The 2023 winter trade show train is rolling down the tracks, with enthusiastic crowds meeting us last week at our first two of 12 stops on the winter circuit. Midwest reps Doug Danielsen and Roger Purcell, and Inside Sales rep Brigitte Norby reported excellent traffic and enthusiasm at the Northern Green Expo in Minneapolis.
Down in Baltimore, MANTS blew the lid off attendance expectations, with more than 11,300 visitors crowding the Baltimore Convention Center during the three-day run of the renowned Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show. According to the MANTS post-show press release, attendees hailed from 42 states and 14 foreign countries, and they were shopping to buy.
The JFS team was delighted to welcome a constant stream of visitors to our booth as we greeted old friends, welcomed new customers, shared our tree knowledge, and wrote a good number of orders along the way. Regional sales representatives John Ropek, Frank Holgerson, Tim Parker and Pat Carey were supported by Oregon team members: Sales Manager Rich Bailey, Jessica Hutchings (Inside Sales), Communications Director Nancy Buley and CEO Ben Rough. Ben likened Frank Schmidt to “a rock star” because of the many longtime nursery industry friends who crowded around him in our booth and at the HRI reception on Thursday evening.
A fine time was had by all as we renewed friendships, made new ones, and talked trees. A few photos are shared here and on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages. You’ll find hundreds more on MANTS social media channels. We look forward to seeing you there in 2024, and at our upcoming stops on the trade show train!
Driving all the way from Maine, Tabatha White of The Garden Artisans is delighted to reconnect with JFS and Nancy Buley after meeting a decade ago when she served as an urban forester on the Million Trees NYC project in New York City.
Frank Schmidt thanks Mark Krautmann for the generous gift pledged to Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) by Mark and his wife, Jolly, founders and owners of Heritage Seedlings and Liners, OR.
Cindi Sullivan and Mike Hayman of Trees Louisville stopped by to update Nancy Buley on the great contribution our trees are making to the greening of their city and the health of Kentucky residents.
Third generation Tree Team! Liner suppliers and friends since founders Chet Sr. and Frank Sr. connected six decades ago, the Halka and Schmidt families continue to grow a greener future. From left, Frank III, Chet Jr., Rich Bailey, Jaime Halka Gaunt, Ken Cade and Ed Abert of Halka Nurseries, NJ.
Lunchtime topic was, of course, TREES! From left, Nancy Buley, Mike Dirr (author, professor emeritus, plant breeder and champion of Noble Trees); John Malone of Summershade Nursery, GA: Tom Fryman of Natorp’s Nursery, OH; Rich Bailey and Jessica Hutchings.
Jessica Hutchings catches up with Jill Dobson of Patterson Nursery Sales, OR; customers of 30-some years.
Rich Bailey and Ben Rough answer questions asked by one of the many great people who stopped by our booth during the three-day run of MANTS 2023.
Northeast region representative Frank Holgerson reviews an order with longtime customers Vito Strippoli and his grandson, Vito Strippoli, Sam’s B.C. Nurseries, NY
Pat Carey, Mid-States sales representative, greets Tom Fryman of Natorp’s Nursery, Ohio.
Shoppers crowd the aisle on the approach to our booth. Some stop to check out the offerings of our longtime customer, Manor View Farm, Maryland.
Frank Schmidt, Vito Strippoli and grandson Vito Strippoli of Sam’s B.C. Nurseries, NY, and Ben Rough, CEO
Check our schedule for a nursery trade show near you
This week is a trade show trifecta for our tree team, with three events occurring simultaneously on Thursday and Friday in North Carolina, Alabama and Idaho. Road trippers Jessica Hutchings and John Ropek visited customers along the way as they drove from MANTS in Baltimore to the North Carolina Green ‘n Growin’ show in Greensboro. Regional sales reps Pat Carey (Mid-States) and Lance Schamberger (Pacific Northwest) are welcoming customers old and new in Alabama and Idaho. If you’re within driving distance of any of these or the seven remaining shows on our busy calendar, please stop by our booth to say hi, pick up a set of our newly printed posters, and discover what’s new in trees.
Jessica sent this photo taken before the Green ‘n Growin’ show opened on Thursday morning along with the note, “It’s busy!”
See schedule below for the seven upcoming shows where you’ll find us for the next three weeks. We hope to see you soon.
| Show Name | Booth # | Dates | City | State |
| Utah Green | 239 | January 23-25, 2023 | Sandy | UT |
| Great Lakes Trade Expo | 806 | January 24-26, 2023 | Grand Rapids | MI |
| Kentucky Green Industry Conference | January 25-26, 2023 | Louisville | KY | |
| Indiana Green Expo | 326 | Jan. 30-Feb 1, 2023 | Indianapolis | IN |
| ProGreen Expo | 1510 | Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2023 | Denver | CO |
| iLandscape | 1514, 1516 | February 1-3, 2023 | Schaumburg | IL |
| Norcal Spring Trade Show | 543 | Februrary 9, 2023 | San Mateo | CA |
