Sep 14, 2017

Farwest Show Draws Nearly 6,000

Nearly 6,000 green industry professionals came to the 2017 Farwest Show for the chance to “Be Far From Ordinary.”

“It’s great when people in the industry can converge, share their knowledge, make new connections, and renew the relationships they’ve established previously,” Show Director Allan Niemi said. “The green industry is made of strong fabric and that’s due to the lasting connections people make, beginning with a face-to-face encounter and a handshake.”

Show offerings included the New Varieties Showcase and New Products Showcase, Retailer Idea Center and Grower Solution Center, a list of guest industry experts, three area nursery tours, new additions during and after show hours, networking opportunities and so much more.

What’s more, the week kicked off with a once-in-a-lifetime full solar eclipse that brought many show goers to Oregon before the show started.

Approximately 18 percent of those who attended the show’s three-day run (Aug. 23–25) were first-time attendees. The show hosted more than 400 exhibitors, including 57 first-time exhibitors. This year, the event brought attendees from 45 states in the U.S. and 22 countries from around the world.

Highlights from the show include an inspiring keynote from Terri McEnaney of Bailey Nurseries, 40+ new plant introductions in the New Varieties Showcase, seminar presentations from industry leaders Dan Hinkley, Brie Arthur, Leslie Halleck, Gary Lewis, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Sean Hogan and many others, the Farwest Pub Crawl, and stimulating gatherings for young nursery professionals (Emergent: A Group for Growing Professionals) and women in horticulture.