Montana Nursery & Landscape Association upcoming events

Montana Green EXPO 2027 - Conference (January 05, 2027)

Tue, 05 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT

January 5th - 7th, 2027

Missoula, MT

MNLA is committed to bringing the horticulture industry together and planting the seeds for success. We are proud to offer programming that highlights best practices, explores innovative and creative business solutions, and helps you grow your business.

We are planning a great seminar line-up for you! This year, we are excited to offer two days of educational seminars and trade show, pre-conference workshops for in-depth learning, an exciting trade show showcasing the latest developments, and several networking receptions over the course of the conference.

The Montana Green Expo is generously co-sponsored by:

Hands-On Workshops

Take your professional development further with specialized workshops held immediately before the conference. Gain valuable hands-on experience and practical skills by choosing from the following workshops:

Tuesday, January 5th:

Plant Health Care Clinic

Irrigation Workshop - Irrigation Association

Business Management Workshop

Certified Plant Professional Exam

These workshops are an add-on to your main conference registration. A separate registration is required for each workshop. You can add workshops during online conference registration. If you would like to register for workshops-only, without also registering for the Montana Green Expo, complete your workshop registration(s) here. All Workshops will be held at the conference venue: Hilton Garden Inn.

Five Education Tracks

Five tracks guarantee there's something for everyone. We have seminars focused on:

Business Management
Growers & Plant Health
Landscape Design & Install
Tree Care
Fundamentals

Learn from an incredible lineup of nationally recognized speakers, researchers, and industry leaders as they dive into topics that are top-of-mind in the green industry. Walk away with practical knowledge and strategies you can put to work immediately.

Continuing Education Credits

Several seminars and workshops qualify for Continuing Education credits from the Montana Dept. of Ag. Pesticide Applicator Program, International Society of Arboriculture, Urban Integrated Pest Management Program, Wyoming Dept of Ag, and Idaho Dept. of Ag. We will link available CEUs after final approval has been received.

Connection-Building Trade Show

Discover new varieties, new products, and new services at the Trade Show. The trade show is your opportunity to meet suppliers that can help you find solutions to set you up for success. Admission to the trade show is included with your conference registration, and we intentionally don't overlap educational sessions with trade show hours so you can attend both. Grow your network. Grow your customer base. Grow your company.

Register by December 1st and $ave!
Register before the Early Bird deadline of December 1st for the best rates. We also offer bundle and save options for adding workshops to your conference registration. Follow the link on this page to register online.

To view Members-Only Discounted Registration prices, log in using the email address associated with your MNLA membership.

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, January 5th

Workshops:

Plant Health Care Clinic: 8:30am-4pm

Irrigation College: 8am-4pm

Business Management Workshop: 8am-4pm

Certified Plant Professional Exam: 1-5pm

Trade Show: 4-7pm

Welcome Reception: 5-7pm

Wednesday, January 6th

Conference Seminars: 8am-2:30pm

Trade Show: 2:30-6:30pm

Cocktail Reception with Exhibitors: 5-6:30pm

Awards Banquet: 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, January 7th

Coffee Social: 7:30-8:30am

Conference Seminars: 8:30am-12:00pm

Annual Meeting Luncheon: 12:00-1:30pm

Looking for More Details on the Montana Green Expo Events? Read on to find out what's in store:

The Trade Show portion of the MT Green Expo will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit with vendors and see what’s new for the upcoming year! Growers, educators, and industry suppliers are all part of the trade show. A Welcome Reception with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be held on Tuesday evening, followed up with Cocktails with Exhibitors on Wednesday evening for a fun way to make new connections with exhibitors.

The Annual Banquet and Awards Show will take place on Wednesday evening. Relax, kick back and enjoy a delicious dinner and great entertainment. Find out who the winners are for the Best of Montana Landscapes and Container Planting Contests, and meet the Member-of-the-Year! A banquet ticket is included with all full 2-day conference registrations. If you register for 1-day only and would like to attend the Awards Banquet, contact the MNLA office to register.

A Coffee Social will be held Thursday morning. Join us for a fun mix-and-mingle networking opportunity with your industry peers.

