Annual Meeting - 2002
The 22nd Annual North Carolina Watermelon Association Convention is
almost here. It is scheduled for Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March
9, 2002, and will meet at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside. An educational
program kicks off the convention on Friday afternoon beginning at 1:15
pm. Registration begins at 12:30 pm. The education program features
two out-of-state speakers from Clemson University with expertise in
disease control and watermelon production. Dr. Keinath, plant pathologist,
has done some innovative work to manage watermelon foliar diseases,
while Dr. Hassell, horticulturalist, will cover the key things one must
do to have success in growing watermelon transplants. Other topics to
be covered include weed management, insect control and management, watermelon
cultivar developments, watermelon pollination developments, and methods
to control and manage gummy stem blight. All these topics will be covered
by a bevy of North Carolina researchers, some the nations finest! The
program concludes near 5:00 pm with the President's Reception that follows.
The Saturday educational program continues and begins at 8:30 am with
an informal time to discuss and exchange information. Although informal,
this format provides one of the best parts of the program. This is a
time to learn what buyers want and for growers to make contacts with
them in order to sell their product. The time will also be dedicated
to discussing the latest with regards to commercial cultivar development,
and what marketing efforts are taking place. The education session concludes
at 9:30 am and is followed by the general session.
The general session highlights some of the national watermelon programs
and begins the process of selecting the next NC Watermelon Association
queen. Various fun activities fill the remainder of the day culminating
with the banquet at 6 pm Saturday evening.
There is no cost to agents or growers for the Friday program. Agents
are encouraged to come and ride with a grower (or several growers).
This will be an excellent program and one you won't want to miss! The
entire program is below.
Registration for Saturday's program will be $50. This will cover lunch,
all other associated activities during the day, and a wonderful evening
banquet. To register, call Cathy Price, Secretary of the NC Watermelon
Growers Association, 919-334-0093. To reserve a room at the Hilton Wilmington
Riverside Hotel, call 910-763-5900. Room rate is $95 for single/double.
|
Time
|
Title / Event (with link to abstract)
|
Speaker (Affiliation)
|
|
Friday, March 8
|
|
12:30 pm
|
Registration
|
Hilton,
Wilmington Riverside
|
|
1:15 pm
|
Welcome
|
Randy Avery, NCWA President, Meg
Scott-Phipps, Commissioner of Agriculture
(NC
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
|
|
1:25 pm
|
NCSU and CALS Update
|
Eric
Young, Associate Research Director
(NC State
University)
|
|
1:30 pm
|
Growing Transplants - The Complete Package
|
Richard
Hassell (Clemson
University)
|
|
2:00 pm
|
Pollination Developments in Watermelon
|
Mike
Stanghellini (NC
State University)
|
|
2:30 pm
|
Timing Fungicides to Manage Foliar Diseases on
Watermelon
|
Tony
Keinath (Clemson
University)
|
|
3:00 pm
|
Break
|
-
|
|
3:30 pm
|
Gummy
Stem Blight Resistance
|
Gabriele
Gusmini (NC
State University)
|
|
3:45 pm
|
Papaya
Ringspot Virus Resistance
|
Nihat
Guner (NC
State University)
|
|
4:00 pm
|
Orange
and Yellow Watermelon Breeding
|
Todd
Wehner (NC
State University)
|
|
4:15 pm
|
Fungicide Performance and Melcast Forecaster
for Gummy Stem Blight
|
Gerald
Holmes (NC
State University)
|
|
4:30 pm
|
Two Arthropod Pests of Watermelon and How to
Control Them; Mites and Cucumber Beetles
|
Ken
Sorensen (NC
State University)
|
|
4:45 pm
|
Update on Weed Management Strategies for Watermelon
|
David
Monks (NC
State University)
|
|
5:00 pm
|
Adjourn
|
-
|
|
6:00 pm
|
President's Reception (heavy hors d'oeuvres)
|
-
|
|
Saturday, March 9
|
|
8:00 am
|
Registration
|
Hilton,
Wilmington Riverside
|
|
8:30 am
|
Information Exchange and Discussion Section
|
Jonathan
Schultheis (NC
State University)
|
|
8:30 am
|
Variety Updates
|
Jonathan
Schultheis (NC
State University); Richard Hassell
(Clemson University); Seed
company representatives
|
|
9:00 am
|
Marketing Efforts
|
Debye Scheidt (NC
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
|
|
9:15 am
|
Buyer Updates
|
All representatives from grocery store chains
|
|
9:30 am
|
Adjourn
|
-
|
|
10:00 am
|
General Session - Call to Order
|
Randy Avery, NCWA President
|
|
10:15 am
|
Invocation
|
-
|
|
10:30 am
|
Welcome
|
-
|
|
10:45 am
|
NWA Report
|
Nancy Childers, Executive Secretary (National
Watermelon Association)
|
|
11:00 am
|
NWPB Report
|
William Watson, Executive Director (National
Watermelon Promotion Board)
|
|
11:15 am
|
Introduction of Judges
|
-
|
|
11:30 am
|
Speech Competition
|
-
|
|
11:45 am
|
Closing Remarks
|
-
|
|
12:00 n
|
Lunch and Sportwear Competition
|
-
|
|
1:15 pm
|
Queen Contestant Interviews (contestants and
judges only)
|
-
|
|
2:30 pm
|
Seed Spit Contest
|
-
|
|
2:45 pm
|
Social Hour and Auction
|
-
|
|
6:00 pm
|
Banquet and Convention
|
-
|
|
8:30 pm
|
Dance
|
-
|
