The Spring meeting of the Kentucky Nut Growers Association(KNGA) will be held Saturday, April 23, 2005, at the Harding Co. Agricultural Extension offic in Elizabethtown, KY, beginning at 9:30 EDT. The Extension Office is located just off U.S. 62, about two miles west from downtown Elizabethtown - directly behind the Cecelia Auto Sales lot on Peterson Dr. KNGA signs will be posted.

Luncheon is potluck - if you bring something that needs to be heated/warmed, there is a well-equipped kitchen available

Program

I. Board of Directors Meeting

II. General meeting & report on the association

III. Nut display - one of the main attractions, an exhibit of the various nut species and specimens of many of the named varieties. As available, members usually bring in baskets of sample nuts for the attendees to crack and compare. A wide variety of nutcrackers are usually available for use/trial/comparison.

IV. Scionwood swap - members bring in dormant-collected scionwood from their favorite nut, pawpaw, persimmon, and fruit trees to trade with other enthusiasts. Also frequently available are pawpaw seeds and other plant materials. Be sure to bring plastic bags, moisture proof wrappings, rubber bands, tape, nametags, etc. to ensure proper identification of scionwood varieties and to preserve viability of plant materials you'd like to share or take home.

V. Door Prizes/Auction - members and nurserymen donate plant materials and other items for door prizes, or to go into the plant auction held annually to help raise operating funds for KNGA. Grafted and seedling fruit & nut trees, berry plants, flowers, and ornamental plants are commonly available for purchase during the auction. 50-100 northern pecan seedlings are anticipated to be available as door prizes.

VI. Grafting demonstration - members who are accomplished grafters usually conduct demonstrations on proper technique for grafting nut trees.

The Spring KNGA meeting is the social event of the year for me - a chance to meet up with old friends, discuss the previous year's production, procure new fruit/nut varieties, and I always learn something new.

Hope to see you there.

Lucky