MID AM TRADE SHOW
NOT A WRINKLE TO BE SEEN AS THE CLUB DONNED PROFESSIONAL GEAR FOR FRIDAY'S CAREER FAIR.
Event Background:
The Mid America Horticultural Trade Show and Career Fair has become known simiply as "MID-AM" to those in the MSU Hort Club. It is an annual Club trip that always draws a lot of excitement from members due in large part to the great potential for internship and job opportunities through companies present at the Career Fair. And of course the fact that you get to meet these industry leaders while hanging out in Chicago obviously doesn't hurt....
This event is open to all members and the club will pay for the hotel, a dinner, as well as part of the train ticket to get there and back. This is a trade show that may be a little more geared toward the grower end of the business, but there are landscape companies there as well. Members will be able to walk the trade show floor for a fee of $10.00 for a chance to meet with exhibitors, have a chance to hear great guest speakers, and mostly likely get a ton of free stuff. See the FAQ page for details for those attending this trip.
This year's trip:
2011 saw MID-AM back at it's old venue at the beautiful and historic Navy Pier. For 37 years now this event has been attracting companies not only from all corners of the green industry, but from all over the country as well, not just the Midwest. This year MID-AM ran from Wednesday, Jan. 19th through Friday, Jan. 21st and included hundreds of exhibitors, many of whom have been involved in MID-AM since the first year it opened its doors.
During the Hort Club's stay in Chicago members toured many of the city's sites including the gorgeous Garfield Park Conservatory, which was designed and built back in 1907! It is filled with vast plant collections that many consider today to be "landscape art under glass". Thursday night the Club visited the iconic Cheesecake Factory at the base of the 100-story John Hancock Building for dinner. Friday Hort Club had the opportunity to attend the Career Fair in the morning and walk the trade show floor during the day. Club members were then treated, by special invitation, to an information session at the famous Harry Caray's Tavern by Ground Pros, a greater Chicago area based company that specializes in commercial landscape management, tree and turf care, aquatics, and other landscape enhancements.
Members had a fantastic time overall on the trip. Hort Club would especially like to extend a warm thank-you to all the management and staff at Ground-Pros, who hosted a wonderful event. For more information on Ground Pros click here