The annual Oregon Association of Nurseries Convention is where the industry honors the best of the best — and that’s exactly what happened at the 2026 Presidential Awards Banquet, held Saturday, November 7 in the Great Lodge at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon.
Kyle Fessler of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas, a past president of OAN in 2020–21, emceed the gathering. “Tonight, we’re going to celebrate the family that is our industry and the people in it, who are remarkable in their service,” Fessler said.
The award winners were as follows:
OAN Outstanding Service Award — Bill Patterson (Patterson Nursery Sales, Eagle Creek, Oregon). The award recognizes outstanding long-term service to the industry. Patterson recently retired after selling his tree brokering and growing operation, which specialized in specimen material, to Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery.
Tom Fessler, owner of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas and a past president of the OAN, presented the award. “Bill Patterson has been a pioneer in the industry,” he said. “A blend of both buyer and seller, with a unique business model that has touched every corner of the industry.”
Emerging Leader of the Year Award — Elizabeth Brentano (Brentano’s Tree Farm, St. Paul, Oregon) The award recognizes outstanding service and leadership by someone relatively new to the industry trade. Brentano was recognized for co-founding the NexGen group and serving as president for two years.
Tyler Meskers (Oregon Flowers Inc., Aurora) is a prior recipient of the Emerging Leader of the Year Award and presented it to Brentano. “Elizabeth’s growth as a leader was on full display last year during the OAN Advocacy Training, and she subsequently was featured in Nursery Management magazine, March 2025, in their leading Women of Horticulture issue,” he said. “Family means everything in this industry, and it is amazing to see how this leader is making a name for herself.”
The Member Group of the Year Award — Government Relations Committee, chaired by Chris Robinson. The award is presented each year to an outstanding committee, chapter or leadership group in the association. The Government Relations Committee was recognized for its work on the Japanese beetle issue this year, in particular.
Rod Park, owner of Park’s Wholesale Nursery and a past president of the OAN, presented the award. “We never know what will befall us in any given year,” he said. “What happens every time is that we fight for the industry. Things were bad, and there was no money to be had for funding the Oregon Department of Agriculture to conduct their Japanese beetle program.”
The lack of funding threatened intrastate market access for the majority of Oregon growers. However, the GR Committee successfully fought for the Oregon Legislature to include the funding. “To put it mildly, their efforts saved many of our businesses,” Park said.
Distinguished Member of the Horticultural Allied Trades Award — Marion Ag Service Inc., St. Paul, Oregon. The award is presented to an individual, group or company that is a service provider or supplier, and provides outstanding contributions to the nursery industry. Accepting the award on Marion Ag’s behalf were owner John Hockett, research agronomist Steve Carlson and Chief Operating Officer Doug Grott.
Noah Fessler of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas, member at large of the OAN Executive Committee, presented the award. “Marion Ag has been serving farmers, nursery-greenhouse growers and wholesale fertilizer resellers for more than 50 years,” he said. “When there is a problem, it is not hard to figure out who to call to get the best advice that is out there …. Everything around us is changing, and I appreciate their laser focus on technical services, soil health and nutrient delivery.”
Clayton W. Hannon Distinguished Service Award — Patrick Newton, Powell’s Nursery (Gaston, Oregon). The award honors a specific, notable contribution to the nursery and greenhouse industry. In a rare case of a current president receiving the award, Newton was selected for his advocacy work to restore state funding and pursue federal funding for Japanese beetle control and eradication in Oregon.
Kathy LeCompte, owner of Brooks Tree Farm and a past president of the OAN, presented the award. “[No challenges we’ve faced] was as seemingly hopeless as the situation of Gov. Kotek not funding the Japanese beetle program, and the all-too-real threat of our $1.3 billion industry losing over $800 million due to markets being shut off,” she said. “The stress was worthy of night terrors, but Patrick newton stepped up and was a leader in the moment we needed him most …. Patrick was the man in the arena, and we would not be having a fun evening without his direct effort.”
