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

Democracy in action

By Todd Nelson — Posted March 24, 2023

Recently, I had the awesome privilege to visit our nation’s capital. Every year, the Oregon Association of Nurseries sends representatives to Washington, D.C. with a specific mission: to represent the growers of Oregon and ensure our concerns and needs are being heard. I was fortunate enough to join President-Elect Amanda Staehely (Columbia Nursery), OAN Government […]

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

Finding new answers

By Todd Nelson — Posted February 24, 2023

Have you ever tried catching an octopus? On the small island of Tonga, octopus is a delicacy. To catch the octopus, local fishers use a lure called a “makafeke.” This lure is simple in design, with only a round stone and a couple large seashells that are fastened to a rope. As the fisher paddles […]

Filed Under: President's Message Tagged With: Business, Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Plants, Wholesale Nurseries

Speaking for the trees

By Todd Nelson — Posted January 30, 2023

Recently, I found myself thinking about the classic children’s book “The Lorax,” written by Dr. Seuss. In his typical writing fashion, Dr. Seuss weaves profound lessons within the book’s fun and whimsical pages. In this story we meet two polarizing characters: the Once-ler, a greedy industrialist who made a living by cutting down beautiful truffula […]

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

Looking forward with impact

By Todd Nelson — Posted December 27, 2022

The holidays are always a wonderful time. It all starts with Thanksgiving, a time for reflection. We pause our busy lives and take time to experience the power of gratitude. This clears the lens of how we view the world, allowing us to see more fully. With clearer vision, the holidays transition to Christmas, a […]

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

The collaborative spirit of Oregon

By Todd Nelson — Posted November 29, 2022

The pioneer spirit is truly the heartbeat of the Oregon nursery industry’s growth. In 1847, Henderson Luelling and his family loaded their wagons with personal possessions — including two wooden boxes filled with a composite mixture of charcoal and rich soil for over 700 grafted tree seeds — and departed west. Reading excerpts from explorer […]

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

The values of farm life

By Todd Nelson — Posted November 2, 2022

For more than four generations, farming has been an integral part of our family. It’s in our blood. My father, Jay Nelson, decided to leave his father’s turkey farming operation in Utah as a young man, determined to leave its challenging work behind. But after successfully running his orthodontic practice for years, he recognized that […]

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

The privilege of service

By Josh Robinson — Posted October 3, 2022

It’s been a privilege to serve the OAN membership for the last year. With all that happened in the last year, I’m amazed that it went by so fast.  This will be my last column as your OAN president. With that said, it brings a lot of emotions to mind but the two I settle […]

Filed Under: President's Message

Where the lessons are

By Josh Robinson — Posted September 12, 2022

Keeping up with growing plants is difficult. To get it done right requires a shifting strategy and an insane time commitment. And timing. The bottom line of the business is a direct reflection of the right work getting done on time.

Filed Under: President's Message

Turbocharge your career at Farwest

By Josh Robinson — Posted July 21, 2022

It’s almost Farwest Show time, and I am pumped for it. The Farwest Show has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. My first memories of the show were going there with my parents as a small child. The highlight for me was getting together with my brother as […]

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

Where the lessons are

By Josh Robinson — Posted June 22, 2022

Life moves too fast. My eighth grader just finished the school year and, frankly, I am replaying the 10,000+ times people told me, “Life only moves faster the older you get.” For everyone that ever told me that, and heard my adamant reply that “I live in the moment” and “It won’t apply to me” […]

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

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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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