For more information, see the Third Quarter issue of Seed Today.

By Sarah Wilbanks, PhD

The 2024 AOSCA Annual Meeting held June 16-19 at Miramar Beach, FL was a huge success.

This is my third year as AOSCA CEO, and my tenth year at an AOSCA Annual Meeting, a drop in the bucket compared to our 105-year history. Much of our association has changed, and much has stayed the same.

What empowers me each day is the enthusiasm our members have for growing and enhancing our programs to situate themselves in the seed market.

Strategic Initiative Accomplishments: Member-Led Modernized Standards Book

Last year AOSCA announced our plans to create a modernized standards book.

This project has been a two-year process, consisting of three phases. Phase 1 was to review all crop standards. Phase 2 was to review all guidelines, and standard operating procedures. Phase 3 was to construct an easily accessible modernized standards book for our member agencies.

I am happy to report after the conclusion of this year’s annual meeting, we have completed the first two phases of the process and are looking forward to releasing the new book this fall.

Only two guidelines’ changes were submitted for this year’s meeting docket. A guideline for labeling/tagging hemp as well as Quality Assurance were submitted and were approved by the AOSCA Standards Council and Vested Members.

AOSCA Education

The second session of the AOSCA Academy was held during the annual meeting with over 20 participants in attendance.

This session took a deep dive into the innerworkings of the organization in an effort to assist in the success of each new director. Additionally, our members were able to have a hands-on learning session on Plant Patent Law led by Attorney Joel Cape with Cape Law Firm.

Finally, a marketing workshop helped all agencies define their audiences and targets for the next year. The AOSCA office additionally launched a marketing tool kit for agencies to use at agency-led initiatives.

AOSCA Awards Membership

At each Annual Meeting, AOSCA has the distinguished honor in presenting awards to some very deserving members.

Our most distinguished, the Honorary Membership award, was presented this year to Randy Judd (retired, Michigan Crop Improvement Association), and Ben Lang (retired, Minnesota Crop Improvement).

Years of service awards were also presented to: Joyce Kindvall (SD), 5 years; Kyle Stephens and Brad Stancil (SC), 15 years; Timothy Blank (CA) and Gail Harris (CAN), 20 years; Abed Anouti (AZ), Ken Bertsch (ND), Tom Hardiman (VA), Dan Olson, 25 years; Richard Arnett (MO), 40 years; and Jim Bostick (AL/FL), 55 years.

Leadership Announcement

During the annual meeting, AOSCA membership named Billy Skaggs as president of the Board of Directors for a second term.

Elected by membership, Skaggs has been a long- standing member of AOSCA representing the Georgia Crop Improvement Association, one of top five largest seed certifying agencies in the United States.

Additionally, the Board of Directors elected Doug Miller, executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, as vice president.

It is leaders like them that help organizations like AOSCA maintain relevancy in an ever-changing agricultural system.

For more information about AOSCA, please visit AOSCA.org, or email Dr. Sarah Wilbanks at swilbanks@aosca.org.

Sarah Wilbanks, PhD

Chief Executive Officer

swilbanks@aosca.org / aosca.org