The Annual Meeting Luncheon will be open to all attendees on Thursday. This is a good time to catch up with the MNLA Board of Directors and hear about plans for the future of the Association. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions and offer suggestions. Board member elections will be held during the Annual Meeting; we encourage you to come participate in electing the leaders that will shape the future of the MNLA.

A Certified Plant Professional (CPP) Exam will be offered on Tuesday. This is one of only two times a year that we offer testing for this certification. Space is limited, so make sure you register early. You can register for the exam by following this link: Certified Plant Professional Exam Registration.

Lodging. We have a room block set up at the Hilton Garden Inn for Montana Green Expo attendees. We have negotiated a discounted rate. The group discount does expire, so reserve your room early. To receive the discounted rate, reserve before December 23rd, 2026. Room reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly: 406-532-5300, or by following this link to book online. You may need to adjust the dates in online booking to view all available rooms. Ask for the Montana Green Expo group rate when booking over-the-phone.

Very Important: MNLA does NOT use a third-party service for hotel reservations. You should make your reservations directly with the hotel through our booking link, or by calling the hotel directly. If contacted by a company representing themselves as an authorized housing company for the conference, please note that MNLA does not contract for such services and these companies are not affiliated with the MNLA or Montana Green Expo. (If you have made reservations through such a third party, you may wish to consider cancelling those reservations and notifying your credit card company to ensure that no fraudulent charges are posted against your account.)

We look forward to seeing you at the Montana Green Expo!

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors

We appreciate their support in making this event a success.

Event Co-Sponsor Level

Platinum Level

Available

Gold Level

Available

Bronze Level

Available

Pre-registration closes December 24th. After that time, higher on-site registration prices will apply. Register in-person at the Montana Green Expo Registration Table, located in the conference center at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula, MT, from 7:00 - 8:30 am on Jan. 5th, 6th, or 7th.

Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel your registration for the Montana Green Expo, you must contact our office before December 1 to receive a full refund. Cancellations received between December 1-24 will receive a refund of 75% of registration fees. Cancellations received after December 24 and before January 1 will receive a 50% refund of registration fees. Refunds will not be made for cancellations received after January 1.

Questions? Contact us: expo@plantingmontana.org or call 406-755-3079.

*While we try to keep the schedule that is posted on our website, schedules may change in order to accommodate the special needs of the presenters or the hotel. MNLA reserves the right to substitute speakers or modify the convention schedule as the need arises. The final schedule will be printed in programs that will be available at the registration desk. Changes may also be announced outside seminar rooms or posted on the announcement board at the registration desk.

Montana Green EXPO 2027 - EXHIBITORS (January 05, 2027)

Tue, 05 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT

We hope the following information will help you efficiently prepare for the 2027 Montana Green Expo January 5-7, 2027, in Missoula, MT.

Booth reservations are currently being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Follow the link to register, or contact our office with questions.

Download our Exhibitor Prospectus here.

We look forward to having you join us for this exciting annual event! For questions that are not answered here, please contact us at: 406.755.3079 or email expo@plantingmontana.org.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW Montana Green Expo - Trade Show & Convention January 5-7, 2027
Exhibitors MOVE-IN	Tues., Jan 5	8:00am -3:30pm
Exhibitor Meeting	Tues, Jan 5	3:30pm - 3:45pm
Trade Show Open	Tues, Jan 5	4:00pm - 7:00pm
Welcome Reception on Trade Show Floor	Tues, Jan 5	5:00pm - 7:00pm
Trade Show Open	Wed., Jan 6	2:30pm - 6:30pm
Cocktails with Exhibitors on Trade Show Floor	Wed, Jan 6	5:00pm - 6:30pm
Awards Banquet & Silent Auction	Wed, Jan 6	6:30pm - 9:30pm
Optional Exhibitors Early MOVE-OUT	Wed, Jan 6	6:30pm - 9:30pm
Exhibitors MOVE-OUT	Thur, Jan 7	7:30am - 12:00pm

