Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory celebrated the accomplishments of student gardeners during the Blue-Ribbon Plant Show held today, September 12, 2026.
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation news release:
100 Years of Growing
Blue-Ribbon Plant Show Honors Top Student GardenersFort Wayne, Indiana (September 12, 2026) – Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory celebrate the accomplishments of student gardeners and the dedication of the Grow it! School Plant Program families, teachers and volunteers who help make the City-Wide Blue-Ribbon Plant Show possible.
The annual event, held Saturday, September 12, at McMillen Community Center, 3901 Abbott Street, recognized students for their outstanding gardening achievements and included remarks from Deputy Mayor Karl Bandemer, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel and keynote speaker Denita Washington. The public was invited to view student entries beginning at 2:30 p.m., followed by the merit awards ceremony at 2:45 p.m.
This annual show highlights the work of top student gardeners from more than 60 elementary schools and homeschool groups. Each spring, every Fort Wayne student in kindergarten through grade four receives a plant grown by staff at Lawton Park Greenhouse. School-level shows held each summer culminate in this citywide celebration of gardening and youth achievement.
In 2026, more than 17,000 plants were distributed, reinforcing a 100-year-old commitment to hands-on learning, responsibility and a lifelong connection to nature.
A cherished Fort Wayne tradition since 1926, the Grow It! School Plant Program began as the School Children’s Flower & Vegetable Association (SCFVA), founded by Fort Wayne Parks Superintendent Adolf Jaenicke in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce. In 1961, the program was reorganized, ushering in the modern era of volunteer-led school plant shows and the city-wide exhibition that continues today.
Now managed by the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, the initiative impacts more than 60 schools and homeschool groups each year.
For more information about the Botanical Conservatory, visit botanicalconservatory.org.
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