Our annual meeting was held Saturday, January 22nd, at the Forsyth County Extension Office in WinstonSalem.  The morning began with a board of directors meeting followed by a short break before our seminars began at 1 p.m.  The Auxiliary and Junior Angus also held meetings during the day.
         
Our main speaker was Kevin Yon from Ridge Spring, South Carolina.  Kevin is a first generation farmer and he told us how he and his wife, Lydia got started.  You immediately saw his love for farming and how it has played an important role not only in his life, but the lives of his three children.  He and Lydia met in college and began managing an Angus farm after graduating from Clemson University.  Since the age of 14, Kevin’s dream had been to raise his children in a farming environment.  With three small children in tow, they embarked on a journey that is still evolving.  Showing pictures of the farm “then and now”, it is evident of the love for the journey the Yon Family is on. Daughter Sally who was 2010 Miss American Angus and sons Corbin and Drake are all very involved, not just with the cattle operation but with the other farming ventures as well.  In November, Kevin was elected to his first term as a board of director for the American Angus Association.  I want to thank Kevin for spending an afternoon with our Association to talk about his family farm operation and wish him well in his farming and his work as a board member for AAA.
         
We finished our seminars by recognizing our sponsors.  Those present were introduced, given a few minutes to explain their business and give us information on what they offered us as producers.
         
After a short break, the annual business meeting began, with President Dean Crocker welcoming everyone.  Minutes of the 2010 meeting and the 2010 financial report were handed out at the registration desk. We heard reports from each committee of their activities during 2010 and their plans for 2011.  The Junior Angus and the Auxiliary also presented their reports and plans for the upcoming year.  New board members Jo Linville, Chris Gragg, Randall Smith, Trip Smith and Eugene Shuffler were elected and Dean thanked the retiring directors Linda Hicks, T.W. Wall, Eddie Leagans, John Smith and Kenny Woodard for serving the last three years. The board members met to elect officers for 2011—elected were President, Jim Scarlett and Vice President, Roy Swisher.
         
Attendees had the opportunity to visit with one another during the social hour before the banquet began.  Annual meeting committee chairman, Roy Swisher acted as the master of ceremonies during the evening.  After a delicious Prime Rib dinner, we got down to the business of award presentations, Junior booster recognition and the always fun time for auctioning donated items and the preferred handbook pages.

Thank you to the annual meeting committee for another wonderful educational and fun filled day.  Thank you to everyone who attended, to the sponsors who made it all possible for a minimal cost to the attendees and to Amy Thomas, Livestock Agent for Forsyth County who is always there to help us with any need we have.  Plans are already under way for 2012 - see you there!!