2026 AVSA 80th Annual Convention
May 25 – May 31, 2026
Presentations
Fun, Free, and Full of Information!! Here is what attendees at the Dallas convention have to look forward to.
A wide variety of interesting topics will be presented over the course of the convention.
Be sure to sign up for your favorite presentation when you register.
“Growing African Violet Trailers”
Thursday, May 28
10:30 a.m. to Noon
Dr. Elmer Godeny
Brenham, Texas
About the Presentation
This workshop will cover Dr. Elmer Godeny’s method for growing and showing Trailing African violets. He will take you through choosing a good trailer, care of the plant and end with preparing and grooming the plant for the showroom. Special attention will be paid to grooming and special caring for trailers.
About the Presenter
Dr. Godeny has been growing and showing African violets for over 30 years in many different states. He is an AVSA Master judge and a judge’s Teacher.
“A Hands-on Introduction to Dish Gardens”
Friday, May 29
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Linda Hall
Ravenwood, Missouri
About the Presentation
Ever wanted to learn more about how to create a small dish garden? Here is your chance. AVSA past president and last year’s winner of Best Design in the Show at the Kansas City convention, Linda Hall, will present a ‘get your hands dirty’ program. Linda has been a designer of local, regional, and national conventions for forty years. She has learned many tricks from other great designers and wants to pass them onto others. The dish and all of the materials needed will be supplied by AVSA for this program. The program will be limited to 20 registered participants with a cost $25. So, register early!!
About the Presenter
Linda began designing in 1986 with an interpretive plant arrangement. As years went by, she developed a love for dish gardens and underwater arrangements. She is fortunate to live where beautiful green moss can be found on her property in the “strangest places”.
“Growing Micro and Miniature Sinningias”
Friday, May 29
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dale Martens
Davenport, Iowa
About the Presentation
What a joy it is to see a micro or miniature Sinningia in full bloom! During Dale Martens’ presentation at the AVSA convention, she will show pictures and discuss soil, fertilizer, lights, and secrets to get maximum blooming. Dale’s reputation for giving away plant material at her lectures is well known, and she’s already planning on a free raffle after her talk. Come join the fun!
About the Presenter
Dale Martens has attended AVSA conventions for over 30 years. She was the “Gesneri-Advice” columnist for the African Violet Magazine for five years. She is a Master gesneriad judge, taught gesneriad judging schools in the US and Canada and received AVSA’s Bronze Medal in 2005. Dale won Runner-Up to Horticulture Sweepstakes at the 2025 AVSA convention with 17 blue ribbons that included several of her own miniature Sinningia hybrids.
“How Did He Do That?!”
Saturday, May 30
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
B.J. Ohme
Arcadia, Nebraska
About the Presentation
Please join B.J. Ohme as he shares his tips and techniques for creating one of a kind, award-winning designs. A multiple time Best in Design winner, B.J. strives to produce new, imaginative ways to use African violet plants and blossoms in his designs and will demonstrate his methods to help you along your design path. You don’t want to miss it!
About the Presenter
B.J. resides in a small village in the central region of Nebraska. During the school year, he works with special needs children at a nearby school. The summer months find him in his large garden growing hundreds of dahlias, vegetables and other flowers for cutting. The winter months are consumed with growing gesneriads for spring shows and sales. B.J. also enjoys baking, reading, and rare breed poultry, and he’s currently learning how to play the guitar.
“Top Winners Tell All”
Saturday, May 30
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Scott Ammann
Highland, Illinois
About the Presentation
This open forum will be a panel of this year’s top winners. How’s this for something FUN. Scott Ammann from Illinois will moderate a presentation for our members to question the ‘top winners’ at this year’s convention. Who are they you ask? Well, here is where the fun and mystery come in. The panel of three will be the exhibitors who win Best in Show, Horticulture Sweepstakes and Best Other Gesneriad. We do not know who will be on this panel, it might be YOU! With Scott being our moderator, this promises to be fun, fast, and informative. The mystery makes this a must see at convention!
About the Presenter
Scott discovered African violets at a local show at the Missouri Botanical Garden and couldn’t believe there was a true everblooming house plant– that could also be variegated! He quickly joined the local gesneriad group as well for the streptocarpus and stayed for the awesome people.