SECDEA Board and members held the mid-year meeting in Live Oak, Florida this year.  The Florida group went all out to make our visit a wonderful and informative time!

On Friday the group caravanned to the Suwannee River SWCD office to board a trolley bus to catch a glimpse of Florida Pan Handle Agricultural activities.  We visited a six thousand acre farm with multiple cropping operations.  This included snap beans, potatoes, cattle, sweet corn and bio-fuel development.

Our second farm visit was a five -hundred acre dairy farm where we were told about the operation of the farm and shown the waste management system.  We also visited a large poultry farm which produced over 15 million pounds of chicken annually.  Then we went to a large watermelon farm where we were shown the black plastic and drip irrigation system and given details on how this farm plan worked.  Last but not least we were invited to a wonderful lunch provided by the local conservation district.

Upon arrival back at the hotel Friday afternoon, the group went to work on SECDEA business.  The budget, Plan of Work, Website, 501{c}3 status and several committee reports were discussed.

President Wade informed the board that the SE NACD meeting will be August 8-10 at the Marriott Airport in Nashville Tennessee.  The Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts Employees (TACDE) and SECDEA will jointly sponsor a golf tournament and will split the proceeds.  Both Associations will give proceeds to their favorite charity.  SECDEA proceeds will go the benevolence fund.         

Saturday morning early the group started working on  planning  the Annual Meeting in Pigeon Forge.   The theme this year will be “Reaching Our Potential Everyday “.      The group discussed several training ideas, lunch & banquet menus and the registration fee.    Everyone felt like this was a very productive meeting and enjoyed the group effort and fellowship.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Florida District Employee Association, Suwannee SWCD and all that made this meeting such a success!

Once again, as individuals we accomplished a little, but as a TEAM we accomplished MUCH!!