Digger magazine

Serving the Northwest Nursery Industry for Over 50 Years

  • NGW-728x90-v2.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • NG-Survey-banner-728x90-1.jpg
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • Pivot Points
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Farwest Show / Farwest marks a gathering of new, returning faces

Farwest marks a gathering of new, returning faces

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 27, 2021

Top left: Hundreds of people filled A Lobby for Happy Hour. Bottom left: The bold tiling of pavers and turf grass filled one corner of the Growing Trends Showcase. Right: Customers fill Cascade Tropicals booth on the trade show floor. Photos by Bill Goloski

Some were glad to be back. Others were glad to be there for the first time.

But whether they were rookies or veterans, many were happy to be attending or exhibiting at the first Farwest Show in two years, which took place August 18–20 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

More than 3,500 nursery industry professionals — including growers, retailers, suppliers, landscape professionals and others — took part in show offerings, which included the trade show expo, educational seminars, social events, show features and more.

“People were glad the Farwest Show occurred, for the opportunity to get together,” show director Allan Niemi said. “Our industry thrives when we can be face-to-face. We realize these are unique times, and we appreciate everyone who supported Farwest.”

Bess Bronstein delivers a pruning demonstration in the Solution Center on the Farwest trade show floor. Photo by Bill Goloski.

Farwest included 49 new exhibitors this year. Among them were houseplant grower Cascade Tropicals, plant hanger supplier Soul of the Party, hard goods supplier Farmer Defense, wholesale grower Breeden Family Farm, and hard goods provider Zaydoe Creative of Cannon Beach, Oregon, which brought its new Gard-N-Hook utility tool to the show.

The tool can be used to hang or move nursery containers easily, making it ideal for nursery retailers to both use and sell. Company owner Joe Acton wrote numerous orders for it from all over the country, from the Northwest to New Jersey to Florida.

“I was skeptical that the show could do that for us, because it was the end of the season and our product moves in spring and summer,” he said. “But this was our first show, and I’ve been astounded at what we’ve sold to customers all over the country. I now kick myself, because I came very close to not coming here. That would have been a mistake.”

Anna Busse, a trade show representative with wholesale plant grower Cascade Tropicals of Snohomish, Washington, found strong interest in its assortment of lush houseplants. “Given all the context, we’ve been happy with the turnout. We weren’t sure people were going to turn out,” she said. “It definitely felt busy for all of Wednesday and Thursday.”

Having a booth full of lush, green plants was a difference-maker. “People can see plants in person,” Busse said. “[If they had] just seen them on our availability list, I don’t know if they would have been interested in them. Sometimes, plants on our website don’t represent as well as they do in person.”

Kaz Kosciolek and Ian Nabal, trade show representatives with farmwear supplier Farmers Defense of Watsonville, California, said they had strong traffic to their booth all three days. They sell hats, arm sleeves, masks and other protective gear for farmers and gardeners.

“As a first-time exhibitor, we had a great experience,” Kosciolek said. “We were very happy with the attendees, exhibitors and buyers. It was really great for making connections with the industry, both on the business-to-business and business-to-consumer side. I definitely think we got our value’s worth at the show.”

Derry and Celia Breeden were first-time exhibitors with Breeden Family Farms, a wholesale grower based in Lebanon, Oregon. They were not just new to Farwest, but to the nursery industry.

“We had a wonderful time meeting people, getting to know people in the nursery industry and making connections,” Derry said. “We were able to get orders in, build our contact list and make some sales.”

Kevin Hsu, trade show representative with Soul of the Party, a supplier of macrame hangers based in Tustin, California, was another first-time exhibitor who had a positive experience.

“Everything went well, from the logistics, to setting up the booth,” he said. “I can’t wait to come back next year …. We did better than what we expected. We were here at the right time, at the right place. It felt so good to see people in person and have that interaction again.”

The show was held under unpredictable circumstances, with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown implementing a statewide indoor mask mandate shortly before the gathering began. “This presented a challenge,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. “The Oregon Department of Agriculture helped us get proper masks for the show, which we were able to give out to any attendees or exhibitors who didn’t already have one. Thanks to their partnership and assistance, we were able to put on a safe show.”

The next edition of the Farwest Show will take place Wednesday–Friday, August 24–26, 2022 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

“We can’t wait to be back next year,” Ian Nabal of hard goods supplier Farmers Defense said.

Download a PDF of this article.Download

Filed Under: Farwest Show Tagged With: Farwest, Farwest Show, OAN, OAN Members

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Farwest celebrates 50 years in style

Farwest Show attendees choose Eclipse® Hydrangea as People’s Choice at New Varieties Showcase  

Farwest Show attendees select favorites for the Retailers’ Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery Inc. wins Best in Show booth award at 2023 Farwest Show  

Variegated Frydek Elephant Ear wins Farwest New Varieties Showcase Judges’ Choice award for 2023

More Updates from Farwest

NURSERY NEWS

Darcy added to OSU agricultural Diamond Pioneer Registry

Nursery industry tops list of Oregon ag commodities

Fall Creek promotes Amelie Aust to executive board chair

Hall of Famers give gift towards horticultural industry advocacy

Verl Holden retires from Oregon Garden Foundation Board

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

September 2023

August 2023: Farwest Show Edition

July 2023: New Varieties Showcase Preview

June 2023: The Shrubs Issue

May 2023: The Sustainability Issue

More issues of Digger

The Value of Membership

Seeding the next generation of horticulture specialists

Farwest turns 50

Member Profile: Mahonia Nursery

More member stories

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Virtual is the new reality – for now

Trade shows in the time of COVID

A demand ‘renaissance’ for nurseries

Western Nursery & Landscape Association falls victim to pandemic

MANTS 2021 to move online due to COVID-19

More articles

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • Pivot Points
  • President’s Message

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© Copyright 2022 Oregon Association of Nurseries · Admin