Hotel Reservations
ONLINE RESERVATION LINK

Sunday

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

SCSA Board Meeting

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
President’s Drop-In

Monday

11:30 – Noon
Tech Workshop Registration

Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Technology Workshop

2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Convention Registration 

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Clemson Research Roundtable

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Opening Reception

7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Awards Dinner Gala

Tuesday

7:45 – 9:15 a.m.
SCSA Past President’s Breakfast  
SCSA Business Session

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Registration

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Delegate Business Session

9:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Partner’s Program 

1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Golfing or Sightseeing 

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Closing Reception

7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
Island Theme Dinner/Dance

Wednesday

11:00 a.m.
Hotel Checkout

Top Innovative Producers Headline Convention 

For many years, the convention for the SC Seedsmens Association has been one of the premiere state seed conventions in the country. The reason for this success is that the focus of the convention is to expose members to new ideas and to provide a family atmosphere for SCSA members and their families to connect with other industry members in a social environment.  The focus of this year’s convention is to bring the very best speakers, the most talented farmers, and the top seedsmen all to one island!

We are moving! Our convention is moving from the weekend to Monday-Tuesday. The 2018 SC Seedsmen’s Association/SCFAA convention will be held on July 29-31, oceanside at the Sonesta Resort in internationally famous Hilton Head Island, SC. 
 
Hilton Head is known as the playground for the rich and famous, home of the Heritage Golf Tournament at Harbor Town, and some of the most beautiful and uncluttered beaches on the east coast! Delegates and their families can enjoy exploring one of the most interesting islands in the country! There is something for everyone on Hilton Head! 

This is one SCSA convention that you don’t want to miss! This year, we are featuring two SC farms that are involved in multi-state production and distribution. These farms truly are 21st century class farming operations.  

Walther Farms - Largest Potato Farm in South Carolina. Walther Farms is a third-generation family farm that has been farming since 1946. The farm was started in Michigan, but now has expanded to Nebraska, Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and now South Carolina. The Walther family selected South Carolina because of its sandy soil, warm climate and pro-business environment. The farm is a primary supplier of potatoes to Frito-Lay which turns them into delicious potato chips.

McCall Farms – Family Farm and Fruit and Vegetable Processer. Back in 1838 James McCall established a 2,000-acre farm in Effingham, SC to grow cotton. The boll weevil devasted cotton, so they switched to tobacco, and later to vegetables. In 1954, they acquired a canning facility and today they market canned name-brand produce, like Margaret Holmes and Glory Brands, across the Southeast and beyond. This family-farm has been in the same family for 180 years and is still growing.

The convention will kick off at noon Monday with a Technology Workshop featuring a variety of agronomic presentations. The Workshop will be followed in the afternoon by the Clemson Research Roundtable. The evening events will begin with the opening reception and the SCSA Awards Gala. The Awards Program will recognize several SCSA members for their contributions to our industry.  On Tuesday, the delegates will participate in the Delegate Session described above. The Partners Program will feature an “Island Experience.” The convention closes with a spectacular Closing Reception, Dinner and Island-themed dance.  A great time is guaranteed for all!

Convention tips

In order to make your attendance at the convention as pleasant and worry-free as possible, convention pointers are provided below. 

REGISTRATION:  
In order to register for the convention, attendees need to complete two registration actions:

Hotel Reservations:  To reserve your room at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, SC, please call your reservation in at 1-800-766-3782. When calling, be sure 
to mention that you are attending the SC Seedsmen's Association convention to get the special group rate of $199 ($325 regular rate) resort view, or $279 ocean view. See on-line reservation link on SCSA website. Hotel guests will be required to guarantee their reservation with a credit card. The deposit will be refunded, if canceled at least 3 days prior to arrival. 

The deadline for hotel reservations is June 28, 2018.  After June 28, our room block will be released, and reservations will be accepted on a space available basis. Last year the hotel was sold out!  Since both availability and selection will decline dramatically as we move toward June 28, attendees are strongly encouraged to make room reservations now, if you just think you might attend.  Check-in time is 4 p.m. & check-out time is 11 a.m.

