INLA NEWSLETTER

February 2026

IN THIS ISSUE: 

• INLA Annual Meeting
• 2026 INLA Trade Show
• INLA Scholarship Silent Auction Donations
• Build It Conference

The INLA Annual Business Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 18th at 12:00 pm in Room 299 at the Scheman Building. We encourage all members to attend.

The Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to connect with fellow green industry leaders, hear updates on association initiatives, and help shape the direction of INLA for the year ahead. Your involvement and input are what keep our association strong and moving forward.

Interested in Serving on the Board?

We are also encouraging members who are passionate about the future of our industry to consider board service. If you have an interest in getting more involved, please reach out to one of our current board members to learn more about what board service entails. Leadership from engaged professionals like you ensures the continued growth and success of INLA.

ICNP Test Update

We are excited to share that the ICNP test is currently being updated, with the new version anticipated to roll out later this season. This update reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards and ensuring the certification remains relevant and valuable within today’s industry landscape.



If you are interested in taking the updated ICNP test, be sure to get your name on the list by emailing Heath DeYoung at hdeyoung@agribiz.org so we can keep you informed about rollout details and scheduling information.

We look forward to seeing you on February 17 for the INLA Trade Show at the Scheman Building in Ames, Iowa.

To view all information related to exhibiting at the trade show, we encourage you to visit the following link: Exhibitor Info.

A few useful items of information are included below.

EXHIBITOR MOVE IN AND SETUP

• Exhibitor set-up is from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17.
• Exhibits are on the First and Second floors of the Scheman Building. See map on registration website for booth location. 

Booth Map

Company Locations

• Push carts and volunteers will be available in the ground floor lobby to help transport your materials to the exhibit space.
• A freight elevator is located at the dock on northwest corner of the building, and can be used to transport items.
• If a forklift is required, please call ISU at 515-956-3204 to schedule a time between 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17.

SHIPPING*

If your company requires shipment of exhibiting materials, please send packages to:

Iowa State Center

c/o Shade Tree Short Course/INLA

Suite 4 Scheman Building

Ames, IA 50011

*For shipping questions call 515-294-3347

EXHIBITOR TEAR DOWN

• Exhibitors may tear down their booths between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 19.
• Carts will be available in the ground floor lobby of the Scheman Building to transport your materials to your vehicles.
• If you have materials to ship back to your organization, please pack them in an appropriate container/box, place a pre-paid shipping label on the outside, and leave at your exhibit table. Building staff will ship it for you the following business day.

Again, all information related to exhibiting at the trade show can be found at the following link: Exhibitor Info.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the INLA Trade Show staff at inla@agribiz.org or 515.262.8323.

Sincerely,

Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association

The Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association would like to request a possible donation from your organization to use for our Scholarship Silent Auction that we do annually to raise money for our Scholarship Program. This event is part of our INLA Reception in conjunction with the ISU Shade Tree Short Course/ Trade Show to be held in Ames, Iowa on February 17-19, 2026. This year’s event will be held on February 18, 2025 at Reiman Gardens on the ISU Campus.

We use the money raised from the Silent Auction to award scholarships to Iowa horticulture students attending Iowa universities and colleges. We have been able to award over $4000 per year from this event. This is our only source of funding for this program as we are a non-profit organization benefiting the horticulture and green industry in Iowa. We have held this event for over 20 years. Our Tax Exempt ID# 42-6075791.

It is a fun and relaxing evening for everyone with a hospitality reception, hors d’oeuvres, and an awards program recognizing the Scholarship winners as well as the Silent Auction winners. We have over 300 in attendance for the reception and auction. We are always looking for new and different items to put into the auction to keep it fresh and generate the highest bids possible. So, the type of items we are looking for would be autographed items, gift cards, clothing, tickets, prints, or other merchandise. The make-up of attendees are outdoor enthusiasts as would be expected with interest in sports, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. We have people from Iowa, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska.

If you would like to donate an item, please contact Heath DeYoung at hdeyoung@agribiz.org. You can ship the item to the address below, or bring it with you to the trade show. Auction items will be on display on Wednesday at the trade show and then moved to the reception where the silent auction will take place.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sean Pearl

sean@sustainablelandscapesolutions.org

INLA Board of Directors

Contact:

Heath DeYoung – INLA

900 Des Moines Street

Des Moines, IA. 50309

515-262-8323 / hdeyoung@agribiz.org

We’re excited to announce that the INLA will be exhibiting at the 2026 Build It Conference again in Cedar Rapids, Iowa! Come and visit us there!

The Build It Conference, taking place February 25 & 26 at the DoubleTree Convention Complex, brings together professionals from construction, landscaping, and related industries for two days of education, networking, and hands-on learning. Attendees can build their knowledge with engaging sessions, connect with peers and industry leaders, and explore the latest products and services shaping our field.



Register HERE! https://www.buildit-together.com/registration

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through funding from the USDA Forest Service’s Inflation Reduction Act, is offering Urban Forestry Development grants to support community-based tree and forestry projects across Iowa.

These competitive, reimbursable grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 per applicant and do not require a match. The two-year program supports projects taking place in the spring and fall of 2026 and 2027.

Eligible projects include developing community forestry plans, establishing urban food forests, hosting educational programs, and supporting workforce development through forestry internships. Funding is available to community governmental entities, volunteer groups, and service organizations involved in managing and caring for urban and community forests—such as trees in parks, natural areas, and public rights-of-way.

The grants are designed to address community-identified urban forestry needs while advancing environmental and public health benefits. Eligibility is determined using the program’s Assessment Tool.

The application and requirements are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/urbangrants. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on March 17, 2026. Award recipients will be notified by March 31, 2026. 

Contact Chip Murrow at chip.murrow@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-822-1031 for questions about the application, reimbursement and rules. Contact Laurie Dams at lauren.dams@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-782-6414 for application assistance, eligible projects, or to set up a site visit.

If your business is looking to hire horticulture students, the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association can help you reach them through our partnership with Kirkwood Community College.

To advertise a job or internship for Kirkwood Horticulture students, email agsciences@kirkwood.edu with a PDF or Word document describing the position. Be sure to include:



• Whether it’s a job or an internship
• Business location and contact information
• Pay range
• A brief description of your business and your role

Kirkwood will post your opportunity on the Horticulture building job board and on their electronic job platform, giving your listing strong visibility with students preparing for careers in the green industry.

Share your openings today to connect with future industry professionals!

If you haven’t returned your 2025-26 Membership Enrollment, please follow the link below and take a moment to register online!

INLA Membership Online Membership Form

Kara Hetrick

RJ Lawn and Landscape

Waukee, IA

Jeremy Boka

Sustainable Sites Snow and Maintenance

Des Moines, IA

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