Broward Chapter Tailgate Trade Show Takes Off

By Linda Adams, FNGLA COO
FNGLA Broward Chapter isn't sitting on the sidelines waiting for the economy to recover. Chapter President Tony Burzo, FCLC, and his leadership team, decided to be proactive, creating a new marketplace event for buyers and sellers to meet and learn. The Broward event is unique as far as trade shows goes - the displays were created with trucks, not pipe and drape. Each vendor backed his truck (all shapes and sizes) into his assigned space, opened the back door or put down the tailgate to display the plants and products, hung his banner, and the show was on!

The event took place the afternoon of Friday, April 9 at the Howard C. Foreman Health Park in Pembroke Pines. This is a great location as far as available space
and serves multi purposes for FNGLA. The park is one of the permanent test sites for the FNGLA Landscape Certification Exams. Broward Chapter has made a strong committment to the FNGLA Landscape Certification program and took advantage of having the trade show at the test site. Tony and Rob Shoelson, FCLC, gave presentations at each of the exam stations to help potential applicants be well prepared for future exams.

Did you know the the station which seems to create the greatest challenge to people is grading and drainage? All these are timed stations, so not only do you have to do things correctly, but also timely. That's why going through the study guide in advance is so important - gives you a head start on some of the calculations needed.

In addition to the local industry members, 3 local high school hort classes were also in attendance at the Tailgate Trade Show. Their teachers had arranged it as a field day. They arrived early enough to give Tony a hand with set up and then had the opportunity to hear the presentations related to the certification exam. Apparently, some of the students will be taking the exam at their schools later in the term, so the day provided useful tips.

As a person who works on trade shows, I know how many details are involved in putting on an event. Broward Chapter did a great job organizing things. There were students to direct from the highway, signs to the site, nice id signs, a central info area and best of all, free food! Hamburgers and hot dogs right off the grill were available all afternoon, as well as cold water and sodas. It was a very warm afternoon so the cold drinks were greatly appreciated!

As always, it's a treat to spend time with FNGLA friends and members. It sounds like people are having a good spring - sales are up, finally. Here's a photo of my buddies Vickie Parrish with a Searle Brother on either side, Larry, FCLC and Jeff. Special thanks to Wes Parrish who helped me with the FNGLA banners. It helps to be more than 6' tall to pull those banners all the way to their full height.

I saw something new at the Tailgate Trade Show - a motorized cooler with an additional pull behind cooler. I guess this is the ultimate tailgate party equipment, so the perfect raffle prize for a Tailgate Trade Show. Tony did a terrific job describing all the attributes of this unique equipment - the ticket sales jumped after his sales job. He may want to consider a second career on the Home Shopping Network! Can't remember who won the cooler ride, but I know who didn't win - Bryan Mitchell. As a serious tailgater, he was very disappointed. He could already see the Gator logos on that cooler as it rolled down the road! Better luck next time, Bryan.


The raffle ended the afternoon of business and fun. Everyone repacked their trucks, secured the doors and the trade show rolled apart - literally. This was a great beginning for what the chapter plans to be an annual event. I'm looking forward to being there again next year!