Penn State Extension is inviting you stop and smell the flower varieties at its annual Flower Trials Field Day. The event will occur from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 24, 2025 at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim, Pennsylvania. 

• New varieties of annuals and perennials  
• Cutting-edge information from breeders 
• Disease management 
• Pesticide safety 

Here’s another opportunity for you to stop and smell the flowers while checking out all the perennials on display at Colorado Destination Days. This is an exclusive, industry-only event where attendees can visit different horticulture locations near Denver, Colorado, from August 4-6, 2025. Join growers, suppliers and plant enthusiasts at various locations to observe and learn about exciting plant varieties and take advantage of the numerous networking opportunities.  

While in town for Colorado Destination Days, you have the opportunity to participate in the 2025 CSU Flower Trials Industry Evaluation Day.  

I’ve been sharing information in the past few newsletters on many of our industry’s summer trade events (like the great venues listed above). Some of the best events are right around the corner and I want to help you prepare for them. If any of what you’re about to read sounds familiar, it’s because it is. I’ve shared some version of this information with you in the past. Rather than reinventing the wheel so to speak, I’ve decided to share this information with you again with a few modifications along the way.

Trade shows are excellent opportunities to learn, network and to get motivated for the upcoming growing and sales seasons. Greenhouse and nursery professionals attend trade events for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re looking for new plants or equipment, hoping to gain marketing ideas, learning new production techniques at the educational sessions, or networking with customers or industry peers, there’s only a finite amount of time to maximize your experience at each of these events.   

These tips have served me well over the years when walking trade show floors.   

• Schedule some of your “must see” meetings in advance. Don’t leave it to chance that the individual(s) you need to see will be available when you arrive at their booth.   
• Many trade events have apps that are useful in helping you to know when things are happening and how to find them. They often include trade show maps and planners to help you manage your time at the event. Download it!  
• Some of the trade events are really large, so bring comfortable shoes.    
• Only pick up or accept literature that you need and intend to use. Picking up every piece of literature isn’t necessary and can be heavy to lug around for hours. I’ve had good intentions so many times when collecting information. However, more often than not, I find the literature sitting in trade show bags many months and even years later. Be selective in what you choose to take with you and make a point of using it. 
• Don’t be intimidated or afraid of approaching the salespeople working the booths at the trade show. Introduce yourself, and when someone approaches you, compliment their booth or their product(s). Then ask specific questions, such as “How does your product work?” or “What’s new?” 
• Bring lots of business cards and take them everywhere you go. You can meet an important contact anywhere—the elevator, in educational sessions, the hotel, in restaurants and at the bar. You never know, so be prepared.   
• If you don’t already have a contact person with the company you have an interest in, be sure to get a business card. It’s not enough to only give someone your contact information.   
• Follow up. About a week after the trade show, follow up with the companies you intend to work with. Following up is key to successfully maximizing your new contacts. And remember: In this day and age, relationships are everything!