SDCAA Spring Meeting

May 20^th, 2005

Izaak Walton League, Pierre

            The 2005 spring meeting of the SD County Agricultural Agents was called to order with President Don Guthmiller presiding.  Guest Kim Cassel opened the meeting discussing the needs assessment done this past winter by the FEU’s, October Conference is planned for the week of the 17^th.  Plans are being made for this conference already. 

Sergeant of Arms announced 33 in attendance with 2 guests present. 

            The Secretary’s Report was passed out. (Attachment A)  Maurice Lemke moved to dispense reading of the minutes.  Tracey Renelt 2^nd, motion passed. 

            The Treasurer’s Report was passed out. (Attachment B) Terry Hall moved to accept the report as written.  Dave Vander Vliet 2^nd, motion passed.

National Meeting:

            The National meeting was discussed.  The meeting will be held in Buffalo NY July 17-21^st.  Voting Delegate members will be Don Guthmiller and Lanette Butler.  DSA winner is Steve Munk, AA winner is Kim McGraw.  Others planning on attending; Val Mitchell. 

            Travel plans were discussed.  Don had obtained a copy of the division of the $3000 that we received from the Director.  Don had shared that with the director to determine how the funds should be appropriated.  We also have $1000 from SDCAA that can be used to travel to National Meetings. 

            The $3000 received from the director should be divided as follows:

-          $1000 to each voting delegate

-          $500 to each AA or DSA winner

Steve Munk encouraged participation to the NACAA Opportunities. 

NC Regional Report:

            Mike Christian reported with the group the importance of correct email addresses so the newsletter can be emailed out and the members receive it.  Mike also shared reports from the North Central Region. 

            The Scholarship was discussed.  Chuck told Mike that he had been having some troubles with the SD membership and the scholarship.  In the process of changing hands at the National level some of our members were lost.  Chuck is trying to get this worked out and through the proper chain. 

            Mike encouraged members to submit young producers we are aware of for the Young Farmers Award. 

            NACAA is a member of Galaxy.  They now are looking for a chair, vice chair and committee members to be involved in planning Galaxy. 

            Steve Sutera reported to Mike that we have a problem with our State Life members list.  Not everyone who was retired from SD is on our list.  Steve stated that it would be nice to have them remain on the SD states roster even if they move to another state. 

Seminar Awards were handed out:

Members Thanked the Izaak Walton League for allowing us to hold our spring members meeting there again. 

JCEP Report:

            Lanette reported on the JCEP meeting that she had attended back in February.

Prints Available:

            Don has received word that MN still has County Agent prints available.  They are available for $25 a piece if we order 10.  Don will send out an email to see what the interest is now that folks have seen them. 

SDCEA:

            The following by law change has been proposed by SDCEA and will be voted on at the Fall Meeting, during Annual Conference.

            “Any past president of any association shall be eligible to be president of SDCEA”

Currently only the 4 people going off their respected associations are eligible for election. 

Steve Sutera moved that we go along with the proposal if we can’t find a person at large, the person just currently going off be our person for SDCEA president Opportunities.  Justin Keyser 2^nd, motion passed. 

Sponsorship from Jim Fields:

            Should we recognize Jim Fields as a sponsor of the spring meeting for 27 years? 

Jerry Mills moved to recognize Jim Fields for his years of sponsorship and for sponsors of 25 years or more.  Ken Wonnenberg 2^nd motion failed.  Discussion was held as to how would we go back and find out who has been sponsors for that long without missing someone. 

Dale Curtis moved to honor Jim Fields and Company as Friend of SDCAA.  Steve Sutera 2^nd motion passed. 

Steve Munk added that we should send a letter to the company and the one who follows Jim as well as a plaque to Jim thanking him. 

Young Farmers Award Program:

Steve Munk asked the group if they wanted to get involved with the Young Farmer’s award.  To help get names passed onto Nationals from our state.  For three names passed onto Nationals John Deere Company will give the State $500.00 to have a banquet to recognize the state winners. 

No action was taking at this time. 

Fall Meeting:

Members were asked when and where they wanted to hold the fall meeting.  The majority felt that the meeting should be held Monday night and a meal be served at someplace other than the Brookings Inn.  At 7:00pm. 

Committee Reports:

Need to add new people to the committees.  Don will email out the committees list and members can add to, or delete themselves to committees and email it back to Don. 

Members thanked Bob Fanning for keeping the web page updated.  NACAA committees look at our webpage to find committee persons at times.

Committees were asked if they had reports.  The following are the ones that presented a report.

Ag Unity Committee:

            Ken Wonnenberg reported that 3 studies are being done

-          review of the SD Dept of AG

-          a White Paper Study – tax incentive study

-          property taxes

Bob Fanning reported that the HOSTA website is up and running.  This allows kids to take the test in the Extension office to be certified.  It is not open book and there is no time limit.   Kids need to study task sheets before the test. 

Scholarship committee reported during the NC regional report.

Life Members committee reported during the NC regional report.

Seeing no further business, meeting was adjourned.