~ September 9, 2025

Next week, Becky and I are packing our bags and heading to Washington, D.C. with AmericanHort for the Impact Washington Fly-In Summit. The last time we traveled to D.C. to lobby was back in 2017, and wow, does that seem like a lifetime ago. But that’s because it was! A lot has changed since our last trip to the Capitol, but a lot has stayed the same: we are still advocating for labor and immigration reform, pesticide regulations, Farm Bill and USDA funding, tax policy that affects small family farms, sustainable infrastructure and much more. It’s both exciting and humbling to carry the voice of our community and family farm all the way to the Capitol. And, while many days it feels like our voices aren’t heard among the clattering noise of Washington, you can’t complain if you don’t try!  This trip is a chance to take the real stories—about the people who work alongside us, the towns who plant our trees, and the families who gather under them—and put them directly in front of our lawmakers.

When we meet with legislators, we’ll be advocating for:

• Labor & Workforce: Improvements to the H-2A and H-2B visa programs that our $348 Billion industry depends on.
• Farm Bill Reauthorization: The Horticulture, Research, Rural Development, and Crop Insurance Titles of the Farm Bill are instrumental to our success as an industry.
• Research & Development: Continued support for USDA programs that help us grow healthier, stronger trees such as the Specialty Crop Block Program and the Horticultural Research Institute.
• Pesticides & Fertilizers: Access to safe, science-based plant protection tools.
• Trade & Plant Health: Modernizing quarantine and certification programs so healthy trees can move across borders seamlessly.
• Business Operations: Easing regulatory burdens that hit small farms and businesses especially hard.

These issues are rooted in the simple day-to-day work of growing trees and caring for our community. The schedule is fast and full: briefings to get us prepped, two days of meetings on Capitol Hill, and gatherings with growers from every corner of the country. I’m looking forward to sitting down with our representatives and their staff, sharing what’s happening in our fields, and reminding them that policy isn’t just words on paper, it’s hands in the soil and roots in the ground. I’m also excited to connect with other growers who are passionate about the future of horticulture. There’s no better group to be a part of than plant people! 

As a sixth and seventh-generation family farm, we know that our story is just one thread in a much bigger tapestry. But every voice matters. By showing up in D.C., we’re adding our voice to the chorus, speaking up for healthy trees, deep roots, and strong communities. We’ll share updates from the road, so stay tuned for photos and reflections along the way. For now, we’re breaking out our blazers, reviewing our talking points, and getting ready to carry Spring Grove Nursery’s story to the Capitol!

~ Maggie Thomas Harper