Western Nursery & Landscape Association to Dissolve

Jennifer Zurko

On August 31, 2020 the Board of Directors of the Western Nursery and Landscape Association announced that they’d unanimously decided not to hold its annual Western trade show event in January 2021. The Western is the main source of income for the association and without the income of the 2021 Western, the Board has determined that the non-profit association could not be sustained. A vote from the membership approved of the dissolution of the Western Nursery & Landscape Association.

AmericanHort is stepping in, offering community, membership and recognition of WNLA’s 130-year history in many ways, including:

•  Establishment of the Western-1890 member group inside AmericanHort to help retain the identity and community of WNLA within the industry

•  Facilitate quarterly communications for Western-1890 members (e.g., Zoom calls, newsletter, company spotlight)

•  Introductory membership to AmericanHort for those who aren’t already members

•  Work with Western-1890 members to plan industry events in the region as appropriate and available

•  Build a permanent legacy for The Western and WNLA by expanding the existing HRI research fund

The very minimal remaining assets of WNLA will be transferred to the Kansas Nursery & Landscape Association, a non-profit corporation and longtime supporter of the WNLA, and the Horticultural Research Institute to build a permanent legacy for The Western and WNLA by expanding the existing HRI research fund established in 1991. GT