Page 6 - MNLGA Free State Winter 2025

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
VANESSA A. FINNEY
Executive Director
UNC Law School graduation, May 2025
6 WINTER 2025 • Free State News
In the past couple of days winter has set in and that means MANTS is right around the
corner! We’ve made another trip around the sun; time is passing so quickly.
The MNLGA has had a pretty busy year! We hosted Field Days at North Creek Nurseries
and Raemelton Farm, sent contingents of representatives to a myriad of meetings and
events (including MD Farm Bureau Convention, several AmericanHort Fly-Ins, MD Ag
Council’s Taste of Maryland, MAEF Golf Tournament, and ALEI’s Ag Law Conference),
produced another spectacular Chessie Green, launched a new testing platform for the
CPH program, sponsored an industry economic and statistical survey, and through the
Maryland Green Industry Council represented the association and industry at large in the
Maryland legislature. We have partnered with many organizations and extend gratitude for
the positive working relationships we have with the University of Maryland and Department
of Agriculture, as well as many other entities. We do not take these relationships for granted;
they take continued nurturing, fostering of networks, and an attitude of respect to evolving
ideas as we cultivate and sustain relationships to advance our individual businesses
and industry as a whole. I personally look forward to continued growth and industry
advancement in 2026.
We’ve a whole slate of ‘things’ planned for 2026 including a winter seminar series on use
of native plants, Field Day at Mt. Cuba, release of two CPH Specialist Exams, release of the
report from the recent statistical and economic survey, and continued representation
before the General Assembly. More educational events will be planned, as well. Stay up-to-
date by reviewing Root of the Matter, which will hit your email inbox at least twice a month.
The MNLGA board has recently drafted a new mission statement and identified a core set of
values. In addition, the board has worked on a statement to define the association’s position
(continued on page 15)