Bringing Drinking Water to Those Who Need It Most | by Michelle Stolte

A Valmont-supported AquaTower in the
Philippines. See more photos here.

If you have been following us for a while, or are friends with us on Facebook, you may recall a promotion we did in 2012 when we first launched our Facebook page. For every “like” we received, we donated a dollar, up to $1,000, to an organization called Planet Water.

We are very lucky to have this amazing non-profit organization, with such a global focus, based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Plant Water’s sole focus is to bring clean drinking water to school children and residents in under-developed communities around the world. This is done by installing water filtration systems, oftentimes at or near schools, in these communities.

But the group doesn’t stop there. In addition to installing filtration systems, Planet Water also creates educational programs on water-health and hygiene, and trains local representatives, so they can continue to train their communities.

Our donation, as well as additional donations from our parent company, Valmont_® Industries, went toward filtration system installations in the Philippines, India, and China. When possible, Valmont employees from our facilities in these regions helped with the installation and even the engineering of the tower that supports the filtration system. 

Planet Water receives donations from large and small organizations, with some of the larger donors including PepsiCo, JP Morgan, Levi Strauss & Co., and Starbucks. The group brings clean drinking water to communities throughout Asia, Pakistan, and the Dominican Republic. 

The cause is noble and one that hits very close to home for those of us working in irrigation, where water, its conservation, and its availability to future generations is what we strive to improve each day.

To learn more about Planet Water or to make a donation, please visit planet-water.org.

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Michelle Stolte Global Marketing Manager Michelle has been at Valley Irrigation for more than 10 years and is finally no longer a newbie! She has spent her entire time at Valley in the Marketing Department (international and domestic) and loves every minute of it. Michelle enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband. She also likes reading, swing dancing (although she isn't really that good...), and warm weather.

Jump into Social Media and Connect With Your Favorite Brands | by Kelly Cox

Does anyone remember MySpace and your default friend Tom? Well, it’s still around, but has essentially become a niche social network for musicians. I’m pretty sure I still have a MySpace account floating around somewhere, but, without knowing it, it was the first social network I ever dabbled in because it was the “cool thing to use in high school.” That…and AOL Instant Messenger. Different topic for another day.

Facebook was released my freshman year in college. At that time, you had to be a college student with a proper .edu email address in order to create and use a Facebook account. As hard as it is to believe, that was nearly 10 years ago, and Facebook is now open to anyone 13 or older.

The point of my brief history lesson is this: social networks have been around way longer than many people realize. They have been paving the way for new methods of communication for 20 years – no, joke, I looked it up (http://www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/NewMedia/SocialMedia/SocialMediaHistory.html)! They are not something to be afraid of; they are something to embrace.

From a marketing perspective, I know that social media is an incredibly valuable tool; it allows us to show you the people behind our brand and prove that we’re not a bunch of robots. Looking at social media as a consumer, I see that it gives me an easy way to connect and engage with the companies and brands that I just love (Starbucks shout out!). Why is this kind of engagement important?

• I am the first to learn about new products and promotions.
• I get exclusive coupons just for engaging with brands on their social network(s) of choice.
• I have an easy way to ask the company a question regarding its products and services.
• I have an easy way to complain to the company regarding its products and services.
• And…(drum roll, please), I get to talk with other people who are just as passionate about that brand as I am, which also allows me to read new product reviews from real people.

There are literally hundreds of social networks that exist today, and not every social network is right for everyone. Different channels allow for different types of messaging, and one of those may be right for you. For those of you who have not yet braved the social media bandwagon, here are a few social networks we suggest you look into first.

• Facebook – delivers pretty much unlimited messaging, including text, pictures, videos, and events. We have found this social platform to be our most engaging (i.e., the place our followers prefer to Like, reshare, and comment on our posts, as well as ask questions about dealerships and employment opportunities). If you are looking for the social network that is your one-stop shop and the place where you may have the most opportunity to make your voice heard, we recommend you join Facebook.
• How are WE using Facebook? We use Facebook to share longer pieces of our news releases and blog posts. This has also become our social network of choice to share photographs.
• Follow Us – www.valleyirrigation.com/Facebook

• Google+ - very much like Facebook, message-wise. If you are a Google junkie, this is the social platform for you!
• How are WE using Google+? We use Google+ much the same way we use Facebook – to share pieces of news, as well as photos and videos. We joined Google+ to cater to those who are hard-core Googlers.
• Follow Us – www.valleyirrigation.com/GooglePlus

• Twitter – delivers very short, to-the-point, real-time messages (called Tweets) that are limited to 140 characters. Many ag companies and ag media use Twitter on a daily basis to share their latest news. If you don’t have a lot of time to poke around the internet, then this may be the social network for you.
• How are WE using Twitter? We use this social network to share real-time updates from our trade shows, as well as news releases, blog posts, and new pictures and videos. We love to share other companies’ Tweets, including many from our own dealers.
• Follow Us – www.valleyirrigation.com/Twitter

• YouTube – delivers video. In fact, it reaches more adults than cable TV, which is no surprise with the invention of the smart TV. If you are a visual learner, we recommend jumping on the YouTube train!
• How are WE using YouTube? To share our videos, of course! We have a plethora of informational videos on our products, as well as irrigation tips and tricks. We have also flagged many ag-related videos we think you will also enjoy.
• Follow Us – www.valleyirrigation.com/YouTube

• Pinterest – delivers pictorial representations of articles, tutorials, and ideas. This is the fastest growing social network today, which is why I wanted to give it a nod. Valley Irrigation is currently not on Pinterest, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking it out! This is a great place to get ideas for your business and personal life, as well as find pictures of ag. Pinterest allows you to create boards that relate to a single topic. So, if you’re the type to organize your thoughts, this may be the place for you to hang out.

