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Snow Days & School Days: SAF Next Gen 2026 Edition

This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re talking all things winter and NEXT GEN with SAF President Lori Wheat, AAF, third-generation owner of Lafayette Florist in Colorado, and Eileen Weber, AAF, second-generation florist and co-owner of Lake Forest Flowers in Illinois—both speakers at the upcoming SAF Next Gen Conference in Raleigh, NC.

These floral pros kick off the podcast with real-world tips for delivering flowers in snowy, cold conditions—from protecting product in freezing temperatures to keeping designs looking great from shop to doorstep. Drawing from experience, Lori and Eileen offer practical advice every florist can use when winter weather tries to derail delivery day. It’s the kind of insight you only get from people who’ve been there and done that.

Mike, Lori, Eileen, Ryan, and the crew dive into why Next Gen matters, who the conference is built for, and what’s on the schedule—practical sessions on leadership, communication, marketing, pricing, AI tools, and navigating today’s workplace challenges. They also preview a lineup of speakers who truly understand the realities of modern floral businesses, along with hands-on learning, networking, and a behind-the-scenes visit to NC State University, including tours of its floriculture research facilities and post-harvest care labs.

Ryan also reveals the theme for Monday night’s happy hour: SAF University—where everyone’s enrolled, no one’s checking IDs, and the only prerequisite is a love for flowers (and maybe a drink in hand). Rep your favorite University or school.

If you’re looking to grow your people, your business, and your perspective on the floral industry, this episode is a must-listen. Casey, Ryan and Joel will be there repping JF HIGHER FLORAL LEARNING. NEXT GEN LIVE is February 22–24 in Raleigh, NC—check it out below:

https://safnow.org/next-gen-live/