December 2024 President’s Message

Late fall is my favorite time of year, the hustle of a busy year starts to slow as the days get shorter and the leaves begin to drop. I hope this finds you with a successful season winding down and a lighter schedule to enjoy the holidays.  I would like to see more moisture throughout late fall and winter to continue easing the drought and reducing the stress on the plant material that has been installed this year.  Rain is preferable, unless you’re in the snow removal business!  

We had a well-attended summer field day in September touring the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Sunken Gardens, and Pioneers Park in Lincoln. Each venue had something unique and different to showcase while catering to public education and entertainment. Thank you to those of you who were able to attend and if you were unable to join us, I would highly recommend taking some time to explore these locations when time allows.  

As the temperatures drop, we begin to look ahead to the coming year and our annual NNLA Winter Conference.  2025 marks the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the NNLA (formerly the Nebraska Association of Nurserymen) so please save the date and come join us once again January 30th and 31st at Innovation Campus to recognize this milestone event.  We have put together a diverse list of speakers to mark the significance of this anniversary and make it another can’t miss educational opportunity.  Any chance to catch up with friends and colleagues is always welcome, and we will once again be hosting a social hour at the end of the day.  

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in the new year.  Have a wonderful holiday season.