2014 State Meeting
Celebrating 100 Years of Agricultural Excellence!
June 17-19, 2014
Asheville, NC
The 2014 North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents state meeting will be hosted by the West District in Asheville, NC. The meeting will be June 18-19. Our headquarters hotel is the Asheville Renaissance Hotel.
The regular rooms are $129 a night if you make your reservation by noon on by May 16th. Please call 1-800-468-3571and give the group name of 2014 NCACAA to get the reduced rate.
The West District has put together what we think is a great meeting starting with some pre-conference activities on June 17th with networking activities including the annual Golf Tournament and a Sporting Clays afternoon at the Carolina West Shooting Club. Since the shooting club is an hour EAST of the hotel, you will want to stop there on your way to the mountains. The cost of the sporting clays is $6 per round of 25 and shells can be purchased for $7 per box if you need them. Bring your own shotgun, however guns are available for rent on location. There is a 5-stand shooting platform.
For the Golf Tournament, the fee will be $45.00 per person, payable to the west district account. We must have 24 participants to hold the tournament. We will cancel the event if we do not have enough players. If anyone has any questions on this event, please call Tony McGaha at 828-550-7433.
After your afternoon of networking, the State Board will hold their meeting while the rest of us can take a walking tour of downtown Asheville or join us for a Pub Crawl to try some of the many local brews.
The meeting will officially begin on Wednesday, June 18th with in-service training conducted on local farms and facilities rather than in a meeting room at the hotel. Following the opening luncheon, we will have the annual business meeting and then the Awards Banquet on Wednesday evening.
Wednesday's In-Service:
Ornamental and Turf:
Theme: Developing Partnerships and Collaborative Programs for Providing Work Force Training for the Green Industries.
Visit to the NC Arboretum where we will look at Extension projects and programs that provide training to green industry businesses and their employees to include storm water management demonstrations such as rain gardens and green roofs; Certified Plant Professional training garden; and discussion of collaborative IPM programs.
Livestock:
Location: Western North Carolina Regional Livestock Center
Speaker: Dr Philipe Moriel, Mountain Livestock Specialist
Topic: Value Added Marketing
Organics:
Tour Cane Creek Valley Farm, a fourth generation, family owned and operated certified-organic farm in Fletcher, NC. A GAP-certified farm, Cane Creek Valley sells through tailgate and wholesale markets, as well as through an innovative CSA program.
Dr. Jim Walgenbach will present research on organic controls for stink bugs, and Craig Mauney will address GAP certification details.
Fruits:
Small fruit tour, commercial apple operation and slice plant tour with Marvin Owings.
Alternative Ag:
Come visit the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, just south of Asheville, to learn about their exciting research with alternative agriculture products. We will join the research staff on tours of their field trials of hops, echincea, Chinese medicinal herbs, stevia, and biofuel production.
On Thursday, we will have three great full day tours for you to choose from.
Horticulture Tour of Biltmore Estate ($50/person)
Tour Stop 1
We will meet with Dr. Ted Katsigianis, Vice President of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to look at the history of sustainable agriculture on the estate including their farm to table programs. We will also visit some of the many gardens that the estate has.
Tour Stop 2 (lunch)
Saint Paul Vineyards in Edneyville
We'll see one of the area's up and coming vineyard and winery.
Tour Stop 3
A teaching / pubic garden which is part of a partnership between the NC Cooperative Extension and the Henderson County Public Schools. This garden has one of the area's few Therapy gardens and programs. The director, John Murphy is a Certified Horticulture Therapist.
Livestock Tours:
Tour Stop 1
Tour a mixed crop and livestock operation
Tour Stop 2
Tour of the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville led by Dr Moriel and research station staff. Tour will include current beef cattle and field crop research.
Tour Stop 3
Tour Asheville's first legal brewery to learn about the brewing process and the potential byproduct feed source for local livestock producers.
Local Foods Tour:
Tour Stop 1
One of the largest bison ranches in the southeast. We'll tour the ranch and learn about the management of a bison herd and their incredible marketing success.
Tour Stop 2
Anne and Aaron Grier operate Gaining Ground Farm in Leicester, NC. As part of the new generation of farmers, they raise a variety of crops and livestock on their family farm, selling through tailgate markets and through a successful CSA program. We will have lunch on-site.
Tour Stop 3
A certified-organic hop farm based in Madison County, NC.
On Thursday evening, we will continue last year's Cornhole Tournament and other fun activies at the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center.
Sons & Daughters Activities
Tuesday evening child care will be provided.
Wednesday morning we will have a scavenger hunt, swimming & kid's gardening activities.
On Wednesday afternoon, the youth will visit the WNC Nature Center and have lunch there. The WNC Nature Center provides a one-of-a-kind adventure where guests can experience animals and plants native to the Southern Appalachian region. The WNC Nature Center features over 60 species of animals including river otters, black bear, red wolves and cougars.
On Wednesday evening there will be a pizza and pool party at the hotel.
Thursday, sons and daughters are invited to attend the full day tours and cookout with their parents.
Any child 6 years old or under must be accompanied by a chaperon for the Sons & Daughters activities.
A properly used car seat or booster seat that meets all Federal Safety Standards is required for children less than age 8 and less than 80 pounds.
Please dress your child according to the activity and weather. If you need to send extra essentials please do so.
Please contact Kerrie Roach (kerrie_roach@ncsu.edu), Sons & Daughters Committee Chair if your child has any special dietary or medical needs that should be identified.
Spouse and Life Member Activities
On Wednesday afternoon, spouses and life members will have the opportunity to learn about local history by touring area history museums, as well as the vibrant and diversified offerings that downtown Asheville has to offer. An informational packet will be provided with details on things to explore. Here is a link to give you a head start in your planning: http://www.exploreasheville.com/
Cornhole Tournament$2 per person to be paid at the registration desk. When you get your packet at the registration desk, you will be asked for your partner's name.
50/50 split between the winners and the West District Scholarship Fund.
