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

Contests Categories and Details

Attention Members! All contests are now open for entry!

NAFDMA's Membership Participation Team has worked this year to create some exciting new contest categories and fine-tune the entry details on some old stand-by's. Put the work of your farm's creative staff up against the best examples of marketing and implementation that NAFDMA farms have to offer. Celebrate Excellence Contests are featured on Participation Day at the annual convention, hand-in-hand with the Trade Show. All Participation Day attendees will have the opportunity to review the entries and vote for their choice of the best entry in each contest category. 

Best Website (Presented during a Session)

• Enter your website by sending an email to Virginia Schwarzenbach no later than January 6, 2012 - pre-entry is now closed
• Include the specific URL for the entry
• All entries will be broadcast to NAFDMA members in one email blast in January for preliminary voting.
• The top 5 vote getters will then be notified and invited to present their website at the Website Contest Session
• The final websites presented will be voted on at the conclusion of the session

Best Television Commercial or YouTube Video (Presented during a Session)

• Enter 2 DVDs with audio of your farm's TV Commercial or provide the link to your You Tube Video that you link from your web site. (Not one created by customers.)
• Be prepared to present and discuss your entry at the Contest Session
• All entries presented will be voted on at the conclusion of the session

Best Radio Spot (Presented during a Session)

• Enter 2 DVD's of your Radio Advertisement
• Be prepared to present and discuss your entry at the Contest Session
• All entries will be presented and voted on at the conclusion of the session

Best Maze Design (Presented on a Posting Board)

• Enter an 8 x 10 aerial photo of your 2011 maze design. Only the most recent season's designs will be allowed for competition entered by the maze owner
• All entries will be posted on a display board in the Trade Show area on Participation Day

Best Brochure or Printed Material* (Presented on a Posting Board)
     * Any printed new material that is used for advertising a facility, or marketing to potential customers will be considered.

• ONLY ONE ENTRY PER FARM/BUSINESS FOR THIS CATEGORY
• ONLY enter samples that were produced in 2011
• One copy of the literature or brochure will be judged by the membership.

Best New Event (Presented on a Posting Board)

• Any fair, festival or celebration (in existence for less than one year) that presents a creative and unique activity
• Photos and a one-page description of the event, its development, any marketing, or the uniqueness of the event will be provided by the contestant on which the membership can vote.

Best New Attraction (Presented on a Posting Board)

• Includes attractions that have been in existence for less than one year
• Entertainment and/or educational value, marketing and public relations, and overall contribution to the community or the facility will be considered
• Photos and a one-page description will be on display at the conference on which the membership can vote

Best Employee Appreciation Award (Presented on a Posting Board)

• Give us your best idea of what you did to show your employee(s) how much you appreciate them
• Entries must be typed on less than one page describing the award or how you showed your appreciation to them

Best Something From Nothing (Presented on a Posting Board)

• The item or a photo of the item used must be displayed with a brief narrative on a 3x5 index card accompanying the item or photo which describes the "useless" item and what has been developed from the it
• An approximation of value should be given if it all possible
• Submit your intent to enter on Arrival Day during Bus Tour Registration.

Best Vendor (All Vendors are eligible for this Contest)

• Judging criteria
• Which vendor best helps farm operators to incorporate the product or service into their farm business for success?
• Booth presentation: Integration of company identity in design, graphics and clear message
• Product presentation: displays and good signage
• Booth personnel: professional appearance, engagement with visitors and adequate staffing
• Most votes cast for vendor by membership will determine the BEST VENDOR.

BEST OF SHOW
After all the votes are counted, and all the contests are tallied, our Celebrate Excellence Contest Committee will determine NAFDMA's 2012 Best of Show. This award will be presented to the NAFDMA Member that makes the biggest impact of Participation, Education and Innovation through our Celebrate Excellence Program based on our 3 objectives:

1. Stimulation of Learning
2. Celebration of Excellence
3. Advancing of Best Practices.

The recipient of the 2012 Best of Show Award is determined by the following formula:
1 point is awarded for each and every entry into any contest category.
2 points are awarded for each Honorable Mention in any contest category.
3 points are awarded to the Winner in each contest category.

NOTE: Best of Show Trophy is Awarded to the highest points recipient who has not won the trophy in a previous year. The Best of Show winner will be presented at the Celebrate Excellence Luncheon held on Innovation Day.

GENERAL CONTEST RULES

Eligibility: Contests are open to all current NAFDMA members who properly meet all entry requirements. Attendance to the convention is not required for entry into the poster board display categories. Attendance is required for the live session and table top display categories. The NAFDMA Membership Participation Team reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the criteria for the specific contest.

Judging Criteria: Each entry will be assigned a number and voting will be by paper ballot. Ballots are supplied for all convention attendees upon registration. You must attend Participation Day to vote. Ballots will be counted by NAFDMA's Membership Participation Team volunteer contest facilitators. The top three vote getters in each contest will be displayed on Education Day and on Innovation Day.

Prizes: Winners and Honorable Mentions in each category will be presented during the NAFDMA Celebrate Excellence Luncheon held on Innovation Day. The winner and two honorable mentions in each category will receive a rosette ribbon to honor their accomplishment. Winners will be the focus of a press release from the NAFDMA Office.

Submission and Deadlines - There are two options for entry.

1. Contest entries (with the exception of website) may be submitted by mail or delivery to the NAFDMA Office for receipt no later than February 1, 2012. Include a note with your membership name (farm or business) and which contest you are entering. This option must be used if you are not attending bus tour registration. Mail or ship to:
   NAFDMA - 2012 Contest Entry
   62 Whiteloaf Road
   Southampton, MA 01073
     
2. Entries may be hand delivered on Arrival Day, Friday, Feb. 10 when you register for your bus tour. All items must be entered by 9:00 p.m. in order to be included in the contests.

NO LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED.