Embedded Files
2026 NCACAA State Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference
June 9-11, 2026
The 2026 North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents state meeting will be held June 9th-11th in Cherokee, NC at Harrah's Cherokee Resort.
The West District is excited to host the 2026 meeting, and has planned a very educational and exciting meeting. The State Board meeting will be held Tuesday, June 9th, from 3:00-4:30pm. Later that evening, attendees will be treated to a chef attended pasta bar with grilled chicken breast and shrimp from 5:30-7:00pm. Following dinner, there will be an opportunity to attend Unto These Hills, an outdoor drama depicting the history, struggles, and resilience of the Cherokee people. On Wednesday, June 10th, participants will have a chance to hear about new products and services as they network with our industry partners at the annual Trade Show. The annual meeting will officially kick off at 10:00am with the Annual Business Meeting, followed by the Opening Lunch and Communications Award presentations at 12 noon. Professional Improvement Sessions will be offered Wednesday afternoon, and the Awards Banquet will be held at 6:00pm Wednesday evening. The meeting will conclude on Thursday, June 11, with a variety of Professional Development Tours before attendees gather at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park for a cookout and cornhole tournament. The West District looks forward to hosting you in Cherokee, NC.
Lodging Information
Direct Link for Group Rate (Edit dates if stay will be fewer than 3 days)
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-7777
Room rate: $133.99/night + $18 tax = $151.99
If calling to make reservation use “NC Association of County Agricultural Agents” to get group rate.
Last day to book with group rate is Friday, May 8, 2026.
Early Bird Activities
Golf - On Your Own
1819 Country Club Drive
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
800-438-3861
756 Golf Course Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
828-456-5777
Whitewater Rafting - Nantahala Outdoor Center
Nantahala River Outpost
13077 US-19
Bryson City, NC 28713
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM **Arrive 30 minutes early to check in**
Price: $60.03 + 15% service charge = $69.03 (2 hour guided raft with 6 people per raft and guide)
Requirements: At least 7 years of age or 60 lbs.
Waiver: All participants must complete waiver found here.
Description: Nantahala Outdoor Center has been leading the charge on the Southeast’s rivers since 1972, guiding more families on exciting white water adventures than any other outfit in the region. Dubbed “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, NOC offers a variety of trips and packages for every skill level and age group.
Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama
Mountainside Theatre
688 Drama Road
Cherokee, NC
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Price: Adult Ticket (Age 12+) $30; Child Ticket (Age 6-11) $20; Children (Age 5 and under) - Free
Description: Don’t miss the renowned drama, Unto These Hills. Millions of people have loved the heart-wrenching action and soaring triumph of Unto These Hills since its debut on July 1, 1950. The outdoor drama tells the triumphant story of the formation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from first contact with Europeans through the years following the infamous Trail of Tears. Despite this dark and tragic episode in the lives of the Cherokee, the story is beautifully sculpted with imagery and effective emotional symmetry, symbolizing the re-emergence of a people whose spiritual fortitude, social complexities, and human courage will never be broken.
Professional Improvement Sessions
Wednesday, June 10
Session 1: 2:15-3:15 PM
Microscope Lab: Thrips and Other Insect ID & IPM Recommendations (**2 hour session**)
Dr. Jim Walgenbach, NCSU Extension Specialist, Entomology
NCDA Agronomics: Greenhouse Irrigation & Fertigation Calculation Tool
Brad Thompson, NCDA Regional Agronomist
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
Steve Pettis, Agricultural Extension Agent, Henderson County Center
How To Have Hands-On Small Ruminant Programming In Your County
Dr. Andrew Weaver, NCSU Extension Specialist, Small Ruminants
Session 2: 3:30-4:30 PM
Microscope Lab: Thrips and Other Insect ID & IPM Recommendations (**2 hour session**)
Dr. Jim Walgenbach, NCSU Extension Specialist, Entomology
New Crops Organics: Forest Farming
Dr. Jeanine Davis, NCSU Extension Specialist, Horticulture
Margaret Bloomquist, NCSU Research Scholar
Best Management Practices for Navigating the ESA Process for Pesticides
Caydee Savinelli, Syngenta Head of U.S. Crop Protection Stewardship
Planning Ahead with Disasters in Mind for Your County
Dr. Stephanie Ward, NCSU Extension Animal Science Specialist, Dairy
Ben Barham, NCDA Mountain Emergency Programs Specialist
Professional Development Tours
Thursday, June 11
Tour 1 – Cherokee County
Wood Farms – row crop (corn and soybeans) and stocker cattle operation who have been multi-year state winners in the National Corn Growers Association Corn Yield Contest.
Zion Orchids Nursery – only cymbidium orchid nursery on the east coast.
Adams Farms – local meat processor.
Dutt & Wagoner – egg producer with approximately 1 million birds
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Tour 2 – Graham County
Stoney Hollow Farm - new high tunnel greenhouses with specialized netting to exclude spotted winged drosophila in blueberries.
Yellow Creek Lavender Farm - grows several varieties of lavender, plus works with a local beekeeper and produces lavender honey.
