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You are here: Home / Archives for Columns / Director's Desk

B2B interaction meets the next horizon

By Jeff Stone — Posted January 25, 2021

The Oregon Association of Nurseries exists for one purpose — to help the members succeed in growing the best plants in the world. Oregon’s growers are doing their part. Recent data show the industry once again surpassing the $1 billion mark in sales. Resiliency never has had a better example than our members. They got […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Trade Shows

Milestones and new beginnings

By Jeff Stone — Posted January 6, 2021

As we turn the page to 2021, many people take a moment around this time to reflect and rekindle the embers of a fresh start. Our natural surroundings can serve as a reminder of this process. Sprouting plants and budding trees signal new beginnings. Our industry plays an important role in that process. Many trees […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Leading with a purpose

By Jeff Stone — Posted November 24, 2020

The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) remains, by its very definition and mission, a member-driven, service- and advocacy-oriented green industry force. It seems like a decade ago back in March 2020 when the industry and country were tossed into the abyss of COVID-19. Now that the last chapter of 2020 is being written, we should […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, directors desk, OAN, OAN Members

Strength and wisdom

By Jeff Stone — Posted October 20, 2020

An adage says ‘behind every great man is a great woman,’ but it seems archaic to bring up these days with the budding ascension of so many women as national leaders. My two politically-active and college-aged daughters have watched Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California become a viable national force in real […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

One industry, one voice

By Jeff Stone — Posted September 28, 2020

Welcome to the Advocacy Issue of Digger. We have devoted most of this issue to showing you how the Oregon Association of Nurseries gets involved in policymaking and advocacy on behalf of the members. We wanted to take you “inside” and show you our mindset as well as the process and methods we follow. We […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, directors desk, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Our Oregon ‘Field of Dreams’

By Jeff Stone — Posted September 1, 2020

OK. The pandemic sucks, and not just for the reason of a legitimately insidious virus causing a massive loss of life and economic carnage. We are weary and fatigued with COVID-19 as it stretches into its seventh month. For certain, the year 2020 has enough memes to make it a standalone chapter in our lives. […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

Reflections on Farwest

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world’s social and economic norms with shelter-in-place orders and social distancing. Unfortunately, it has also turned the business of large events upside down — including the Farwest Show. That’s why you’re holding a Farwest Edition of Digger without a show to attend this year. Oregon growers define the show The […]

Filed Under: Columns, Coronavirus, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Farwest, Farwest Show, OAN, OAN Members

America needs our vote

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 1, 2020

At a time of national challenge, we can either look at what divides us or what unites us. Our nursery community is a critical ingredient in the great American experiment. We are a blessed and privileged few. America is only as strong as her citizens. Our nation is a cauldron of different perspectives, ideologies and […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Becoming a Zoom Jedi master

By Jeff Stone — Posted May 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced me to work at home, isolated in what I have started calling “the 64th Avenue Bunker.” As a result, my family has gained a deeper understanding of my severe technological deficits. They commonly hear me uttering phrases like, “I just want it to work!” I am not quite to the […]

Filed Under: Columns, Coronavirus, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, directors desk, OAN, OAN Members

Director’s Desk: We have your back

By Jeff Stone — Posted April 24, 2020

Gardening is not canceled. Oregon’s nursery, greenhouse, retail and supply chains are open for business. Our state and governor could have mandated full closures and declared our businesses non-essential. The fact they didn’t do this is a credit to the OAN’s leadership and its advocacy team. They were the perfect picture of vision, pure effort […]

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

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NURSERY NEWS

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

March: The Perennials Issue

February: The Greenhouse Issue

January 2026: The Retail Issue

November 2025: The Transportation Issue

October 2025

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

Meet the Leader: Patrick Peterson

More member stories

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