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Many Lubbock residents
might not know about one of the Hub City’s best-kept secrets. Even
many of the farmers and ranchers familiar with the agricultural industry
might not be aware that Lubbock is home to one of the largest regional
seed associations in the country: the Southern Seed Association.
The Southern Seed
Association (SSA) began in 1919. It has been functioning for 83 years
as a trade support organization for the southern seed industry as well
as worldwide seed production. While the SSA mostly concentrates on 16
southern states including Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, it is also a
national and international organization. Its 500 members come from many
of the 50 states, and from as far as Canada and Central America. Over
one-fourth of its members reside in locations outside of the 16-state
area.
Dr. Dick Auld, Texas
Tech University professor and plant and soil science department chair,
is the executive vice president of the SSA. He is in charge of directing
and coordinating the SSA’s activities.
Auld says companies should join the SSA “to gain professional accreditation,
to develop business contacts, to help build the seed industry and to develop
a common voice for the seed industry in government activities.” However,
there are numerous other benefits available to members.
The SSA publishes
the eSSAy newsletter, which is distributed to members every other month.
The newsletter includes industry and association news, a report of state
association conventions and a timeline of upcoming state association conventions.
The SSA also produces
an Annual Directory and Buyers’ Guide. Kathy Robertson, office manager
of the SSA for seven years, says she thinks this is the most beneficial
aspect of being a member of the SSA.
“The directory
is something that members can pick up on a daily basis. It has all of
the information they need at their fingertips including contact information,
a description of the company and field seed listings, ” Robertson
said.
The Annual Directory
and Buyers’ Guide is an abundant source of information for anyone
in the agricultural industry. The 2001-2002 edition is filled with over
200 pages of information. One of the major parts of the directory is the
Field Seed Listings section, which is a classified listing of field seeds
from aeschynomene to zoysiagrass. Following the field seed listings is
a comprehensive listing of allied lines, equipment and services. In this
section, members can look up companies that sell anything from acid delinting
equipment to wildlife seed mixtures. The directory continues with an alphabetical
listing of the voting and associate members. Voting members are those
from the 16-state area the SSA primarily serves. The directory is filled
with additional information such as a quick reference section, a key personnel
section and a summary of noxious weed labeling requirements.
Another highlight
of membership of the SSA is the Annual Convention and Trade Show. In 2002,
the convention was held in Las Vegas at Bally’s Hotel. The week was
filled with many activities for members and attendees. Auld said the devotional
service was the highlight of his first convention as executive vice president.
“An industry
that joins in a common fellowship conducts its business at the highest
levels,” he said.
Robertson said there
were many highlights of this year’s convention for her. One of them
was when the only woman to ever be a member of the Executive Committee
became an honorary member of the association. Janie Boone of Master Seed
Brokers in Jonesboro, Ark. was the inductee. This year was the first year
SSA sponsored a golf tournament, which was a big success with about 60
people participating. The convention also showcased several speakers.
Drew Kinder with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) spoke at the
general session. Other speakers included Greg Lowry with the American
Oil Seed Chemists Association (AOSCA) and Leslie Cahill, the Vice President
of ASTA.
The SSA is looking
to the future of the seed industry. According to Robertson, in 2002 they
have about 500 voting and associate members combined.
Their goals for this
year are to “develop new ways to serve the membership and enhance
communication across the industry,” Auld said.
As always, members
can look forward to receiving the newsletter every other month and the
annual directory, which will be distributed this fall. Next year’s
convention will be held in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Renaissance Worthington.
Auld said that most
importantly, businesses should join the SSA because, “the SSA provides
a forum where professional standards and ethics of the seed industry are
developed.”
For more information
about the SSA, contact Kathy Robertson at (806) 749-SEED, visit them at
624 27th St. in Lubbock or on the Web at www.seedsmen.com.
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