1	Booth Reservations: You can request up to three choices for booth location. Check the 2027 Expo Map for available booths. We will do our best to accommodate your booth choice, but know that booths fill up quickly and the space you request may no longer be available. We will contact you with alternative options if this occurs. Payments are due within 15 days of booking your space.
2	Name Badge and Special Event Tickets: FREE Convention registration is included with your booth rental, which includes all conference seminars on Wednesday and Thursday for all booth reps (this seminar pass does not include the pre-conference workshops on Tuesday). All individuals must have a Convention badge to attend the seminars. If your representatives plan to attend meals and/or special events like the Awards Banquet Wednesday evening, or luncheons during the conference, they will need to register for those meals. Use the online Exhibitor Name Badge and Meals Registration form and indicate the names of each representative and pay for any meals they will be attending. This will ensure your booth representatives receive pre-printed name badges and meal tickets (if applicable). Name badges and meal tickets will be available for pick-up at our registration desk during trade show move-in.
3	Lodging: A discounted room block has been set up at the Hilton Garden Inn. Book your rooms early by calling (406) 532-5300 and asking for the Montana Green Expo rate, or book online using this link.
4	Trade Show Move-In: Exhibitor MOVE-IN- starts the morning of Tuesday, January 5, 2027. All exhibitors must be moved in by 3:30 pm on Tuesday, January 5th.
EXPO Convention Services: We will again be working with K&J Convention Services. Additional furnishings, carpeting, booth setup assistance, drayage, and other booth accessories will be available for ordering through K&J. To view available services, visit their website: https://kjconventions.com/mtgreen beginning in mid-November.

Sponsorship at the Expo

Your sponsorship will make the event more successful. We urge you to take advantage of one of the many opportunities for sponsorship of the Montana Green Expo. We are happy to consider creative ideas to help, including convention bags, lanyards, coffee breaks, etc. Contact us about sponsorship opportunities, or download our Sponsorship Form.

Silent Auction Fundraiser

Our annual fundraising event will be held during the Awards Banquet on Wednesday evening. Please consider donating in a way that is meaningful to you. All proceeds directly benefit our members through our Scholarship Program and Community Beautification Fund. This is a great opportunity to support MNLA members through this fun event. Download the donation form here.

Exhibitor Demonstrations

Book a 15 or 30 minute time slot to reserve a demonstration of your product or service during the event. There is NO CHARGE - just register in advance.

Workshops @ Montana Green EXPO 2027 - Conference (January 05, 2027)

Tue, 05 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Montana Green Expo

January 5th, 2027

Missoula, MT

Workshops

Important: If you plan to attend the Montana Green Expo seminars on Wednesday & Thursday, do not register for the workshops on this page; add the workshops to your Green Expo registration for cost-savings. Prices on this page are for stand-alone workshop registrations for individuals who are NOT registering for the full conference.

The Montana Green Expo is generously co-sponsored by:

Hands-On Workshops

This year we are excited to offer several pre-conference workshops for in-depth learning. These workshops will be held prior to the start of the Montana Green Expo conference. A separate registration is required for each of the workshops.

Workshop Schedule

Tuesday, January 6th:

Plant Health Care Clinic

Irrigation Workshop - Irrigation Association

Business Management Workshop:

AM session: Profit Margins & Knowing Your True Costs

PM session: Building Effective Onboarding Systems

Certified Plant Professional Exam

You can select the workshop(s) you would like to attend during online registration, or contact our office for more information. Workshops will be held at the conference venue: Hilton Garden Inn Missoula.

Continuing Education Credits

Several workshops qualify for Continuing Education credits from the Montana Dept. of Ag. Pesticide Applicator Program, International Society of Arboriculture, Urban Integrated Pest Management Program, Wyoming Dept of Ag, and Idaho Dept. of Ag. We will link available CEU credits after final approval has been received.

Connection-Building Trade Show

Your workshop registration grants you admission to the Montana Green Expo trade show and Welcome Reception Tuesday afternoon. Visit with vendors and see what’s new for the upcoming year! Growers, educators, and industry suppliers are all part of the trade show. A Welcome Reception with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be held on Tuesday during the trade show; join us for a fun way to make new connections with exhibitors and colleagues!

Register by December 24
Online registration is open through December 24th. Register online for the best rates. Your registration includes admission to the Trade Show Exhibits free of charge and the workshops do not overlap with the Trade Show so you can attend both!

