WCTPA Events, conventions
Summer Convention 2021
August 19-21
Seminars and trade show at the Merrill Fairgrounds Expo building Thursday afternoon and Friday all day at 2001 East 2nd Street, Merrill, WI.
Central Wisconsin Evergreens is planning to do the farm tour on Saturday. Download the farm article.
Book your hotel room early. Hotels in the Merrill area include AmericInn, 715-536-7979; Cobblestone Inn, 715-536-6880 or 888-693-8262; Econolodge, 715-536-9526.
Please contact the association office if you have questions.
Documents:
Vendor info
vendor registration page
Attendee registration form
General Info, Tentative Schedule
Tree contest rules; Wreath contest rules
Google map of the convention site
Sponsors:
Helena Agri-Enterprises
1506 Pleasant Dr
Wisconsin Dells WI 53965
E-Mail
www.helenaprofessional.com
PH: 608-516-4006
Plant protection chemicals, adjuvants & fertilizers. Featured product: Trycera - Selective broadleaf herbicide that offers outstanding brush control with lower volitilaty & odor.
Kirk International
N4080 State Rd 22
Wautoma WI 54982-5320
E-Mail
www.kirkcompany.com
PH: 920-787-3317
Kirk International is a family-owned, sustainable company that has been in business for over 100 years, producing quality Christmas trees, nursery products, and related industry supplies. We continue to invest in developing new products, expanding markets, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. The Kirk Company continues to push the boundaries while staying true to our commitment to providing our customers with quality products, buyer-focused solutions, and cutting-edge customer service.
Our Tree Life™ Family of products includes; hand balers and netting, both the granular and liquid nutrients, bio-degradable tree removal bags, watering funnel, floor protector, and the Car Top Carrier, a reusable, simple, fast, and secure way for transporting your Christmas Tree from the lot to your home. New this year is our Tri-Color Knit Netting in festive green, red and white. Kolors by Kirk brighten up your tree lots as well as drawn attention to them. Our traditional colorants have been a mainstay for Christmas Tree growers; we also offer a wide variety of grower supplies including shearing knives and chaps, pruners, flagging tape, safety equipment, and fertilizing supplies.
Visit our website for the complete history of our company as well as the full line of our products which may be ordered online or you can talk to our knowledgeable customer service staff at 800-252-5475.
Mitchell Metal Products
905 S State St, PO Box 207
Merrill WI 54452
E-Mail
www.mitchellmetalproducts.com
PH: 715-536-7176
Manufacturer of wreath rings, specialty wreath frames, clamp wreath machines. Carefully controlled manufacturing processes and specially produced wire assure our ring welds hold strong and our clamp rings securely fasten wreath materials to the ring. See us for all your wreath ring requirements.
Needlefast Evergreens Inc.
4075 W Hansen Rd
Ludington MI 49431
E-Mail
www.needlefastevergreens.com
PH: 877-255-0535
Literature only, not in attendance. CONVENTION SPONSOR. Needlefast Evergreens sells Christmas tree and reforestation seedlings and transplants as well as fresh cut Christmas trees.
Northwoods Evergreen & Wire Co.
W3125 Center Rd
Merrill WI 54452
E-Mail
shop.northwoodevergreen.com
PH: 715-536-6060
We sell and manufacture garland and wreath production equipment. Get your retailer and tree lot supplies, wreath rings, ribbon, picks and decorating supplies.
Peak Seasons
7240 Sycamore Canyon Blvd
Riverside CA 92508-4205
E-Mail
www.peakseasons.com
PH: 800-858-8733
CONVENTION SPONSOR. Peak Seasons has distribution centers in Wautoma, WI, Stockbridge, GA, & on the West Coast in Riverside, CA. We are the largest manufacturer of Christmas retail lot supplies, including Christmas flock, rebar stands, water bowls &Keep-it-Green tree preservative. We also have banners, signs & tags, wreaths rings & hangers, and tree removal bags. Also, sole manufacturer of Tim Mitchell Yulestands (rebar) and bowls.
