Summer Field Day: The Landscape & Snow Expo

Landscape Illinois’ oldest event is getting a nostalgic return to its roots as Summer Field Day comes back with the spirit of a day at the county fair. Join us for a day of networking, nostalgia, and friendly competition, including: a classic car show, tours of Prairie Crossing, exhibits, lively Lincoln-Douglas debates, lunch, College of Lake County Farmstand, a pie eating contest, and more. Mark your calendars for this fun summer gathering that celebrates both our association’s history and the Landscape Illinois community today!

Sponsored by: Goodmark Nurseries

No county fair is complete without a little shine, nostalgia, and friendly competition. Our classic car show will showcase vehicles from around Landscape Illinois and offer a fun chance for fellow car enthusiasts to connect, swap stories, and enjoy a little peer networking when they’re not on the job. Have a car you’d like to show off?

8:00 a.m.
Summer Field Day opens

8:30 – 8:50 a.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: The Natives are Restless: Natives vs. Cultivars – Meghan Kohlmann and Mandy Leifheit, Midwest Groundcovers
Location: Main Stage

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Tour of Prairie Crossing

At Summer Field Day, attendees are invited to take a short tour of Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community located nearby. The tour will highlight the sustainable and ecological landscaping practices that guide Prairie Crossing residences, including native landscaping, biodiversity, stormwater management, and the community’s broader commitment to preserving open space. Prairie Crossing was developed with more than 60% of its site preserved as open space, making it a unique nearby example of conservation-based community design. Busses will begin loading at 8:50 a.m.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Container Wars
Location: Dining Tent B

Landscape designers will showcase their stunning, finished containers inspired by this year’s County Fair theme. Each participant will share the story behind their creation, design intent and plant selection.

9:15 – 9:35 a.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Skynet has Become Self-Aware: AI is a Threat vs. AI is a Tool – John Joestgen, JJ Landscape Consulting; Tom Fritts, Author – AI for Business Owners
Location: Main Stage

10:00 a.m.
Gnome Hunt Begins!

10:00 – 10:20 a.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Out of Gas: Gas vs. Electric Equipment – Andrew Guetler, Stihl; Tim Callahan, Greenworks North America
Location: Main Stage

10:30 – 10:50 a.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: No Takebacks: Plant Warranties vs. No Warranties – Meagan Provencher, Wasco Nursery; Tom Lupfer, Lupfer Landscaping
Location: Main Stage

10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
The Hidden ROI of Snow Equipment: Attachments, Edges & Operating Costs
Dale Oberg, SnowWolf
Location: Dining Tent B

Not all snow attachments and cutting edges deliver the same results. In this session, we’ll examine the real-world advantages of wing plows versus pushers and how each can improve productivity on different site conditions. We’ll also compare sectional, steel, rubber, and carbide edges to identify opportunities for reducing salt consumption, minimizing downtime, and lowering replacement costs. Attendees will gain a framework for selecting equipment that delivers the best long-term value.

11:00 a.m.
Lunch is Served! Join in the Dining Tent for a picnic lunch featuring hamburgers and hot dogs.

Beer Tent opens. Visit The Tree Connection in booth 317 for a cold one!

11:30 a.m.
Kona Ice Truck arrives! After you finish lunch, come cool off with a sweet treat at the Kona Ice Truck!

12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
Salt Smart, Save More
Hanna Miller, The Conservation Foundation
Location: Dining Tent B

Learn how you can use Salt Smart Practices in your snow and ice management operations to keep people safe, protect landscaping, reduce facility damage, AND save on salt.

12:10 – 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Old Roots Vs New Shoots: Old School and New School Work Ethics – Stephanie Serbedzija, Alan Horticulture; Ryan Heitman, Fisher Burton Company
Location: Main Stage

12:30 – 12:50 p.m.
Lincoln Douglas Debate: Let it Snow vs. Heck No: Snow Control vs. Time Off  – Tyler Doering, Doering Landscape; Petros Kaimakis, JM Irrigation
Location: Main Stage

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Tour of Prairie Crossing

Take a short tour of Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community located nearby. The tour will highlight the sustainable and ecological landscaping practices that guide Prairie Crossing residences, including native landscaping, biodiversity, stormwater management, and the community’s broader commitment to preserving open space. Prairie Crossing was developed with more than 60% of its site preserved as open space, making it a unique nearby example of conservation-based community design. Busses will begin loading at 12:20 p.m.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Container Wars
Location: Dining Tent B

It’s an all out plant showdown! Participants will be challenged to create a container on-site using a pre-selected assortment of plant material. Creativity, speed and design skills will be put to the test as contestants battle for prizes and bragging rights!

1:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Landscape Illinois Snow Salary Survey Results
This short session will examine how wages and compensation rates are trending across the snow industry in Illinois.

1:30 p.m.
Pie Eating Contest
Sponsored by: Hustler 
Our committees are going head-to-head in a pie eating contest – that includes our Board of Directors! A designated representative from each of the 24 Landscape Illinois committees will be chowing down on a 9-inch fruit pie, in a winner takes all competition! Who is going to take down our Committee of the Year (Membership)? Will it be Young Professionals? Or will they get owned by the Owners & Senior Managers Committee?? Come find out!

2:30 p.m.
Show Closes

*Schedule subject to change