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We hope to see you at TNGIE!
Let me begin by promoting the TNGIE trade show – we hope to see you there! The dates are September 12th–13th, 2019 at the Wilson County Expo Center. There will be an awards banquet and live band on the night of the 12th at the Capitol Theater in downtown Lebanon, Tennessee. The HRI Golf Classic will be on September 11th at Pine Creek Golf Course. All proceeds go to the HRI Research Institute. Please visit www.tngie.com for the latest information on the trade show and details of special events.
Now, let me quell some rumors. People are hearing there is a ban on Bradford pears coming soon. The reality is that some local government officials are pushing for a ban on Bradford pears. However, TDA is creating a task force to study putting Pyrus calleryana on the Pest Plant Rule. Both TNLA and MTNA will have members on the technical advisory committee considering the rule. This is usually a years-long process with another years-long phase-in period. We intend to make it clear to the Technical Advisory Committee of P. calleryana rootstock’s important use in fruit producing plants such as pears, not just ornamentals like Bradford or Cleveland Pear. Updates will be provided as the actual work progresses. Please feel free to provide input to your association and/or local congressman and state senators.
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Finally, we want to congratulate the three recipients of TNLA’s $1,000 horticultural scholarships. The TNLA Memorial Scholarship went to Samuel Vandergriff. Two scholarships were awarded from the newly created TNLA Floyd MacDonald Scholarship. The recipients were Rhys Fielder and Chasity Phillips. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients! Also, please be sure to join us at the Capitol Theater on Thursday, September 12th to congratulate our annual award winners. There will be heavy hors d’oeuvres and a live band provided for your entertainment immediately following the awards presentation. As always, your board is proud to serve the hardworking men and women of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, since 1905!
Jon Flanders
TNLA President