South Carolina Watermelon Association 46th Annual Meeting

S

a

Caro li th n u o

Est. 1975

Watermelon Association

46 Annual th

Meeting January 5 – 6, 2018

COLUMBIA | SOUTH CAROLINA

SCWAT ERM ELO N .O RG

W

elcome to the 46th Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Watermelon Association (SCWA). The South Carolina Watermelon Association continues to focus on advancing research, promoting

watermelon sales, and educating the public about watermelon’s many health benefits. We hope every South Carolina grower has the tools and knowledge to produce excellent yields of watermelons superior in flavor, quality, and exceed all food safety necessities. The SCWA advanced watermelon sales and educated the public in 2017 through our South Carolina Watermelon Queen promotional events and ‘Watermelon Fuels Athletes’ initiatives. Watermelon promotional events reached consumers through Food Shows, television and radio appearances like ‘Your Carolina’ and ‘Lowcountry Live’, retail promotions that included Bi-Lo, EarthFare, Food Lion, Giant Foods, Harris Teeter, IGA, Ingles, Lowes Foods, Piggly Wiggly, WalMart and Whole Foods, Festivals, Farmers Markets, and special events around the state. To encourage watermelon consumption through the SCWA ‘Watermelon Fuels Athletes’ initiative, watermelons were served to many football teams including Clemson, South Carolina, Citadel, Furman, Presbyterian College, and the Carolina Panthers. Cold watermelon was also provided to runners at the conclusion of the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Taste of Beaufort 5k.

The South Carolina Watermelon Association family thanks you for your support.

Your support is essential to the continuation of the SCWA and our association meeting its goals of advancing watermelon research, promoting watermelon sales, and educating the public about watermelon’s many health benefits. Thank you for attending the 46th SCWA convention and we hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Gilbert Miller President

B OA R D OF DI REC TORS OFFICERS PRESIDENT Gilbert Miller Clemson University Edisto Research Center 64 Research Road Blackville, SC 29817 (W) 803-284-3343 (H) 803-245-5976 (C) 803-793-6614 (F) 803-284-3684 gmllr@clemson.edu

1ST VICE PRESIDENT Jimmy Plunkett Seedway LLC P.O. Box 1652 Orangeburg, SC 29116 (W) 803-531-1777 (C) 803-664-0070 Fax 803-534-5027 jplunkett@seedway.com

2ND VICE PRESIDENT Jay Delk Delk Melon Sales 116 Anchorage Lane Leesville, SC 29070 (C) 561-718-0255 jay@delkproduce.com

SECRETARY/TREASURER F. Hamilton Dicks, III Melon 1 P.O. Box 175 Barnwell, SC 29812 (W) 803-259-3486 (C) 803-671-1936 (F) 803-259-2674

PAST PRESIDENT Scotty Sandifer Sandifer Farms 1583 Mt. Zion Road Blackville, SC 29817 (W) 803-793-7436 (C) 803-383-1226 scottsndfr@aol.com

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Lonnie Beach Interstate Packers P.O. Box 617 Yemassee, SC 29945 (W) 843-589-5222 FAX 843-589-2805 Ralph Emmet Black Sandy Acre Farm 3046 Hwy. 70 Barnwell, SC 29812 (W&H) 803-259-3164 (C) 803-300-0251 Thomas “Buddy” Brady Brady Farms 5921 Springfield Road Williston, SC 29853 (H) 803-266-4242 Randy Cockrell Cockrell Farms 4274 Colston Rd. Bamberg, SC 29003 (W&H) 803-267-7760 FAX 803-267-1901 Wilton Cook Wilton Cook Enterprises 3535 Bethal Road Bamberg, SC 29003 (H) 803-245-7056 wiltoncook@gmail.com

Hammy Dicks Melon 1 P.O. Box 175 Barnwell, SC 29812 (W) 803-259-3486 (C) 843-671-3486 FAX 803-259-2674 ham@melon1.com Mickey Floyd Miller Chemical & Fertilizer 928 Paul Revere Drive Charleston, SC 29412 (W&H) 843-795-6882 (C) 843-729-0380 mffloyd@bellsouth.net Allison Forehand Melon 1 P.O. Box 175 Barnwell, SC 29812 (W) 803-259-3486 (C) 803-300-1056 (F) 803-259-2674 allison.forehand@melon1.com Bennie K. Hughes Hughes Farms P.O. Box 235 Ehrhardt, SC 29081 (W&H) 803-267-6531 (C) 843-687-2936 FAX 803-267-2307