Third tour stop TBD
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Tour 3 – Haywood County
Barber Orchards – commercial apple producer utilizing high density trellised varieties, as well as vegetables and a u-pick flower operation.
Boyd Mountain – wholesale and choose and cut Fraser Fir Christmas trees, .
Ross Dairy Farm – multi-generational family dairy farm
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Tour 4 – Jackson County
Shelton Farms – commercial vegetable operation with year-round greenhouse lettuce production.
Ochre Hill Farms – lavender, blueberries, produce, and farm stays.
Lewis and Taylor Farms – 5th generation farm raising hair sheep.
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Tour 5 – Macon County
Tellico Trout Farm – commercial fish farm and hatchery that supplies fish up and down the East coast.
Senemore Vineyards – wine grape vineyard located next door to Tellico Trout Farm.
JW Mitchell Farms – U-pick farm including flowers, vegetables, peaches, and a new wine processing facility.
Downs Cattle Farm – commercial cattle operation.
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Tour 6 – Swain County
Bradley Farm – corn grower located in the Big Cove community on the Cherokee boundary.
Cherokee Trout Farm – tribal fish hatchery
Darnell Farms – multi-dimensional agritourism farm located on the banks of the Tuckasegee River featuring strawberries, produce, corn maze, music venue, and multiple festivals each year.
KITUWAH – Cherokee Mother Town – 10,000 year old historic center of the Cherokee people, EBCI tribal land leased to enrolled members for agricultural production.
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tour Capacity: 30 people
Spouse & Life Members Information
Wednesday, June 10
Option 1 - Step Through Time & Nature: The Oconaluftee River Trail & Mountain Farm Museum
We’ll enjoy a gentle stroll along the Oconaluftee River Trail (3-miles round trip), known for its stunning views and frequent elk sightings. The path leads us to the Mountain Farm Museum, where you can explore a historic collection of 19th-century log buildings and soak in the rich agricultural history of the region. We’ll then enjoy the Oconaluftee River Trail on the return trip to the parking area/trailhead.
The Oconaluftee River Trail is a flat, shaded riverside trail that leads to the Mountain Farm Museum and Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Rated easy. 30-45 minutes hike each way.
Option 2 - The Art of Clean Energy: Dillsboro Creative Arts Center
Join us for a fascinating look at the Dillsboro Creative Arts Center at Jackson County Green Energy Park, a pioneer in sustainable innovation. Located on the site of a former closed landfill, this park captures methane gas and repurposes it as a powerful, renewable fuel source for the fire arts.
During this experience, the group will:
Learn how methane is trapped 80 feet underground and piped directly into artisan studios.
Enjoy live demonstrations of glassblowing and blacksmithing, where artists use 2,000°F furnaces powered entirely by recycled landfill gas.
Browse the on-site gallery featuring exquisite works of glass, metal, and pottery created using green energy, and stroll through the outdoor sculpture garden.
Youth Activities (youth 5 and under must be accompanied by guardian)
Wednesday, June 10
12:00-12:30pm Opening Lunch at the hotel (Youth attending the youth activity will go through line first)
12:50-2:10pm Oconaluftee Visitor Center
The first stop will be at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center within the Smoky Mountain National Park where the kids will visit the Mountain Farm Museum and take a trip back in time to see what life was like in a typical rural Appalachian community over a century ago. In scavenger hunt fashion everyone will explore historic structures such as a meat house, chicken house, apple house, springhouse, and a working blacksmith shop. The group will also take a short hike on a flat and easy path that follows along the Oconaluftee River Trail through elk habitat and hardwood forest. With any luck and good timing the kids will be able to catch a glimpse of the Smoky Mountain National Park’s elk herd.
2:30-4:15pm Oconaluftee Island Park
The second stop on our warm, summer day in Cherokee will be spent relaxing at Oconaluftee Islands Park along the Oconaluftee River. The park offers shady picnic spots, swimming, or the pleasant option of simply basking and splashing around. Kids should bring water shoes, clothes they can get wet and a towel. The river is divided by a grassy island complete with bridges, picnic tables, piers to feed ducks, and plenty of room for unbridled play.
4:30pm Arrive back at hotel
6:00-9:00pm UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Harrah's Cherokee Resort Evening Youth Activity
From bowling to arcade fun, there’s no shortage of entertainment at the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center located under the same roof as our conference hotel. The bowling alley offers 24 10-pin lanes and an arcade stocked with all the hottest games. Kids will enjoy the benefits of a package deal that includes 90 minutes of bowling, 1 hour non-redemption arcade card, 2 slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza and a soft drink.
Thursday, June 11
8:00 am - 4:00 pm Tours with Parents
Cornhole Tournament
Tournament will be held after the cookout at Great Smoky Mountains Event Park (1130 Hyatt Creek Rd., Bryson City, NC 28713).
Open to all registered meeting attendees
Single elimination team tournament (2 players per team) with cancellation scoring of bag in hole (3) and bag on board (1). Each game decided by first to 21 points or over.
Page updated
Report abuse