My first time experience at the FSFA convention

Hey everybody! My name Is John Grayson Henderson, and I am from Tillatoba, MS. I am new to the floral industry, and so thankful to have found such a wonderful floral family already! I have attended all the Floriology Institute classes in Jacksonville, FL, and have had the best instructors I could ever ask for. The knowledge, techniques, and friendships I have gained from those classes is amazing. Since I have gained friendships with my instructors, and other artists in Florida, it was recommended I attend the FSFA International / Florida State Florist Association (FSFA) convention this year in Jacksonville.

Oh Man…how exciting was that experience! The convention is something that you cannot explain, you must be there to understand the energy, talent, and passion for our industry that it produces. I was welcomed into FSFA with open arms.

I jumped right in to assisting designers, processing flowers, setting up displays, to creating designs. The quality of programs and designers they have is truly top notch. I was able to take workshops, and work one on one with the amazing artists they had there. I was also blessed with the ability to test in the FSMD exam and received my certification.

That was a great experience in itself!

I then stepped away outside of my comfort zone and competed in the Tablescape Competition. I have never done anything like that, and I was competing against some of the best talent in the industry with credentials long enough to be a sentence. So, I pulled myself together, and did the best I could. To my absolute shock I won 2nd place. All I can say is: God is good Y’all! Then if that wasn’t enough excitement, I was honored with being the first recipient of the “Terre Carr Memorial Scholarship”. The Carr family is so kind, and I was privileged to be the first person to receive this. I am so excited to put it to good use in continuing my education.

There is not enough I can say about FSFA. It is an absolutely wonderful organization; it is a big family that will welcome you with open arms and be there to help on your floral journey. I am so proud to be a FSFA member. I look forward to continuing to advance in this industry, and to be able to be a part of the continuous education and growth it produces for floral artists of all ages.

It is truly a blessing to have so many personal friendships with such talented people. To Floriology and FSFA: Thank you so much for everything you have done to help me with in my career. I am forever grateful and thankful for these opportunities. I am in this industry for the long haul, and I am excited to see where it takes me.

God Bless,

J.G. Henderson CFD, FSMD

Tillatoba, MS

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FSFA International / Florida State Florist Association (FSFA) convention was held on July 28-30, 2023 in Jacksonville, FL. Here, more pictures with participants from AIFD Southern Chapter.