To view Members-Only Discounted Registration prices, log in using the email address associated with your MNLA membership.

Workshop & Conference Schedule*

Tuesday, January 5th

Montana Green Expo Workshops:

Plant Health Care Clinic: 8:00am-4pm

Irrigation College: 8am-4pm

Business Management Workshop: 8am - 4pm

Certified Plant Professional Exam: 1-5pm

Trade Show: 4-7pm

Welcome Reception: 5-7pm

Wednesday, January 6th

Montana Green Expo Conference Seminars: 8am-2:30pm

Trade Show: 2:30-6:30pm

Awards Banquet: 6:30-9:30pm

Thursday, January 7th

Coffee Social: 7:30-8:30am

Conference Seminars: 8:30am-12:00pm

Annual Meeting Luncheon: 12:00-1:30pm

Looking for More Details on the Montana Green Expo Events? Visit our event page for more details.

Lodging. We have a room block set up at the Hilton Garden Inn for Montana Green Expo attendees. We have negotiated a discounted rate of $130/night. The group discount does expire, so reserve your room early. To receive the discounted rate, reserve before December 23, 2026. Room reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly: 406-532-5300, or by following this link to book online. You may need to adjust the dates in online booking to view all available rooms. Ask for the Montana Green Expo group rate when booking over-the-phone.

We look forward to seeing you at the Montana Green Expo!

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors

We appreciate their support in making this event a success.

Event Co-Sponsor Level

Platinum Level

Available

Gold Level

Available

Bronze Level

Available

Pre-registration closes December 24th. On-site registration prices will apply after that time. To register after that time, contact us, or register in-person at the Montana Green Expo Registration Table, located in the conference center at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula MT, from 7:00 - 8:30 am on Jan. 5th.

Questions? Contact us: expo@plantingmontana.org or call 406-755-3079.

*While we try to keep the schedule that is posted on our website, schedules may change in order to accommodate the special needs of the presenters or the hotel. MNLA reserves the right to substitute speakers or modify the schedule as the need arises. The final schedule will be available at the registration desk. Changes may also be announced outside seminar rooms or posted on the announcement board at the registration desk.

CPP Exam at MT Green Expo 2027 (January 05, 2027)

Tue, 05 Jan 2027 20:00:00 GMT

Prove your plant knowledge!

The next Certified Plant Professional (CPP) Exam will take place on Tuesday, January 5th, 2027 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (just before the Montana Green Expo), at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula, MT.

Eligible applicants need to apply online by following the link to register, no later than December 15th, 2026. If you are a current MNLA member, or work for an MNLA member, you are eligible to register at the discounted members-only rate.

The certification tests are generally given twice a year, in January at the annual Montana Green Expo and in July at the annual SummerTour. The exam consists of a plant identification test and a written test. The exam is based on the Certification Manual and on practical information gained from employment in the industry, and on identification of the correct genus, species, common name, and cultivar (if appropriate) for each plant.

The ID portion of the exam is 50 plant specimens, based upon plants covered in Choosing Trees and Shrubs for Montana Landscapes, by George Evans and Alan Epps, as well as lists of Montana perennials and woody plants. These publications and lists are included in the manual. The second portion of the exam is a 200 question written exam of the principles and practices of virtually all aspects of the nursery industry. A passing grade is 75% for both parts of the exam. Bring at least two sharpened pencils to take the exam. We also recommend that you bring several sheets of scratch paper.

Please see the Education & Certification page on our site for details on eligibility and renewal as well as a number of additional forms and how to order your CPP Manual (a highly recommended book for preparing for the exam). Manuals are available as either a hard-copy version or PDF format, and can be ordered by submitting an order form to the MNLA office before December 15th.

Questions? Contact us.

Montana Nursery & Landscape Association upcoming events

Montana Green EXPO 2027 - Conference (January 05, 2027)

Montana Green EXPO 2027 - EXHIBITORS (January 05, 2027)

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

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Workshops @ Montana Green EXPO 2027 - Conference (January 05, 2027)

CPP Exam at MT Green Expo 2027 (January 05, 2027)

Prove your plant knowledge!