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You are here: Home / Archives for Columns / President's Message

President’s Message: Effective communication

By Ben Verhoeven — Posted November 21, 2024

Over the next year. I’d like to use this column to share some of those ideas and introduce you to the people who inspired them. My first foray brings me to Smith Gardens in Aurora, Oregon, where I learned a lesson in effective communication.

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

Growth means more when it’s a team

By Ben Verhoeven — Posted October 24, 2024

When you think about growing, what comes to mind? Root structure and branching? Fertility and weed management? Perhaps it is personal growth. Greenhouse structures and irrigation design? Or business and community? For me it is cultural growth — how a group solves problems together, makes small, meaningful improvements, how they interact with the outside world, […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message

Thanks for the memories

By Amanda Staehely — Posted September 26, 2024

It is hard for me to believe that a year has already gone by since I wrote my first President’s Message. What an incredible year it was!

Filed Under: President's Message

Excited for a new season and a new year

By Amanda Staehely — Posted September 10, 2024

Fall is almost here, and I can feel the change happening. To me it is always the most obvious that seasonal change is upon us first thing every day. There is nothing like that cool, crisp morning with a beautiful sunrise and a light layer of fog covering the ground. I thoroughly welcome that change […]

Filed Under: President's Message

Farwest has value now, and for future generations

By Amanda Staehely — Posted July 29, 2024

I believe many of us who were lucky enough to grow up within this industry have a few special memories or events that stand out to them. For me, and I am sure many others, the Farwest Show is almost nostalgic for that reason. Getting to work in the Simnitt Nursery booth was a highlight […]

Filed Under: Farwest Show, President's Message

Helping others succeed distinguishes our industry

By Amanda Staehely — Posted June 24, 2024

One of my favorite things about this association and this industry in general, is everyone’s willingness to help and guide one another. As my husband, Wayne, started Columbia Nursery, he called countless people — truly too many to mention. There was always someone to answer his questions on grafting, business planning, where to buy nursery items, […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message

A little bit of mud never hurts

By Amanda Staehely — Posted May 28, 2024

I have said it many times before, but I truly didn’t see myself becoming a nurserywoman when I was younger. In fact, if I was being completely honest, I see so much karma coming back and smacking me right across the face lately. When I was young and in school, my dad would regularly come […]

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

Making progress towards sustainability

By Amanda Staehely — Posted May 1, 2024

When I first saw that this month’s issue of Digger was focused on sustainability, I was apprehensive. I reactively thought about how my small nursery hasn’t reached a scale that would let us focus on sustainability. I thought about what larger nurseries are doing, such as Robinson Nursery. They have stopped shipping 600,000+ pounds of […]

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

The legacy of trees

By Amanda Staehely — Posted March 29, 2024

When I saw that this April issue was dedicated to trees, I immediately started thinking about which trees stand out to me and why?

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

Getting in ship shape together

By Amanda Staehely — Posted February 29, 2024

My main thought as we start March and the beginning of shipping season, is simple — good luck. This is what we are all here for; to sell plants. That’s true whether you provide necessary items such as fertilizer, soil, or the plants themselves. Maybe you are the grower. Maybe you sell the containers. Or […]

Filed Under: President's 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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