2026 Farwest Show issues call for speakers

The Oregon Association of Nurseries 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 Aug. 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,” said OAN Events and Education Coordinator Jamie Moore. “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.

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 topics include innovation and emerging technologies, the role of artificial intelligence, tariffs and their impact on automation costs, what’s on the horizon for automation in horticulture, labor savings, workforce solutions and industry needs for 2026 and beyond.

Access the Farwest speaker proposal form at farwestshow.com/speaker_signup for speaker requirements. The site also outlines the speaker selection process. All proposals must be submitted by Dec. 12, 2025. A committee will review the proposed presenters and topics, making 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 is expected to feature 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.

Complete details on the Farwest Show are available at farwestshow.com. For further questions, contact Jamie Moore, OAN events and education coordinator, at jmoore@oan.org or 503-582-2010.