the most excellent industry examples.

How it works

• a).  Celebrate Excellance Contests are featured on Participation Day, hand-in-hand with the Trade Show.  Each entry will be assigned a number and voting will be by ballot.  Ballots are supplied for all attendees in the Convention Yearbook upon registration.
• b).  All Participation Day attendees will have the opportunity to review the entries and vote for their favorite entries beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
• c).  Ballots will be counted.  Each Contest will have one winner and two honorable mentions.  The top three vote getters in each contest will be displayed on Education Day and on Innovation Day.
• d).  The Winners and Honorable Mentions in each category will be presented during the NAFDMA Celebrate Excellance Luncheon held on Innovation Day.
• e).  Many thanks to those who have devoted time to serve on NAFMA's Membership Participation Team to support the success of the Celebrate Excellance Program, several of whom will also serve as volunteer contest facilitators.  They are Anna Lyles, Debbie Pifer, Eric Pohlshneider, Carolyn Raasch, Becky Walters, Kim Kuipers, Wade Kuipers, and Bill Bakan.

How To Enter – Two Options
Contest entries (with the exception of web site) may be hand delivered on Arrival Day when you register for your bus tour. Entry forms will be available at the registration table. All items must be entered by 9:00 p.m. Friday, February 5, 2010 in order to be included in the contests. No late entries accepted.
OR
Entries may be submitted by mail or delivery to the NAFDMA Office for RECEIPT NO LATER than January 20, 2010.
Mail or ship to:
NAFDMA Celebrates Excellence
62 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073

Contests and Details
   1.  Website - Honorable Mentions:  Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Swank Farms Produce and Center Grove Orchards
               Winner:  The Rock Ranch

• Enter your website by sending an email to Charlie@WhiteLoafRidge.com no later than January 6, 2010.
• Include the specific URL for entry.
• All entries will be broadcast to NAFDMA members in one Email blast in January for preliminary voting.
• The top 5 preliminary vote getters will then be notified and invited to present their web site at the Website Contest Session facilitated by Eric Pohlschneider.
• The 5 finalists will be presented and voted on during the Web Site Contest Session on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9 at 11:00 a.m. in the Trade Show area.

   2.  Radio Jingle and Tag Line - Honorable Mentions:  Trunnel's Farm Market and Mesilla Valley Maze
               Winner:  Swank Farm Produce

• Enter 2 audio CD's or DVD's of your farm's radio commercial including Jingle and Tag Line. (30 second maximum)
• Be prepared to present and discuss your entry at the Radio Jingle and Tag Line Contest Session facilitated by Debbie Pifer.
• All entries will be presented and voted on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. in the Trade Show area.

   3.  TV Commercial - Honorable Mentions:  Swank Farms Produce, Fly Creek Cider Mill and Bellewood Acres
               Winner:  Tate Farms

• Enter two DVD's of yur best TV commercial. (You are responsible for your DVD's being compatible with standard DVD players.)
• Be prepared to present and discuss your entry at the TV Commercial Session facilitated by Anna Lyles.
• All entries will be presented and voted on during the TV Commercial Contest Session on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the Trade Show area.

   4.  Maze Design - Honorable Mentions:  The Rock Ranch and Treinen Farm
               Winner:  Anderson Farms

• Enter an 8x10 aerial photo of your 2009 maze design.
• All entries will be posted together on a display board in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, February 9.
• Maze Design contest facilitated by Eric Pohlschneider.

   5.  Brochure/Rack Card - Honorable Mentions:  Westview Orchards and Stokoe Farms
               Winner:  Howell Family Farm

• Enter two copies of your brochure or rack card that promotes your farm as a whole.
• All entries will be posted together on a display board in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9.
• Brochure/Rack Cards facilitated by Becky Walters.

   6.  Specialty/Promo Literature - Honorable Mentions:  Cherry Crest Adventure Farm and The Rock Ranch
               Winner:  Swank Farms Produce

• Enter 2 copies of anything you print that doesn't fall under Brochure/Rack Card. (You may enter as many different items as you wish.)
• All entries will be posted together on a display board in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, February 9.
• Specialty/Promo Literature Contests facilitated by Becky Walters.

   7.  Cookbook - Honorable Mention:  Carolyn's Country Cousins
               Winner:  Tate Farms

• Enter 2 copies of your cookbook.
• All entries will be displayed together on a tabletop in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9.
• Top 3 vote getters will be asked to give a joint panel presentation at the NAFDMA Conference in 2011.
• Cookbook contest facilitated by Carolyn Raash

   8.  Employee Handbook - Honorable Mentions:  The Rock Ranch and Tate Farms
               Winner:  Krause Berry Farms

• Enter 2 copies of your employee handbook or manual.
• All entries will be posted together on a table top in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9.
• Top 3 vote getters will be asked to give a joint panel presentation at the NAFDMA Conference in 2011.
• Employee Handbook Contest facilitated by Carolyn Raasch

   9.  School Tours - Honorable Mention:  Bowman Orchards
               Winner:  Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center

• Submit your intent on Arrival Day during Bus Tour Registration.
• Be prepared to set up a display of your Educational Materials with flair on Monday, February 8 after the bus tours return.
• All entries will be displayed together in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9.
• Top 3 vote getters will be asked to give a joint panel presentation at the NAFDMA Conference in 2011.
• School Tour Contest facilitated by Anna Lyles.

   10.  Something from Nothing (Return on Investment) - Honorable Mentions:  Fly Creek Cider Mill and Carolyn's Country Cousins
               Winner:  Swank Farms Produce
What are your best ideas using found objects and spending $100 or less?  Have they brought you more income or simply added to the enjoyment on your farm?  Bring the objects if possible, or    provide photos and information.  You may enter as many different items as you wish.

• Submit your intent to enter on Arrival Day during Bus Tour Registration.
• Be prepared to set up a display of your innovative idea with flair on Monday, February 8 after the bus tours return.
• All entries will be displayed together in the Trade Show area on Participation Day, Tuesday, February 9.
• Top 3 vote getters will be asked to give a joint panel presentation at the NAFDMA Conference in 2011.
• Something for Nothing Contest facilitated by Debbie Pifer 

 BEST of SHOW   - Winner - Swank's Farm Produce
NAFDMA rewards participation and consistency in excellence. 

After all the votes are counted, and all the contests are tallied. our Celebrate Excellence Contest Committee will determine NAFDMA’s 2010 Best of Show. This award will be presented to the NAFDMA Farm Member that makes the biggest impact of Participation, Education and Innovation through our Celebrate Excellence Program based on our three objectives to stimulate learning, celebrate excellence, and advance best practices.

The Recipient of the 2010 Best of Show Award is determined by a simple mathematical formula. 
      • 1 point is rewarded for each and every entry into any Contest Category.
      • 2 points are rewarded for each Honorable Mention in every Contest Category.
      • 3 points are rewarded for each Winner in every Contest Category.

The Best of Show Award will be presented at the Celebrate Excellence Luncheon held on Innovation Day, Thursday, February 11, 2010.