US (OR): Applications open for Farwest Show speakers

The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) is now accepting speaker proposals for the 2026 Farwest Show, a trade show and conference serving the national nursery and greenhouse industry. The show will take place next August 26–28, 2026 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.

"Farwest is more than a trade show — it provides groundbreaking and relevant educational sessions for all types of Green Industry professionals," OAN Events and Education Coordinator Jamie Moore said. "We are seeking presenters who can offer meaningful insights and practical strategies that attendees can take back and apply to grow their careers and their businesses."

Topics may include horticulture and plants; pesticide application; integrated pest management; wholesale grower-focused information; marketing, merchandising, retail and business tactics; consumer trends; landscape design and architecture; and mechanization, technology and innovation, as well as other topics.

© Oregon Association of Nurseries

New for 2026 will be the Farwest Automation Summit, a forward-looking initiative focused on how automation is transforming the nursery and greenhouse industry. This summit will bring together innovators, growers, and technology leaders to explore tools, systems, and strategies that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and address labor challenges. Some of the possible topic categories could include innovation and emerging technologies; the role of artificial intelligence (AI); tariffs and their impact on automation costs; what's on the horizon for automation in horticulture; labor savings and workforce solutions; and industry needs for 2026 and beyond.

© Oregon Association of Nurseries

Visit the Farwest speaker proposal form at the link here. Speaker requirements are listed there. The site also outlines the speaker selection process. All proposals must be submitted by December 12, 2025. A committee will review the proposed presenters and topics and make selections based on timeliness, ingenuity and industry relevance.

"We make certain to provide a balanced and innovative educational program to educate, enrich and inspire the Green Industry leaders of today and tomorrow," Moore said.

The Farwest Show boasts more than 300 exhibiting companies, including wholesale growers, re-wholesalers, garden centers, landscape designers and service providers, allied service providers and suppliers, and more. More than 4,000 attendees and guests typically browse the latest plants, products and services available to horticultural businesses.

© Oregon Association of Nurseries

Oregon is a nationwide nursery industry leader, with more than $1.2 billion in sales during the most recent year tallied. It's the leading state for coniferous evergreens, deciduous shade trees, deciduous flowering trees, bareroot nursery products, B&B nursery products and cut Christmas trees.