Who's thinking about going?
Looks like we have our friend @Dennis Wong speaking along with my friend Jurijs.
Plus, you never know who will also show up? @plantbrain, @GreggZ, @Burr740?
Who is thinking of going to the upcoming AGA Convention?
- Thread starter Art
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Who's thinking about going?
Looks like we have our friend @Dennis Wong speaking along with my friend Jurijs.
Plus, you never know who will also show up? @plantbrain, @GreggZ, @Burr740?
Mr.Shenanagins
Well-known Member
Ooo not too far for me! I may have to consider!
- Thread starter
- #3
Bumping this up to the top of the New Posts list for everyone.
I can tell you from experience, attending an AGA event is a special thing. You get to interact with so many people that you've known for years but have never met.
I remember once having scotch at night with George Farmer and Mike from ADG. @plantbrain gave a great banquet talk that year.
Who else has been to an AGA Convention? Tell us some of your most memorable moments?
@CherylR #AGA
I can tell you from experience, attending an AGA event is a special thing. You get to interact with so many people that you've known for years but have never met.
I remember once having scotch at night with George Farmer and Mike from ADG. @plantbrain gave a great banquet talk that year.
Who else has been to an AGA Convention? Tell us some of your most memorable moments?
@CherylR #AGA
CherylR
New Member
The talks, field trips, workshops, banquet, and auction are fabulous. But the real fun is in the hallways, talking to other plant-heads! Priceless!
www.aquatic-gardeners.org
Aquatic Gardeners Association Convention
www.aquatic-gardeners.org
Mr.Shenanagins
Well-known Member
I may have to just ask for this for my birthday 
now will my wife come and watch me nerd out? 
now will my wife come and watch me nerd out? - Thread starter
- #6
So I tried this once. I think it was the Washington DC one.I may have to just ask for this for my birthday
The answer to your question for me is "NO".
She liked the people she met but thought we are all crazy.I always thought the AGA Convention should have a "non-aquarist spouse program" that would take them to see local sites and have other things to do. That way the aquarist spouse is free to nerd out as much as possible.
@CherylR, what do you think? We may get more attendance if the non-interested spouse knows they will have something to do.
GreggZ
Moderator
I attended the last AGA and it was well worth the effort.
Not only did I get to meet in person some of the people I have known in the hobby for many years, but I also met many new people and made new friends as well.
The best thing is people actually LIKE it when you nerd out talking about planted tanks, and you can do that from dawn to dusk (or in some cases far later!) as there is always someone around who wants to chat.
Here's a pic of some pretty serious planted tank brain power!!
And of course one of the highlights was finally being able to pay off on a promise I made probably a decade ago. I told Joe Harvey that if I ever met him in person, I would buy him a fine scotch and enjoy it with him. And what a pleasure it was! (fun fact Vin Kutty took the picture!).
I have not made definitive plans yet but if schedule allows I will attend if I possibly can.
Not only did I get to meet in person some of the people I have known in the hobby for many years, but I also met many new people and made new friends as well.
The best thing is people actually LIKE it when you nerd out talking about planted tanks, and you can do that from dawn to dusk (or in some cases far later!) as there is always someone around who wants to chat.
Here's a pic of some pretty serious planted tank brain power!!
And of course one of the highlights was finally being able to pay off on a promise I made probably a decade ago. I told Joe Harvey that if I ever met him in person, I would buy him a fine scotch and enjoy it with him. And what a pleasure it was! (fun fact Vin Kutty took the picture!).
I have not made definitive plans yet but if schedule allows I will attend if I possibly can.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #8
That is a brain trust, right there.
Here are a few more pictures from my last one. I'm hoping to motivate some of you to go have one of the great experiences of your life.
This AGA had an aquascaping workshop where a professional aquascaper would assist an attendee. Kinda like a pro-am golf tournament.
Here is George Farmer:
Here is Mike Senske (notice @shopaquariumfish.com's shirt):
And, of course, @plantbrain:
The lectures are always fun and educational. This time, @plantbrain gave a couple of talks:
It's always fun to pit two professionals against each other and see who wins. This time it was Farmer versus Senske:
Senske won but he did have the home field advantage.
To wrap it up, you know you're at an AGA Convention when you see hardscape everywhere:
And you start taking pictures with people you meet in the hallway:
Here are a few more pictures from my last one. I'm hoping to motivate some of you to go have one of the great experiences of your life.
This AGA had an aquascaping workshop where a professional aquascaper would assist an attendee. Kinda like a pro-am golf tournament.
Here is George Farmer:
Here is Mike Senske (notice @shopaquariumfish.com's shirt):
And, of course, @plantbrain:
The lectures are always fun and educational. This time, @plantbrain gave a couple of talks:
It's always fun to pit two professionals against each other and see who wins. This time it was Farmer versus Senske:
Senske won but he did have the home field advantage.
To wrap it up, you know you're at an AGA Convention when you see hardscape everywhere:
And you start taking pictures with people you meet in the hallway:
GreggZ
Moderator
Art George Farmer was one of the featured speakers at the last AGA.
Funny story. I walked up to George and said "you don't know me, but I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you how much I admire your work." And he says in his best British accent......"Oh I know who you are Gregg, I've admired your ability to grow plants for many years".
Made my day!!
Funny story. I walked up to George and said "you don't know me, but I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you how much I admire your work." And he says in his best British accent......"Oh I know who you are Gregg, I've admired your ability to grow plants for many years".
Made my day!!
When I met George he was like "You're the Dutch guy!" But we'd emailed back and forth before about using some pics when he was writing his book. That was a big honor, the only Dutch tank actually featured in his book was one of mine. I thought that was pretty crazy, especially because he'd just made the Netherland rounds taking pro shots of Bart's tank and a couple others. Nice guy. Anyway...
Yeah meeting folks you know from the hobby in person is the real treat for me. It was especially nice meeting these three Kool-Kats, main reason I went tbh. (RIP Linn)
BTW Gregg Im still pimpin the hat you had made for me. I only wear it special occasions
Yeah meeting folks you know from the hobby in person is the real treat for me. It was especially nice meeting these three Kool-Kats, main reason I went tbh. (RIP Linn)
BTW Gregg Im still pimpin the hat you had made for me. I only wear it special occasions
Last edited:
BigWave
Active Member
Its half way around the country for me. Will take some serious saving up to acheive this...
- Thread starter
- #12
Sometimes, being a smaller, global community is a good thing. It lets us connect like this with people we never met.
That's awesome.
- Thread starter
- #13
What a great photo! RIP LinnWhen I met George he was like "You're the Dutch guy!" But we'd emailed back and forth before about using some pics when he was writing his book. That was a big honor, the only Dutch tank actually featured in his book was one of mine. I thought that was pretty crazy, especially because he'd just made the Netherland rounds taking pro shots of Bart's tank and a couple others. Nice guy. Anyway...
Yeah meeting folks you know from the hobby in person is the real treat for me. It was especially nice meeting these three Kool-Kats, main reason I went tbh. (RIP Linn)
View attachment 3765
BTW Gregg Im still pimpin the hat you had made for me. I only wear it special occasions
- Thread starter
- #14
I was checking flights. From Seattle to Raleigh is $249 on Frontier if you're willing to make one stop.