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News Release 1-11-2002 |
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W.VA. DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION TO HOLD ANNUAL CONFERENCE West Virginia Commerce Commissioner Alisa Bailey and West Virginia Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Steve Hannah will be two of the speakers at the West Virginia Direct Marketing Association (WVDMA) annual conference at the Ramada Inn in Downtown Wheeling Friday and Saturday, February 1-2, 2002. Bailey will be the keynote speaker for Friday evening’s dinner. Her topic will be the impact of agriculture on commerce in the Mountain State and how agriculture is linked to other industries in the state. Hannah will speak Friday morning on farm biosecurity, including what farmers should do to protect their livestock and crops, and the steps WVDA has already taken to prevent the introduction of communicable plant and animal diseases to West Virginia farms. “We’re very pleased to have Commissioner Bailey and Deputy Commissioner Hannah at our convention,” said WVDMA President Chris Welshans. “This year’s event is going to be one of the biggest and best in our Association’s history.” More than 25 presenters covering a broad range of topics are scheduled to attend, “literally something to interest everyone,” said Welshans. According to Cindy Martel, Marketing Specialist for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), the sessions will be valuable for those already involved in agricultural marketing and those who may be looking for a little extra money over the course of a year. “Some presenters will discuss ways existing producers can maximize their profit through better management of their resources and by finding the best method of selling their product when the time comes,” Martel said. “Others will talk about new marketing opportunities, such as cultivating shiitake mushrooms or blueberries.” In addition to the educational sessions, organizers have scheduled two pre-conference tours, one at the Dickenson Longhorn Farm, and the second at Jonathan White’s cheese-making facility. Awards will also be presented for outstanding new products and emerging companies, and silent and live auctions will be conducted to benefit the Youth Award and Scholarship Fund. Conference registration fees are $95 prior to January 21, 2002, or $105 afterward. Fees include a year’s membership in the WVDMA, all conference materials, Friday’s dinner and Saturday’s breakfast and lunch. Student registration rates are $60, or $70 for afterward. Single-day rates are also available at approximately half the full-conference rates. Hotel room rates will be $65 a night for conference participants. For more information, contact Chris Welshans at 304/527-2030, Cindy
Martel at 304/574-3036, or Bill Aiken at 304/472-2080.
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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