Three couples awarded OAN Honorary Life memberships
At the 2026 OAN Convention, three couples — David and Kristin VanHoose, Amethyst Hill Nursery and Hydrangeas Plus® (Aurora, Oregon); Pete and Wendy Brentano, Brentano’s Tree Farm (St. Paul, Oregon), and Jerry and Roberta Simnitt, Simnitt Nursery (Canby, Oregon) — were awarded Honorary Life memberships in the association.
The VanHooses were recognized for their 27 years of nursery ownership, as well as for Kristin’s service as OAN president in 2010–11, and their involvement in many other capacities over the years. They purchased the former Bell Family Nursery and grew it into VanHoose Enterprises, which includes the wholesale Amethyst Hill Nursery and the retail Hydrangeas Plus. They specialize in hydrangeas and have one of the largest selections in North America.
The award was presented by Wendy Brentano. “[Kristin’s term as OAN president] was defined by strong advocacy for Oregon’s nursery sector, proactive policy engagement, and a commitment to supporting both members and the recovering industry from the Great Recession,” Brentano said.
David VanHoose stayed on stage to present the next Honorary Life Membership award, which turned out to be for the Brentanos. The two couples have been longtime friends. Each knew ahead of time the other was getting an honorary life award, but neither knew they themselves were also getting one.
The award for the Brentanos was presented for their longtime ownership of Brentano’s Tree Farm, for Pete’s OAN presidency in 2005–06, and for their longtime association involvement in many other capacities also.
“The legacy of the Brentanos is not in doubt — [daughter] Elizabeth winning the emerging leader award tonight is proof positive of the impact and future impact of this family to the industry,” David said. “Pete and Wendy and their entire family are just good people.”
OAN past president Amanda Staehely (Columbia Nursery), who recently was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, presented the honorary life award to her parents, Jerry and Roberta Simnitt, who co-own Simnitt Nursery along with her uncle, Jim Simnitt, and Jim’s wife, Caroline. The nursery was founded in 1978 by Jim and Jerry’s parents, Jerry Sr. and Janice Simnitt. Jerry Simnitt served as OAN president in 2011–12.
“Growing up in a household that was family and faith, politics and potlucks, health challenges and economic stress — it made my parents resilient,” Staehely said. “My father’s involvement in the OAN and leadership was a direct inspiration for my uncle Jim and myself to get involved in the OAN.”
Outgoing president selects Five Star award recipients
At the convention, outgoing OAN President Patrick Newton (Powell’s Nursery, Gaston, Oregon) presented his the traditional President’s Five Star Performance Awards for key contributions to his year as president. They went to his parents, Mike and JoEllen Newton; OAN Director of Marketing and Member Services Beth Farmer; his brother, Brian Newton; OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone; and his wife, Jamie Newton.
The outgoing president thanked Mike and JoEllen Newton for inspiring Newton and setting an example has followed in life. His father passed away several years ago, but his mother was present for the banquet along with several family members. “[My parents] mean the world to me,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t have gotten through this year without them. I talk to my dad every week.”
He thanked Farmer for making his goal of visiting 50 nurseries during his year as president a reality, scheduling and coordinating all of the visits. “I could never have pulled that off without you,” he said.
He thanked his brother, Brian, for helping him write his presidential columns in Digger magazine. He mentioned that “I said I’ll give you a bottle of whiskey a month if you help me write 12 columns,” and still owes him a few of the bottles.
He thanked Stone for introducing him to everyone in the room individually the first time he came to an Oregon Association of Nurseries meeting, then later helping him get involved with OAN advocacy efforts, which he has found immensely rewarding. “The advocacy thing is so cool,” he said. “It’s the best thing that’ ever happened to me.”
He thanked his wife, Jamie, for providing the love, encouragement and support throughout his year as president and allowing him to contribute extra time without raising any objections. “I love you,” he said.
The association recognized and thanked Newton for his year of service.
