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You are here: Home / Archives for Jim Simnitt

What a long, strange run it’s been

By Jim Simnitt — Posted October 20, 2020

One year ago, I assumed the position of OAN president. I likened it to starting a long training run. I felt apprehension about my readiness, but I was excited for the challenge. Boy, I had no idea what was in store. The first major obstacle was like going up the first hill in a run. […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

Complete this picture

By Jim Simnitt — Posted September 28, 2020

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is our trade association that helps keep us working and growing. The volunteer leaders and professional staff that make up the OAN connect us, market our plants, and above all else advocate on our behalf to the politicians and government officials in Salem and Washington DC. I am really excited […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

The silver linings of COVID-19

By Jim Simnitt — Posted September 1, 2020

When the pandemic started, it threw our businesses and lives into chaos. It was difficult to follow as scientists continually discovered more about the disease, and we all had to adapt. Social distancing slowed many of our plant production processes, and trips to the grocery store became infrequent. As we come into September and the […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

An important partnership

By Jim Simnitt — Posted July 29, 2020

In 1888, the Oregon Agriculture College (OAC) established a horticulture department with sights on building a single greenhouse and creating its own laboratories to conduct experiments. In the subsequent 132 years, OAC became Oregon State University (OSU) and the horticulture department has grown. When I graduated from OSU in horticulture 20 years ago, there were […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Oregon State University, OSU

OAN takes a financial hit

By Jim Simnitt — Posted July 1, 2020

I miss baseball. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, the start of the Major League Baseball season was postponed. I’m hopeful there will be some baseball games before the end of summer. I’m not a die-hard fan by any means, but I played a lot growing up. Summer was a time for batting gloves, infield […]

Filed Under: Columns, Coronavirus, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

Guides along life’s journey

By Jim Simnitt — Posted May 26, 2020

Throughout life, we run across people who affect us in positive ways. Teachers, coaches and friends can all have an influence upon us that lasts a lifetime. Within the nursery industry, mentors can be found just about anywhere. They can be bosses, co-workers, or even competitors down the road. They can also be family members […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

President’s Message: Into the unknown

By Jim Simnitt — Posted April 24, 2020

Spring is a hectic time. Add in a worldwide pandemic with economic uncertainties, and it can be a recipe for disaster. The most unnerving aspect is the unknown. As an industry, we are accustomed to unpredictable weather. We see damaging frosts, rainy weekends, and hot, dry summers stressing the growing season. These are all hiccups […]

Filed Under: Columns, Coronavirus, President's Message Tagged With: COVID19, Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

Lending our future a hand

By Jim Simnitt — Posted March 27, 2020

The nursery industry as a whole is mutually supportive. We help each other out. There is always someone willing to assist a fellow nursery or talk with someone looking to start a career in this great industry. One of the ways Oregon Association of Nurseries members help each year is to promote horticultural education through […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, President's Message

Our voice matters

By Jim Simnitt — Posted February 26, 2020

In February, I joined a group of the OAN’s Government Relations Committee members on a trip to Salem. We met with legislators to talk about the current session and how multiple bills directly relate to, and impact, our nursery industry.  Ten or more years ago, this would have been an “off year” — the legislature would […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Instant gratification

By Jim Simnitt — Posted January 23, 2020

This past fall I was able to take time away from my nursery and visit a few of our new retail customers. It’s always great to get out and see how the retail sector of our industry is doing. One of the things that kept coming up was an emerging trend of “just in time” […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, President's Message

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