Social media offers you a place to engage with the humans behind brands – companies aren’t comprised of a bunch of robots (well, for the most part). Jump on a social network today to communicate with the people behind your favorite brands; make that network your one stop shop to be the first to learn about new products, technology, and promotions. And, you may be surprised just how fun it can truly be.

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Kelly Cox Global Digital Marketing Manager Kelly joined the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing Department in 2008. Her love of all things geek (steampunk furniture, anime, Doctor Who, and science fiction/fantasy literature, just to name a few) helped shape her appreciation for technology and the web. Kelly is a newlywed and new homeowner, where she shares her geekery with her husband. She considers herself a wine connoisseur (though, 3 buck Chuck is delicious!) and has a love of painting, dance, and singing.

Some Dealerships Talk About Service, Valley Dealers Live It | by Shannon Peterson

Our Valley_® dealers are legendary for their service. Often, growers and dealers work together so closely and so well that they become friends, rather than just business associates.

Grower Alex Hawman of Hermiston, OR, recently told a member of the Valley Irrigation marketing team that his dealer is amazing.

“They always answer their phones,” Hawman said. “{And they are] always there. If we have questions, they always come up with an answer. And they’re very easy to work with. Like a friend. They are friends.”

Those kind of testimonials led us to create the “Props to Your Dealer” contest. Although the contest is winding down, there is still time for you to tell us about your Valley dealer.

Check out some of the props we received so far:

My dealer “is the best Valley dealer in South Dakota!!!!!!! Due to his service and on time work."

"I remember chatting last year with [several dealers] and they were such interesting, passionate professionals. I also recall the genuine rapport and respect that [Valley] customers had for their dealers."

Find out which dealers these customers are bragging about and read more #ValleyProps in the Props Gallery. 

Then tell us who your Valley dealer is and why he is the best. 

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Shannon Peterson Marketing Content Editor Shannon joined Valley Irrigation in 2013. She enjoys traveling with her family, particularly to national parks, and she occasionally writes about her travels for Home & Away magazine. Shannon also likes reading, trying new restaurants, seeing movies, and watching Husker football and Creighton basketball. However, she and her husband spend most of their free time chauffeuring their teenage son to activities and chasing their baby daughter.

Props to Your Valley Dealer - Tell Your Dealer Why You Love Them | by Kelly Cox

Everyone likes to receive a compliment - it gives you the warm fuzzies…and sometimes a big head, but let’s focus more on the warm fuzzies. Even your Valley_® dealer likes to hear that he and his crew are doing a great job! That’s why Valley Irrigation has created a super special social page on its Facebook Timeline called “Give Props to Your Valley Dealer.” 

Though the word is used a lot in modern music lyrics and such, you may be wondering what in the world “props” is (or are). In the words of the great Google, let me explain:

props
//präps//
noun informal
1. respect or credit due to a person.
“Kelly gave her husband props for brushing the cat without having to be asked.”

Through the "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" social page, Valley customers like you have the opportunity to share with the world why their Valley dealer is the best! But, we won’t keep these compliments to ourselves, there’s no need to be selfish! We’ll share them on all of our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Google+), as well as with the dealers themselves!

Don't want to formally submit your props on the "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" page, but still want your Valley dealer to know how much you appreciate his hard work? No problem - just use the hashtag #ValleyProps on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ along with your compliment and dealer's name (and a picture of your Valley machine, if you like)!

That being said, we want YOU to give props to your Valley dealer! Tell your dealer how much you appreciate his hard work in helping to keep your operation moving throughout the year. 

There are several ways to give props:

• Facebook – Give Props to Your Valley Dealer social page (www.valleyirrigation.com/Props), or share on our Timeline using the #ValleyProps hashtag
• Twitter – Tweet using the #ValleyProps hashtag (please also mention @ValleyPivots, if you have enough characters)
• Google+ – Share using the #ValleyProps hashtag

Tell your dealer how much you love him today -  "Give Props to Your Valley Dealer" is only around for a limited time!

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Kelly Cox Global Digital Marketing Manager Kelly joined the Valley Irrigation Global Marketing Department in 2008. Her love of all things geek (steampunk furniture, anime, Doctor Who, and science fiction/fantasy literature, just to name a few) helped shape her appreciation for technology and the web. Kelly is a newlywed and new homeowner, where she shares her geekery with her husband and cat Kiba. She considers herself a wine connoisseur (though, 3 buck Chuck is delicious!) and has a love of painting, dance, and singing.