Billy L. Jenkins Jenkins Farms 253 Billy Jenkins Lane Jefferson, SC 29718 (W) 843-658-3943 (C) 843-680-0082 FAX 843-658-7887 jenkinsfarms@shtc.net

Rusty Kinard Kinard Farms 3208 Halyard Road Lodge, SC 29082 (W&H) 843-866-2634 (C) 843-599-2240 Angela O’Neal Coosaw Farms P.O. Box 646 Fairfax, SC 29827 (W) 803-632-2021 (C) 803-584-5542 (F) 803-632-3321 angela@coosawfarms.com Bradley O’Neal Coosaw Farms P.O. Box 646 Fairfax, SC 29827 (W) 803-632-2021 (H) 803-632-3873 FAX 803-632-3321 bradley@coosawfarms.com

QUEEN COORDINATOR Ann Bryant 30 E. Settlement Rd. Greenville, SC 29617 (C) 864-303-3995 (H) 864-246-7929 (W) 864-294-2191 ann.bryant@furman.edu

GOVERNMENT MARKETING LIAISON Matt Cornwell SC Department of Agriculture PO Box 11280 Columbia, SC 29211 (W) 803-734-2225 (C) 803-206-2409 mcornwell@scda.sc.gov

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Ellen Lloyd SC Department of Agriculture PO Box 11280 Columbia, SC 29211 (W) 803-734-9807 elloyd@scda.sc.gov

46th Annual Meeting | 1

Stevie Still Goat Hill Farms 3385 Friendship Road Olar, SC 29843 (W) 803-259-3626 (C) 803-793-7677 steviestill@yahoo.com

Mark Williams Williams Farms LLC 7622 Ashton Road Islandton, SC 29929 (W) 843-866-2740 x 256 (H) 843-866-2651 FAX 843-866-7778 (C) 843-893-7126 williamsfarm@lowcountry.com

LIFE TIME MEMBERS Tom Booth 1236 Edens Street Columbia, SC 29201 (W&H) 803-771-0189 Gerald A. Funderburk G.A. Funderburk Co. Inc. P.O. Box 338 Jefferson, SC 29718 (W) 843-658-3405 Hugh T. Lightsey Hightsey Farms P.O. Box 10 Brunson, SC 29911 (H) 803-632-3341 Lynn Youmans Youmans Farms P.O. Box 54 Furman, SC 29921 (W) 803-625-2902

2 0 1 8 ANNUAL MEET I NG S C H EDU LE OF EVENT S F R I D AY | J A N U A R Y 5 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Registration – Lobby of the Hilton

1:30 – 3:30 PM

Board of Directors Meeting SC Watermelon Promotion Board and SCWA Board members

4:00 – 6:00 PM

President’s Reception Light hors d’oeuvres, live music and cocktails

S AT U R D AY | J A N U A R Y 6 8:30 AM 10:00 AM

Registration Open Welcome Gilbert Miller | SCWA President Introduction of the SC Watermelon Queen Program Ann Bryant | SCWA Queen Coordinator Introduction of Queen Contestants | Speech & Promotions Wear Competition Blakely Johnson | 2017 SC Watermelon Queen Legislative Update Cassidy Evans | SC Farm Bureau National Watermelon Board Report Jason Hanselman | National Watermelon Promotion Board

12:00 – 1:30 PM

Lunch Seed Spitting Contest Queen Contestants and Guests | Stage Area Watermelon Queen Contest Interviews Judges and Queen Contestants Only

2:40 – 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Annual SCWA Live Auction and Social Gilbert Miller | SCWA President Watermelon Banquet Seated dinner, service begins at 7pm Introduction of Judges Ann Bryant | SCWA Queen Coordinator Evening Gown Competition Queen Contestants Auction Report Gilbert Miller | SCWA President Crowning of the 2018 South Carolina Watermelon Queen Commissioner Hugh Weathers Closing Remarks by President Gilbert Miller | SCWA President

9:00 PM

Melon Ball Cocktails & Dancing with DJ Gary Brantley 2 | South Carolina Watermelon Association

