The Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association will hold its 2010 annual meeting in Waynesboro, Va. on August 26-28 at the Best Western Inn & Conference Center.
Speakers for the 2010 session will include: Kyle Peer, Virginia department of Forestry; Matthew Yancy, Virginia extension agent for Natural Resources; Joe Freeman, Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm; Dr. John McGee, Virginia Geospatial Specialist; Sue Bostic, Joe’s Trees; Dr. Alex White, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics Va. Tech; Norman Dart, VDACS Plant Pathologist; Eric Day, Va Tech Entomology Dept.; Anthony Mills, Training Program Coordinator Va. Tech.; and John Carroll, Va. Dept. of Forestry.
Topics will include: marketing in the Virtual world, viral marketing, wreath making, farm tractors and ATV safety, managing business, as well as several other subjects.
Matt Lohr, Commissioner of Agriculture for Virginia, is scheduled to attend the Thursday evening Barbecue. Other invited guests for the Friday night banquet are Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and Jeff Ishee, Host of “On the Farm Radio.”
Thursday nursery tours will include the Department of Forestry Augusta nursery site and Shreckhise Nurseries of Grottoes. The Saturday farm tour will be at Francisco Farm in Staunton. A Barbecue will be held at Shreckhise Nurseries on Thursday, Aug. 26.
An annual auction will be held during the Banquet Buffet on Friday, Aug. 27, at Waynesboro Country Club.