Santa's Wholesale Supply
N9678 N Summit Lane
Summit Lake WI 54485
E-Mail
www.santasupplies.com
PH: 800-772-6827
CONVENTION SPONSOR. Everything you need to make a successful Christmas wreath and roping season. Awesome new wired specialty ribbons, picks, waterproof berry line and birds and butterflies. Great prices, great ideas and great service. Auction item: yes.
T H Agri-Chemicals Inc.
PO Box 265
Plainfield WI 54966
E-Mail
thagrichemicals.com
PH: 715-335-6343
CONVENTION SPONSOR. Supplier of Agriculture chemicals, foliar nutrients and fertilizers.
Wahmhoff Farms
11121 M-40 Hwy
Gobles MI 49055
E-Mail
www.mitrees.com
PH: 888-648-7337
Grower supplies, Answer Stands and Display System. Seedlings and transplants. Provides tree drilling for Christmas tree contest.
Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom
PO Box 5550
Madison WI 53705
E-Mail
www.wisagclassroom.org
PH: 608-828-5644
CONVENTION SPONSOR. Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom provides educational resources for pre-K-12th grade teachers and students about agriculture, natural resources, and related careers.
Tentative Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 19
10:00 am Board meeting
10:00-3 Vendors set up
1:00 Registration is open
3:00-6:00 Vendors open
5:30 Social time and picnic with vendors
Friday, Aug. 20
8:00 Registration Opens
8:00-11:30 Tree & Wreath Contest entries register & set up
8:15 Vendors open
9:00 DATCP Update
9:15 CT Promotion Board Update
10:30 Labor Expectations
11:30 Visit vendors
12:00 Lunch, Visit Vendors
12- 2 Tree & Wreath Judging
1:30 Fertilizer Expectations
2:45 Visit Vendors;
3:30 Annual Meeting (hear about product availability from growers)
4:15 Wis. board reconvenes
4:30 Social time with vendors
5:00 Vendors Close
5:30 Banquet
Saturday, Aug. 21
approx. 7:30 AM (definite time TBA)
Park vehicle at festival grounds & board a bus. Farm tour and demonstrations done before noon.
Presentations:
DATCP Update
Brooke Sanneh, Christmas Tree Program Manager, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 608-235-7861, brooke.sanneh@wisconsin.gov
What's bugging you? Brooke will update us on what the inspectors are finding and will answer questions you ask.
Christmas Tree Promotion Board Update
Marsha Gray, 517-242-1630
Find out how your money is being spent and how the program is reaching consumers.
Fertilizer Expectations: Precision Application of Nutrient in Christmas Trees
Chuck Bolte, Manager of Ag Consulting, 715-490-1011,
VAS/AgSource Laboratories, https://laboratories.agsource.com/
Chris Clark, 715-850-2888.
Chuck manages consulting services for VAS/AgSource Laboratories. In his role he oversees a staff of 11 consultants that provide soil testing, nutrient management planning, precision ag services, and crop scouting services throughout Wisconsin. Chuck has been employed by VAS/AgSource Laboratories for 25 years. Chris manages agronomy sales for VAS/AgSource Laboratories and oversees 4 other sales representatives with her primary focus on Wisconsin. Chris' focus is on sales of lab analysis services. Chris has been employed by VAS/AgSource for over 10 years.
Chuck and Chris will guide you thru the process of pulling soil samples by conventional methods to GPS sampling techniques, how samples are processed and analyzed in the lab, how to interpret the soil test, and finally options to apply nutrients to the field. On Saturday, you will hear and see how the farm host uses this.
Labor Expectations and H2A
Rosa Ortega, Foreign Labor Coordinator, Department of Workforce Development, Rosa.Ortega@dwd.wisconsin.gov
Office #608-266-7426, Cell #920-948-4708
State Workforce Agency (SWA) collaborates with DOL to administer this visa program to allow employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to fill jobs essential to Wisconsin’s economy: DWD Chapter 301, Migrant Labor Law.
Trees for Troops Presentation
Harry Peckham
This short presentation at the banquet will give you an idea of how the program affects the tree recipients. Bring cash for a special donation.
Winter Convention 2022
January 21-22 at the Fairfield by Marriott-Wausau, 715-241-8400
Order Supplies
Please order your supplies from our vendors who support our industry and association!