The final evening of the 2026 SCAA Mid-Year Meeting was one to remember as members and their families gathered for our Off to the Races Derby Party. From exciting horse races and friendly competition to laughter, generosity, and celebration, the evening perfectly captured the spirit of togetherness that defined this year’s Mid-Year Meeting.

Throughout the night, attendees of all ages became horse racing enthusiasts as they placed bets on eight live-streamed races, courtesy of Monte Carlo Productions. With each race came cheers, celebrations, and a little friendly rivalry as everyone watched their winnings grow before cashing in their play money for the evening’s auction.

Before the auction began, we recognized the winners of this year’s Golf Tournament, Clay Shoot Tournament, and Pickleball Tournament, celebrating the friendly competition that had taken place throughout the week. We also crowned our Best Dressed winners David and Deana Young of Vulcan Materials Company, with members embracing the Derby theme in style through colorful attire, eye-catching hats, and plenty of racing-day flair.

The excitement continued with a live auction featuring ten incredible raffle prizes generously donated by our members and sponsors, including gift cards from Quikrete, Kemper, and Austin Powder; a bourbon infuser kit from Conn-Weld; Turtlebox Rangers from Vulcan Materials Compnay and Macemore; YETI backpack coolers from Master Power Transmission and Purple Wave; a leather shotgun case from Dobbs Equipment; and a bottle of Blanton’s Bourbon from NorX.

A special thank you goes to Tyler Covington of Purple Wave Auctions, who stepped in as our impromptu auctioneer for the evening. His energy, enthusiasm, and quick wit kept the crowd engaged and turned the auction into one of the most entertaining moments of the entire conference.

As the final auction item, a YETI backpack cooler sparked an unforgettable bidding war. Members began pooling their play money together, driving the winning bid to more than $1 million in ‘Derby Dollars’. Just when everyone thought the excitement had reached its peak, Purple Wave surprised the crowd by donating a second backpack cooler to the runner-up bidder, creating one final memorable moment that perfectly reflected the generosity and camaraderie of our membership.

As the evening came to a close, it was clear that the ‘Off to the Races’ Derby Party represented much more than the final event on the schedule. It was a celebration of the relationships built throughout the week, the friendships that continue to strengthen our association, and the spirit of collaboration that defines the South Carolina Aggregates Association.

To every attendee, sponsor, volunteer, speaker, committee member, and partner who helped make this year’s Mid-Year Meeting a success, thank you. Your participation, generosity, and enthusiasm created an unforgettable week of learning, networking, and fellowship.

Until next time, thank you for making the 2026 SCAA Mid-Year Meeting a true celebration of togetherness.