Farwest Show to feature automation, education and networking opportunities

The 2026 Farwest Show will bring together nursery and garden industry professionals Aug. 26-28 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, with 45 hours of educational programming, a new Automation Summit, guided nursery tours and networking events designed to address the industry’s latest challenges and opportunities.

Education will include seminars across five career tracks: business, garden communication, grower, pest management and landscaping. Green industry economist Charlie Hall will deliver the opening keynote, while attendees can also earn continuing education credits through nine hours of pesticide-related training, including eight hours offered in Spanish. In addition, 14 Solution Center mini-sessions on the expo floor will cover topics such as pruning, new products, research updates and plant selection at no additional cost.

Automation will be a featured theme throughout the show. A free Automation Summit on Aug. 26 will bring together technology providers and nursery growers to discuss robotics, drones, automation systems and other tools that can improve efficiency, reduce labor challenges and increase production consistency. Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, said the industry continues to evolve as growers seek new ways to improve operations and meet changing business demands.

Before the show opens, attendees can participate in guided tours of Oregon nursery operations on Aug. 25. The Wholesale Grower Tour and Propagation Tour have sold out, while limited space remains on the Automation Tour, which will visit nurseries using automated production systems, smart irrigation and data-driven management technologies.

The show will also feature the Farwest Happy Hour on Aug. 26 and the Farwest Pub Crawl on Aug. 27, both included with registration. Early-bird registration ends July 31.