Hugh Bland (left), director of Agricultural Programs; Josh Corley, Edgefield; Melvin McClellion, Laurens; Lewis Coleman, Saluda; Amy Conard, Saluda; Rusty Bryant, Edgefield; Lisa Stone, Saluda; Nate Padget, Saluda; Edward Thompson, Ninety Six; Cameron Durham, Anderson; Jackson Graham, Newberry; Larry O’Neal, Gilbert; Drew Miller, Edgefield; and Zach Rearden, Johnston
PIEDMONT TECH STUDENTS AT THE SALUDA CAMPUS ATTEND STATE AGRI-TOURISM CONFERENCE
A number of students enrolled in agricultural courses at the Piedmont Tech Saluda Campus attended the State Agri-Tourism Conference held at the Municipal Center in North Augusta, SC, on Wednesday, January 26, 2011. The students, members of the Piedmont Tech FFA organization, were accompanied by Hugh Bland, director of the Agricultural Program at the Saluda Campus, and John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
The one-day conference featured speakers and workshops that explored current issues and topics of benefit to farmers, farmers markets and FFA members.
Keynote speaker Berkeley Young, president of Young Strategies, Inc., of Charlotte, NC, discussed the subject “Ag Experiences + Profit = Agri-Tourism.
Other subjects addressed during the conference included: Agri-Tourism Success Stories; Organically Grown and Certified USDA Organic...the Difference; Food Safety; Liability Insurance; Educational Programs; Developing and Improving Farmers Markets; and Reaching the Public.
The conference was hosted by the SC National Heritage Corridor and the State Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Parris arranged for the registration fee to be waived except for lunch cost for FFA members and advisors who attended the outstanding agricultural educational conference.