Maryland Department of Agriculture Hosts the 78th Annual Southern Weights and Measures Association Conference

The 78th Annual Southern Weights and Measures Association (SWMA) Conference was hosted by the department at the DoubleTree Hotel in Annapolis from October 8-11, 2023. This is the first time since 2006 that Maryland was the host state for the conference, which was led by Alison Wilkinson, 2023 President of the SWMA and Chief of Weights and Measures at the department. The purpose of the annual conference was to discuss and vote regionally on new proposals and amendments that will be voted upon at the 109th National Conference on Weights and Measures in Cleveland, Ohio in July 2024.

The SWMA conference had over 60 attendees, which included both retired and current Weights and Measures Inspectors who attended the President’s Reception, Open Hearings, and the SWMA Outing. The current National Conference on Weights and Measures Chairman Gene Robinson, and Chairman Elect Marc Paquette, were in attendance as well. Secretary Kevin Atticks addressed the conference attendees on behalf of Maryland Department of Agriculture during opening ceremonies and Assistant Secretary Cassie Shirk attended, as well. The department is grateful to the Anne Arundel County High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps for providing a color guard for the ceremony. 

The outing was held at the Annapolis Maritime Museum where guests of the conference were able to enjoy the waterfront and museum exhibits. During closing ceremonies, current SWMA President, Maryland’s Alison WIlkinson, passed the gavel to the 2024 SWMA President Elect, Christina Osborn of the Texas Department of Agriculture.