Georgia Green Industry Association Hosts Capitol Day

ATLANTA – The Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) hosted the 2025 Capitol Day on February 18, 2025. GGIA members and board members, along with several college students, met at the Capitol Building to distribute plants, network and discuss policy affecting Georgia’s green industry.

The GGIA team started off the morning by arriving with the plants that would be given to legislators, legislative assistants and administrators.

“We are immensely grateful to the Capitol Police for getting us in quickly so that the plants were not damaged by the cold,” said Lanie Riner, executive director of GGIA. “The plants were grown by the UGA Horticulture Club, a student-run organization that exists to promote plant production and horticulture jobs.”

Capitol Day participants arrived early for networking before the day’s activities officially started. Afterward, students from Gwinnett Technical College, UGA and Berry College, along with GGIA members, began assembling thank you cards to accompany the plants.

“We split into groups with students from each school and industry members in each group so they could continue to network while making plant deliveries,” Riner said. “As usual, the plant deliveries were very well received by legislators, legislative assistants, and administrators alike.”

The Georgia Farm Monitor visited during the day to capture footage of the event.

“We are thankful for our partnership with them in promoting Georgia’s green industry,” Riner said.

Students and GGIA members were invited to participate in the World Café exercise led by Courtney Cooper, Julie Campbell and Aaron Paulson. The activity encourages participants to formulate questions to ask agricultural lobbyists.

“Students rotated to each instructor to create questions surrounding water quality, horticulture’s role in climate and weather-related challenges and labor struggles facing Georgia’s green industry,” Riner said. “After having time to think through each of these tremendous challenges in the World Café, all the students gathered with several agricultural lobbyists and advocates to ask their questions.”

Representatives from Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), Georgia Farm Bureau Federation (GFB) and Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) joined Riner to answer questions. These representatives included: Jake Matthews (GDA), Adam Bellflower (GFB), Jake Trench (GAC) and Will Bentley (GAC).

“To cap off the day, GGIA member Jutt Howard, who is serving in his Freshman term in the Georgia House of Representatives for the 71st District, was able to stop by and speak to the group following the Q&A session,” Rinder said. “We were so pleased that Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Chairman Robert Dickey sponsored House Resolution 268 recognizing the Georgia Green Industry Association.  We are so thankful for each and every person that contributed to the success of this day in raising awareness and advocating for Georgia's green industry.”

The Georgia Green Industry Association is the statewide trade organization for the ornamental/environmental horticulture industry in Georgia. With members from the landscape trade, irrigation contractors, wholesale nursery growers, greenhouse operators, retail garden centers and allied sales companies, GGIA serves as a true umbrella association for the entire horticulture industry.  Through our advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, legislative monitoring, certification exams, trade shows, and conferences for the horticulture-related industries in the state, GGIA is deeply rooted in the industry and continues to grow for the betterment of the industry’s future.

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