2020 January/February Newsletter

January/February 2020  Volume 14  Number 1


AgGateway 2020

Plans for Driving Digital Solutions

AgGateway enters 2020 energized by a number of exciting enhancements, including:

  • New staff: a Portfolio Manager, Content Manager, Administrative Assistant, and Member Relations Director (to be announced later this month), which have been added to accelerate and enhance AgGateway activities in promoting the industry’s transition to digital ag.
  • A refreshed website, that reflects our global scope, cross-sector activities and new organizational structure.
  • Global reach that now includes the European and Latin American regional groups, with interest in other geographic regions, as well.
Read more >


Member Services

Ready to Meet in 2020? Contact Us!

As you know, AgGateway has made several changes in 2020 to enable quick, efficient work while taking some of the administrative burden off our member volunteers. One such administrative task is scheduling and kicking off AgGateway conference calls. These include committee, working group and task force calls, as well as “Meet-Ups” to discuss new pain points or ideas. Read more >


Staff

Welcome Eric Hinsdale and Kimberly Chauche

AgGateway is excited to welcome two new staff members: Eric Hinsdale as Content Manager; and Kimberly Chauche as Administrative Assistant.  Read more >


Digital Education

Videos of OATS Sessions on Python, Blockchain, and Rural Networking Now Available

Purdue University's Open Ag Systems and Technologies (OATS) center made three educational presentations at the 2019 Annual Conference in November. These presentations covered a variety of topics such as: data wrangling in Python; the when, why, and how around Blockchain; a new OATS invention called oblivious smart contracts; and the need for a new take on rural networking that leverages peer-to-peer networks and embraces the dynamics of such a network. All of the sessions were recorded and are available to the entire AgGateway network here. Read more >


Ron Farrell (right) with AgGateway President Wendy Smith and Chief Technology Officer Jim Wilson

In Remembrance

Ron Farrell (1943-2020)

Many of you knew Ron Farrell, a key driver of the founding of AgGateway, its first president, and a tireless advocate for AgGateway’s mission. We were so sorry to learn of Ron’s passing in late January.

Ron was always positive, and an energetic and inspirational presence. As his colleague Steve Watts wrote, “Ron’s profound impact on each of us was not merely the result of his considerable skill, charisma, and boundless energy, it was also the result of the genuine interest he took in each of us and our future success. Nothing Ron Farrell ever did was about him; it was always about what was possible and what could be accomplished, together.” Read more >