BUFFALO/NIAGARA 2009

American Dairy Goat Association

105th Annual Meeting and Convention

Adam’s Mark Hotel

Buffalo,  New York

October 10-17,  2009

We invite you to put on your best dancin’ shoes and “Shuffle off to Buffalo” for the 105^th annual meeting and convention of the American Dairy Goat Association.  The convention will be held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo, New York during the week of October 10-17^th.  This event is being hosted by the New York State Dairy Goat Breeders Association, Inc along with several other clubs and breeders throughout District II as well as Ontario, Canada.

An ADGA convention is a very unique event.  Throughout the week you will have the opportunity to experience many educational and informative seminars and workshops given by several nationally known and professional presenters and veterinarians, participate in programming geared especially for youth, experience the Board of Directors meeting, visit the vendor area where you will find anything and everything related to goats, go through a training conference process to become a licensed judge, attend breed club meetings, artificial insemination workshops, cheese and soap making workshops, attend continuing education programming for the Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, attend the Pioneer Program presentation, take planned tours of several historical and fun places throughout western New York and the Niagara region, attend the several dinners planned throughout the week, and then, wrap up the week with the exciting Spotlight Sale!  For many the favorite part of the week is the entertainment and socializing that takes place where you catch up with old friends and make new ones from throughout the country………all with the same interest in common………dairy goats!!

Buffalo is situated in the westernmost part of New York state, right on the easternmost shores of Lake Erie and the border with Canada.  The mouth of the mighty Niagara River forms at Buffalo where it flows about 15 miles downstream to “Goat Island” which creates the American and Canadian sides of one of the great natural wonders of the world………Niagara Falls!! Many have heard of the legendary daredevils who have tried their luck going over the falls in a barrel……which still occasionally happens today……hence the theme of our unique logo!  October in New York is beautiful.  It is harvest time when the days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool and crisp.  Its also the magical time of year when the leaves change their color which makes for a very vibrant and scenic time with the gently rolling hills that make up this part of the state.

Buffalo is a very historic city with many places of interest that include the terminus of the Erie Canal, the inauguration site of President Theodore Roosevelt and the Buffalo Naval Park which are all within walking distance of the hotel.  There are several trendy neighborhoods to explore including historic Allentown, Delaware Ave, the eclectic Elmwood Strip and Hertel Ave to name a few where you will find a variety of very unique and one-of-a-kind restaurants, shops, theaters, galleries, museums, the zoo and unlimited nightly entertainment.  Be sure you make time to visit the “Anchor Bar”……..home of the original world-famous Buffalo Chicken Wing!!..........an experience you surely won’t want to miss!  There are tours scheduled throughout the week that will include trips to Goat Island at Niagara Falls where you can get out and explore both the American and Canadian sides of the Falls.  You can take a ride on an old fashioned steam engine on the historical Arcade and Attica railroad and tour local feed mills.  There are other possible tours in the works.  Check out the website for the latest updates.  There are also many different and exciting historical and fun places to visit across the border in Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, Ontario but for those wishing to cross the border into Canada, please remember that you MUST be in possession of a valid U.S. passport to return back into the U.S.

While the main focus of attending a convention is the educational and informative seminars that are held during the day, there is plenty to keep you busy every evening as well.  The culmination of the youth events will take place on Monday night with the YOUTH BANQUET.  The Youth Representative contest will be held at this time as well as the finals of quiz bowl and youth awards. 

Tuesday night will feature the WELCOME DINNER.  We will welcome everyone to New York and Buffalo with a tasty selection of Buffalo-styled cuisine.  This will be our theme event as well.  Buffalo is well known as a big sports town with our beloved teams………..the Bills, Sabres and Bisons and we are well known for “tail-gate” partying.  We are asking everyone who is attending to come to our tail-gate party decked out in their favorite team apparel.  Come dressed in your favorite team sweatshirts, jerseys and ball caps  and show your local pride.  Lets see how many different areas of the US and Canada will be represented!  Also included with the Tuesday night evening dinner we will have the preliminary General Membership meeting and the 2009 edition of the Pioneer Program presented by Sheila Nixon which salutes several breeders and herds who have made an impact with dairy goats over time. 

While there is no scheduled dinner on Wednesday evening, we encourage everyone to get out and explore the city and try out some of our great restaurants, delis or pizza/wing/sub shops.  We will all gather afterwards for the annual KARAOKE NIGHT dedicated in memory of one of the most diehard convention goers there ever was and past ADGA President Lelia Berry who passed away not long after last years convention.  Lets salute and remember Lelia by bringing out those big feather boas that she was so well known for at so many ADGA banquets!!!  The karaoke night has proven to be a popular event the last few years so plan to stay up late and sing your heart out!!!!! 

