INLA NEWSLETTER

September 2026

IN THIS ISSUE: 

• INLA Day of Service
• DMACC Career Fair
• 2027 Build It Conference
• Iowa Arbor Expo

This year’s Day of Service Project will help restore a historically significant area of the Brucemore estate known as the Servants’ Village, which has been a component of the property since the early 1900s. The landscape design for this area was developed by a student in Kirkwood Community College’s Horticulture program, creating an opportunity to bring a new landscape vision to life while preserving an important part of Brucemore’s history.

Volunteers will help transform the landscape through tree planting, the creation and planting of new garden beds, and hardscape improvements, advancing a key section of Brucemore’s Landscape Master Plan. The plan was developed following the devastating 2020 derecho, which destroyed more than 450 mature trees across the estate, as well as a recent two-year construction project that caused additional impacts to the landscape.

This is an exciting opportunity for INLA members to put their expertise and energy to work bringing a student-designed landscape to life and helping shape the next chapter of Brucemore’s historic landscape. A tour led by Brucemore staff, and opportunities to hear more about the Landscape Master Plan efforts, will be available for anyone interested.

INLA 2026 Day of Service

September 18

9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Location: Brucemore (A National Historic Site and Cultural Hub)

2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

**Please enter the estate at the gate off 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Follow signage to parking at the Carriage House, located here on the map. If arriving by anything larger than a 15-passenger van, please contact mail@brucemore.org of 319-362-7375 for alternate instructions. 

Lunch will be provided. Contact Heath DeYoung with any dietary requirements at hdeyoung@agribiz.org.

The 2026 DMACC Agribusiness and Horticulture Career Fair registration is now open!  The Career Fair is Monday, September 28. Please click on the link below to fill out the registration form. As always, we are looking forward to having you join us! This year, we anticipate more than 175 students to be in attendance! 

2026 DMACC Fall Agribusiness and Horticulture Career Fair Registration – Fill out form

We are once again offering "Lunch and Learn" sessions in addition to our career fair. This is an opportunity for your company or university to set up a time to meet with our students. We usually have about 30 students register for these events. We see great impact if these sessions are held prior to the Career Fair, however we do offer these throughout the entire semester. Due to our class schedule, "Lunch and Learn" events are held on Mondays or Wednesdays. If this is something you are interested in doing, please let Andrea Rouse (adrouse@dmacc.edu) know and she can send you additional information as well as available dates.  

The Build It Conference is returning to Coralville, Iowa, on March 3–4, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Conference Center. The two-day event brings together professionals from across the hardscape and landscape industries for education, networking, hands-on learning, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders.

The INLA will also be a part of the 2027 event, offering educational classes, the annual scholarship silent auction, and additional activities for attendees. The event will provide a great opportunity for industry professionals to learn, connect with others, and see the latest products and services available to the industry.

Build It also features an awards program recognizing outstanding projects, with categories covering residential and commercial hardscapes, masonry, retaining walls, lighting, and other projects.

More details about the 2027 education schedule, registration, and trade show opportunities for vendors will be announced this fall. Watch for additional information from INLA as plans continue to take shape.

Mark your calendars for March 3–4, 2027, in Coralville, Iowa, and plan to be part of the Build It Conference!

For updates, visit Build It Conference.

Do you have any exciting projects, updates, or announcements to share?

We’re always looking to highlight the great work happening across INLA membership, and we’d love to feature your company in an upcoming newsletter.

Whether it’s a new initiative, expansion, event, or something you’d like to promote, please send a brief update to Heath DeYoung at hdeyoung@agribiz.org.

We appreciate your input and look forward to sharing your story!

If you haven’t returned your 2026-27 Membership Enrollment, please follow the link below and take a moment to register online!

INLA Online Membership Form

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!

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