Six Panel Discussions at Cultivate’26 You Should Attend
July 9, 2026 Whenever I travel to industry conferences that are built on education, I immediately seek out panel discussions for two reasons: 1) they offer perspectives from multiple industry members who may have different experiences but ultimately common goals, and 2) they encourage dialogue and can often spark new ideas.
Taking a look at the educational program for Cultivate’26, there are a number of panel discussions on the schedule that would be worth attending. Here are just a few of them.
Lessons from the Leap: Growers Share Their Automation Wins, Mistakes, and What They’d Do Differently (Saturday)
This panel will share candid, practical lessons from growers who recently implemented systems in real operations. The panel will dig into the decision points that triggered action, how budgets were built and justified, and which workflow changes surprised teams most. Panelists will share how they approached training and culture shifts, mistakes they would avoid next time, and how actual ROI compared to projections.
Family Business Succession Success Stories Panel (Saturday)
In the horticulture industry, the vast majority of companies are family-owned. Inevitably, most of these business will face the challenge of passing off the business to the next generation. No two businesses are exactly the same, so therefore succession success stories are unique as well. Learn from panelists who have gone through a transition as they share their experiences. Through expert advice and valuable lessons from green industry business owners, attendees will come away understanding the necessary steps to secure a profitable and harmonious future for their family and business.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: 2026 Spring Recap (Sunday)
Three technical experts from around the U.S. will share some of the top production wins and challenges they saw in the spring 2026 season. The speakers will discuss what worked well, what did not, and inform attendees of any significant production issues to be aware of in the future.
Insights and Takeaways From Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers Survey (Sunday)
The floriculture industry’s largest growers often set the pace for technology adoption, crop production, labor strategy, and logistics. Each year, Greenhouse Grower editors survey these operations to understand their biggest challenges, where they’re investing, and what’s changing on the ground. This session will share key trends from the 2026 Top 100 Growers survey and explore how the market has evolved in the post-COVID era. To move beyond a data recap, the session will also feature interviews with participating growers, adding real-world context attendees can apply to planning, sourcing, and operational decisions.
The Secret Sauce is Staff: Why Marketing Starts with HR (Sunday)
Hear how garden centers are intentionally aligning employee culture with the customer experience to create authentic brand moments, stronger word-of-mouth marketing, and long-term loyalty. Panelists will share practical approaches to onboarding, internal communication, leadership alignment, and empowering staff to tell your brand story in meaningful ways—on the sales floor and beyond.
If They Don’t Know Us, They Can’t Join Us (Monday)
The green industry has a workforce challenge, but it also has an awareness opportunity. Many students and emerging professionals simply do not know the wide range of meaningful, innovative, and rewarding careers horticulture can offer. This dynamic panel discussion will explore how the industry can better connect with the next generation, strengthen career pathways, and create workplaces where new professionals feel supported, valued, and inspired to grow. Featuring perspectives from young industry professionals and national career-awareness leadership, this session will highlight practical ideas for building excitement around horticulture careers, improving internship and mentorship experiences, and helping future talent see a place for themselves in the industry.
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