To my watermelon family: Thankful doesn’t even begin to describe how grateful I am for the opportunities I have been given this past year, I am blessed. God answers prayers and can see the deepest and most true desires of our hearts, and He sent me one of the biggest blessings of my life when I was chosen as the South Carolina Watermelon Queen. I take so much pride in this association and the members within it, and can only hope that I made you all proud by my representation. I cannot thank individuals because every single member of this association has bettered my year in some form, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Throughout my year, I was able to make unforgettable memories, make connections all over the country, and was able to travel and experience once in a life-time events. It was a privilege to represent our state of South Carolina to promote our industry, as well as the people within it. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to share my knowledge of the industry in such a rewarding capacity. Your confidence in me will always be treasured. I hope that each of you can review this past year and know that I served the watermelon association enthusiastically with my whole heart. In the upcoming years, I will continue to serve this association in every way I possibly can. If ever I could be of assistance in any other capacity, I would be honored. Again, I thank you all for the most rewarding experience of my life. I love you all and may God continue to bless this industry.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – A.A. Milne Regards,

Blakely Sullivan Johnson

46th Annual Meeting | 3

2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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1. Association Board Members and new SCWQ, Blakely Johnson, at the 2017 convention.

2. Getting ready for the runners at the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston.

3. Blakely with her proud family.

4. Spending time with Ray Vincent and Hamy Dicks at the North Carolina convention in Wrightsville Beach, NC. 5. Having fun with a special pink lady at the Alabama convention in Biloxi, MS.

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4 | South Carolina Watermelon Association

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2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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② 1. Commissioner Weathers enjoying the delicious watermelon at Taste of South Carolina.

2. Martin Eubanks with Queen Blakely at Taste of South Carolina in Columbia.

3. Lending support at the grand opening of a BJ’s Store in Sumter.

4. Selling Willis Farms watermelons at Harris Teeter in Hilton Head.

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5. Enjoying the Hampton Street Dance with Rusty Kinard and National Queen, Madison Laney, in Hampton.

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2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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1. Having fun with the Making It Grow crew in Columbia.

2. Making an early morning appearance in WLTX-TV in Columbia.

3. Memorial Day appearance on WSPA-TV in Greenville.

4. Another run and hydrating watermelon slices in Beaufort.

5. Getting ready for an interview on Low Country Live in Charleston.

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6 | South Carolina Watermelon Association

2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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② 1. Watermelon Field Day in Blackville.

2. Visiting with some of the guests at Field Day. 3. Blakely with her mentor, Gilbert Miller, in Blackville.

4. Giving a big hug to Will Willis at Willis Farms in Bamberg.

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5. Spending time with Denver and Scotty Sandifer at Sandifer Farms in Blackville.

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46th Annual Meeting | 7

2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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⑥ 1. Having a great afternoon at the State Farmers Market in Columbia.

2. What a welcome at Giant Foods in Rehoboth Beach, DE. 3. Crab Feast in Annapolis, MD. 4. Furman Paladins coaching staff, Greenville.

5. Blakely and Madison getting a tour of Coosaw Farms by Bradley and Louise O’Neal in Fairfax.

6. Boston, MA., and 4 Roche Bros. stores.

8 | South Carolina Watermelon Association

2017 S C P RO MOT I ONAL TOUR

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⑥ 1. Blakely attended the Rising Leaders Program in Washington, DC. 2. Having fun with the great group at PMA in New Orleans, LA. 3. The Gamecocks enjoyed the watermelon served to them in Columbia.

4. Charles Wingard of WP Rawl and Blakely taking a break between meetings in Washington, DC. 5. Meeting the Clemson Tigers with Billy and Barbara Jenkins in Clemson.

6. Blakely and Madison enjoying their tour of DC and the White House.

46th Annual Meeting | 9

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WHEN PERFORMANCE IS DOWN TO THE SCIENCE OF REPLENISHMENT

WATERMELON

FUELS ATHLETES WATERMELON IS A NATURAL SOURCE FOR Water ▪ Potassium ▪ Citrulline ▪ Arginine ▪ Vitamin C ▪ Lycopene ▪ Beta Carotene Smart Hydration ▪ Electrolytes ▪ Improved Circulation ▪ Better Recovery

Est.1975

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NOT ES

24 | South Carolina Watermelon Association

NOT ES

46th Annual Meeting | 25

S

a

Caro h li t n u o

Est. 1975

Watermelon Association

PO Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211 • (803) 734-2225 • Fax (803) 734-9808 S C WATE RME LON.ORG