ST. LOUIS - November 21, 2008 - Furthering its commitment and dedication to the rural marketplace, Osborn & Barr (O&B), today announced it has acquired a significant book of business from local advertising shop Drive Agency. The move provides O&B an entry into the outdoor recreation market, while expanding its substantial rural platform and adding another dimension to its portfolio.

"This is a terrific line extension for the O&B brand as we pursue our purpose of becoming agriculture and rural America’s greatest advocate," says Michael Turley, Executive Vice President for O&B. "We’ve always viewed wildlife-associated recreation as a natural step to our growth. The deal with Drive Agency is a fantastic opportunity for O&B to get into the outdoor and recreational business, and our passion for rural America is a solid match for this work." 

"O&B is very similar to Drive Agency in that we both have a true love, knowledge and expertise when it comes to the clients, brands and products we represent," says George Pace, CEO of Drive Agency. "By working with O&B, we’re able to ensure our clients a natural and seamless transition, while maintaining the attention and creativity they deserve and expect."

Key to the business it has acquired, O&B hired five Drive employees to join them in their headquarters in downtown St. Louis. These employees include: Steve Brothers (Account Director), Tom Rogers (Creative Director), Caroline Massey (Account Executive), Matt Maddox (Associate Art Director) and Luke Smith (Account Coordinator). These team members are great additions to the O&B team and will continue conducting business as usual for their clients, providing valuable strategy and execution.

Osborn & Barr concentrates on relationship-driven branding communications for agriculture and the rural-lifestyle markets to maximize the image and profitability of its clients. Its staff of 140 professionals provides brand management, strategic planning, event planning and marketing, creative services, public relations, media services, digital marketing and channel marketing. The 20-year-old agency has $125 million in capitalized annual billings. The agency’s headquarters office is located in St. Louis, and it has additional U.S. offices in Kansas City and Des Moines. It also has an office in Canada located in Guelph, Ontario. Osborn & Barr can be contacted via phone at 1-888-235-4332 or 314-726-5511, or at www.osborn-barr.com.

###