Another successful ASTA CSS and Seed Expo comes to a close today and nearly 3000 attendees are returning home with a week full of industry contacts and information to digest before the holidays.
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon was thrilled with this year’s attendance and informative program that included a great session on her main passion – cover crops. “The panel was fantastic … to get all those different perspectives and just connecting the dots and get everybody talking about it,” she said.
Communications is also a passion for Risa, especially communicating the significance of the seed industry. “We have such a great story to tell,” she said. “Everything around you starts with a seed, that’s where everything begins.” DeMasi is also pleased with the increased media attention at the CSS/Seed Expo and thankful for BASF for sponsoring the media room to give those who attend a comfortable and functional working space.
With the conclusion of this event, Risa is looking forward to the 2016 ASTA annual meeting which will be held June 18-22 in her home state. “It will be in Portland, Oregon and we’re very excited about doing it in conjunction with the Oregon Seed Association … it’s just another opportunity for us to get together and talk about our shared values and how we can tell our story on a bigger stage,” she said.
Between now and June, ASTA members will be heading to Washington DC in the spring to “storm The Hill” again and tell their stories to members of Congress. DeMasi says ASTA’s 2015 legislative event set new records in terms of membership involvement and the number of meetings they had with legislators.
Listen to my interview with Risa here: Interview with ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi
ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo Photo Album
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