Meeting/Event Information

Resource Challenges for the Conservationist: Global, Regional, and Local

Global, Regional, and Local is the theme of the 2021 Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society’s annual meeting. Alabama has abundant natural resources from aquatic biodiversity to beautiful streams, rivers, lakes, and shoreline. We will explore current research, management strategies, and how soil and water conservation professionals can manage and protect Alabama’s land and water resources.

We hope this conference will help us to better understand our soil and water resources so we can make better choices for protecting and improving them.

Program Overview:

Major topics featured during the workshop and conference are:

• Wednesday: Climate, Stormwater Trends, Water Resources Conservation, Pesticides, Solar Power

• Thursday Field Tour: Opelika Streetscape, Stream Restoration, Irrigation, Cover Crops, AU Erosion and Control Test Facility, Hemp Production

• Friday: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Pollinators, Native Plants, Hemp Production

Schedule of Events:

• Wednesday, Aug. 18 Technical Session

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Exhibitor Set-Up/Registration

  • 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Keynote Speaker/Technical Sessions

• Thursday, Aug. 19 Field Tour

  • 7:00 am - 8:00 am Breakfast/Registration/Exhibits/Silent Auction

  • 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Field Tour (lunch provided)

  • 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Committee Meetings/Exhibits/Silent Auction

  • 6:00 pm Dinner (provided) at Resting Pulse Brewing Company (714 1st Ave, Opelika, AL 36801)

• Friday, Aug. 20 Business Meeting and Technical Session

  • 7:00 am - 8:00 am Breakfast/Registration/Exhibits/Silent Auction

  • 8:00 am - 9:00 am Business Meeting for Alabama Chapter

  • 9:30 am - 10:30 am Technical Sessions

  • 10:45 am End of Silent Auction

  • 10:45 am - 12 pm Technical Sessions and Concluding Remarks

  • 12 noon Silent Auction Winners Pay/Pick-up Items

Hotel Reservations:

• La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Opelika-Auburn, 3151 Capps Way, Opelika, AL 36804, (334) 748-9000. Special rate is $99.00 + tax per night. Be sure to indicate that you are with the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

• Click here to make hotel reservations at the La Quinta - HOTEL RESERVATIONS

• Directions to the hotel are available here.
  

Continuing Education and Professional Development:

The conference provides high quality workshop, technical sessions, and a field trip that is relevant to Professional Engineers, Certified Professionals in Erosion and Sediment Control, Certified Crop Advisors, Landscape Architects, and Professional Geologists.

Conference Registration:

Please register for the conference at your earliest convenience. The registration fee covers all meetings and scheduled events.

Exhibits and Sponsorships:

Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Skip Ragsdale at (205) 674-5656 or (205) 790-4334 for additional information or [email protected].

We expect a turnout of approximately 75-100 SWCS members and non-members. Vendor space and sponsorship opportunities are available. Inside technical sessions will be August 18 & 20 along with a break with vendors. A field tour will take place on August 19th. Attendees will have access to vendor exhibits throughout the conference and visiting will be encouraged during breaks and other times when presentations are not being made.

Vendor Package:

• $300 (Per 4’x10’ Booth Space) - includes two full registrations

Sponsorship Opportunities:

• Drinks & Snack Break (Wednesday, August 18) - $250

• Bus Drinks & Snack (Thursday, August 19) - $250

• Lunch For Field Trip (Thursday, August 19) - $750

• Dinner After Field Trip (Thursday, August 19) - $1,000

• Breakfast (Pastries & Coffee) (Friday, August 20) - $250

• Drinks & Snack Break (Friday, August 20) - $250

SILENT AUCTION: Proceeds will to the SWCS student chapters at Alabama A&M and Tuskegee University. If
you company/organization is willing to donate items to the silent auction, please bring items on August 18.

Questions?

Contact Jesse Joiner at (334) 321-8269 for more information about the meeting.

***COVID-19 protocol will be followed for the event based on the requirements of the State of Alabama, Opelika Sportsplex, and other facilities.