Horticultural Professionals Gather in Chicago

More than 11,500 green industry professionals gathered in Chicago last January to attend the 2008 Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show (Mid-Am). The show, which was held Jan. 16-18 at Lakeside Center in McCormick Place Convention Center featured exhibits from 548 industry companies, filling 104,600 square feet of space. 

Educational sessions at Mid-Am were as popular as ever with 929 combined registrants for the Midwinter Conference and pre-show Management Workshop.  Mid-Am's education partners' classes, including the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, the Irrigation Association, and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities attracted another 207 registrants.  

Mid-Am '08 drew green industry professionals from 44 states, including as far away as Hawaii, 9 foreign countries, and Canada.  This year's Mid-Am revealed that 28 percent of those registered were owners or corporate officials and 21 percent were managers or foremen.  Thirty-eight percent of those registered provided landscape services, while 11 percent were retailers and 17 percent were growers.

A post-show attendee survey revealed Mid-Am continues to be an important industry event to buyers.  The top three reasons buyers attended Mid-Am 2008 were to learn about products/services, meet with exhibitors, and improve/maintain existing relationships. 

"This survey shows how important it is for Mid-Am to continue to provide a setting for the green industry to meet face-to-face," noted Mid-Am Managing Director Rand Baldwin, CAE.  "Mid-Am is the best place for horticulture professionals to connect, learn, and grow."

The Student Career Center registered a record 992 students from more than 37 high schools, colleges, and universities from around the Midwest who visited with 66 employers. The Career Center creates an informative and casual atmosphere bringing together students studying horticulture and employers to exchange information.  Employers and students alike found the event productive and beneficial.

Plans now focus toward 2009 when Mid-Am moves to the new McCormick Place West building in Chicago. The West building features state-of-the-art facilities, including more meeting rooms close to the exhibit floor, a greater variety of dining choices, it's own centrally located transportation center, and more.  The show is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 14-16, 2009.  Space sales for the 2009 Mid-Am Trade Show at the new location are under way for current exhibitors.  A prospectus and floor plan will be available soon to others who wish to reserve space.  Visit www.midam.org for details as they become available.