Thursday night will be the culmination of the cheese, soap, and products judging with the PRODUCTS RECEPTION.  Goat cheeses from producers all over the U.S. and Canada will be showcased at this event and when paired up with a selection of local wines from the world famous Finger Lakes and Niagara regions of New York State will make for a very elegant evening.  The awards from the cheese and products judging will be presented at this event as well as the auctioning of the entries from the “Get Your Goat” art competition and the “Flashlight Sale” of youth art crafts. 

The Friday night BANQUET AND BALL will be the night you surely won’t want to miss.  Dig back in those closets and find those tux’s and ball gowns and come “Dressed to Impress”!!!  Many awards will be handed out this evening, among them, the prestigious Mary L Farley award and several Historic Herdnames.  Now is when those dancin’ shoes will come in handy as we dance the night away to the live band, the “Earthquakers”!!  (www.earthquakers.com)  These guys have played for us at several past banquets and they have proven to be very popular.  Don’t miss this night!! 

Saturday morning will begin with the wrap-up of the General Membership meeting and then we all gather to enjoy the CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH.   At precisely 11:00 the auctioneer’s gavel will signal the start of the SPOTLIGHT SALE!!  Seventeen of the highest quality animals consigned by herds from coast to coast will be paraded across the stage, in glitter and glam, to be sold to the highest bidder.  The bidding can get frenzied and the excitement it creates is a great way to close out the week!

No convention would be complete without an extensive vendor and display area.  Vendors offering everything from trinkets and knick-knacks to supplies, books, milking equipment, AI supplies and semen to a wide variety of equipment. will be available.  If you are interested in being a vendor, contact Pete Snyder pgsnyder13@yahoo.com for a vendor form.  Several raffles will be held as well.  One that is sure to be very popular this year is a “memory quilt” that was hand made by a local Amish woman and the squares feature logos of many past ADGA conventions.  This surely is something that  will appeal to any ADGA member.  Tickets will of course be available during the convention or can be found on the convention website for those that aren’t able to attend. 

We rely heavily on sponsorships to help us keep registration costs down for our attendees.  Our generous sponsors are given tremendous publicity throughout the week.  If you would like to be a sponsor, or know of someone who would, please contact Patty Davis silverwood_farm@yahoo.com or Shirley McKenzie adgascm@aol.com for an application.  We are offering mini-sponsorships this year to breeders at $25 and $50 levels.  Other commercial sponsorships begin at only $100 so no matter how small or large your business or herd is, you have the opportunity to support the ADGA convention with your sponsorship.

The Adam’s Mark Hotel (120 Church St, Buffalo, NY  14202) is a very spacious facility which includes an indoor pool, a spa, health club, fitness area, lounge and a first rate restaurant.  There will be nightly entertainment each night for all attendees featuring a DJ and dance area.  Buffalo and the Adam’s Mark are easily accessible by vehicle via Interstate 90 in New York or the QEW in Ontario.  The hotel is an easy 15 minute drive from the Buffalo/Niagara International airport which serves the following airlines: AirTran, American, Delta, Continental, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Air. Taxi and shuttle service to the hotel is available for a fee. (Plan on sharing a taxi fare with other convention attendees to get the best savings). Toronto is a very easy one hour drive along the QEW for those Canadians planning on attending. The hotel is serviced by a parking garage with free parking for all registered hotel guests.  There is limited outdoor parking on the hotel property for large trucks, RV’s and stock trailers.  Off site parking is available.

Room rates at the Adam’s Mark are $98.50/night.  This special rate is only available to ADGA members until September 9^th.  So get those reservations made today by going to the ADGA website www.adga.org and clicking on the Buffalo/Niagara 2009 logo and then click on the “hotel information” option.  Or if you prefer calling 1-800-444-ADAM and tell them you are with ADGA for the reduced rates.  Don’t forget, the convention registration fees must be postmarked by September 25^th to ADGA to avoid late fees.

The 2009 ADGA convention promises to be a great time. The members of the NYSDGBA look forward to welcoming you to Buffalo and the “Empire State” as you prepare to experience all the educational and informational sessions as well as the entertainment and social events which make an ADGA convention a memorable experience for one and all!!! 

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