ONLINE RESERVATION LINK

Convention Registration:  Please fill out the registration form (links above) completely and return with your payment. Advance registration will qualify attendees for a discount on registration fees.  After July 17, attendees are subject to late registration fees.  Advance registrants will be able to pick up their registration packets on Monday, July 30, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.  On-site registration can be completed on Monday, or from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31 in the hotel.

TECH WORKSHOP: 

There will be a Technology Workshop offered Monday morning from noon - 4:00 p.m. The Workshop will feature several presentations on various production topics. The fee for the workshop is $25.

GOLF OUTING: 

Members who are interested in playing one of the world-class golf courses in Hilton Head can sign up for an outing at nearby Port Royal Golf Course located just minutes from the hotel on Tuesday afternoon, July 31. The greens and cart fees will be paid by the entrants. Please indicate on the registration form which members of your family plan to play golf and their golf handicap.

ATTIRE:  

Since we will be meeting in the summer, the appropriate dress will be business casual – sport shirts/knit shirts and slacks for the men, and dress shorts/sun dresses for the ladies. Coat and tie is no longer required for the gentlemen at the Awards Dinner Gala on Monday night. On Tuesday night, we will have a dinner/dance so bring your shorts, and appropriate island wear.

RESEARCH ROUNDTABLE: 

Dr. Chris Ray, Associate Director of Clemson University’s Agricultural Experiment Station will lead a roundtable discussion on agricultural research topics at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 30.  All attendees are welcome to hear the latest update on Clemson research activities.

DIRECTIONS to HOTEL: 

From I-95 take Highway 278 to Hilton Head Island. Once you cross the access bridge you have two options. The first option is to continue down William Hilton Parkway until you get to Port Royal Dunes Plantation (on the left). The faster option is to take the Cross-Island Expressway (toll road). Take the Expressway to the traffic circle and get back on William Hilton Parkway and head north. Port Royal Plantation (on the right) is less than 2 miles from the traffic circle. Security officers will provide directions to the hotel at the gate.

Convention Committee 

President Owen Wallace has made the following committee assignments. If for any reason one cannot serve, please contact him immediately at 843-845-2893.  Your willingness to serve is greatly appreciated!

Communications
Rachael Sharp, Chair
Phil Perry
Will Henderson

Historical/Scrapbook
Natalie Wallace, Chair
Gail Vines

Honorary Member
Jimmy Plunkett, Chair
Sam Smith
Danny Roberts

Seedsman of the Year
Tally McCall, Chair
Tom Baugh
Eric DuBose

Nominations
Dick Thomas, Chair
Dan Pitts
George Stabler

Necrology
Tom Booth, Chair.
Rachael Sharp

Phil Farmer

Auditing
Phil Perry, Chair
Danny Roberts
Jimmy Plunkett

Convention Finance
Phil Perry, Chair
Chip Huffman
Wyatt Richardson

Convention Resolutions
Jason Hinton, Chair
Dean Morrison
Jayme Singleton

Convention Registration
Kim Martin, Chair
Gail Vines
Kay Barton

Golf Tournament
Don Sharp III, Chair
Jimmy Plunkett

Clemson Roundtable
Chris Ray, Chair
Steven Cole

Nathan Smith

SCSA 2018 Convention Sponsors

Phil Perry, Chair of the Convention Finance Committee, reports that convention sponsorships are off to a good start.  However, Phil indicates that he has yet to hear from a number of loyal supporters.  Sponsorship will position your company as one of the leaders in the southeast seed industry.

If your company has yet to respond, it isn’t too late. Mail your checks today to:  SCSA, P.O. Box 11173, Columbia, SC 29211.

    
We salute the following companies for their generous and timely sponsorship to the 2018 SCSA convention:

AgSouth Genetics
Aiken Farm Supply
Athens Seed
Black Gold Compost
Blanton Packaging
Circle Grove Seeds
Grabow Seed Services
Gerard Seed Company
Gold Leaf Seed
Helena Chemical Company
Hughes Farm
Kellogg Seed Company
Monsanto
Rockydale Quarries
Sharp & Sharp Certified
Sygenta Seeds
The Wax Company