In 1987, a group of Montgomery County nurserymen, believing that banding together could help the wholesale grower gain additional knowledge about growing plants successfully, better market product and provide a collective voice for good within the industry, founded the Southeast Texas Nursery Growers' Association. Led by John and Shirley Mauney, owners of Number 1 Nursery, and encouraged by the Montgomery County Horticultural Extension Agent Tom LeRoy and his staff, the group obtained a charter, incorporated as a non-profit trade association and held their first formal meeting on January 12, 1988. John Mauney of Number 1 Nursery was elected as the first President. The dozen "incorporator" members attracted a total of 35 nursery growers as "Charter Members", fourteen of whom continue as active and involved members fifteen years later. In addition to designing an attractive logo, holding regular meetings with speakers providing information useful to the growers and publishing a monthly newsletter with news and helpful tips for the grower, the leadership of the Southeast Nursery Growers' Association initiated such visible and worthwhile projects for the association, the marketplace and the public at large as: In 1992, the Association, led by President Chip Boxley of Texas Trees, donated and planted trees to enhance the grounds of the new Houston Police Officers' Memorial (on Buffalo Bayou at 2400 Memorial) In 1994, chaired by Bushman Plant Farm's Ed Ricks, initiated annual STNGA Trade shows. Beginning at the Woodlands Conference Center, the show moved to the (now) Reliant Astroarena in 1998 and in 2003 to the present location in Conroe. In 2002, led by President George Prucha of Home Growers' Nurseries, the Association undertook a serious review of Mission and Vision, resulting in an updated "Mission and Vision" for the Association. The Southeast Nursery Growers' Association, on its foundation of seventeen years of achievement for the betterment of its members and the horticulture industry, is dedicated to become the dominant force and professional voice for horticulture in Texas. |
HISTORY |