Cultivate, the largest horticulture meeting in North America, takes place every July in Columbus, Ohio. At Cultivate '26, a group of international internship participants from The Ohio International Intern Program The Ohio International Intern Program or OIIP (long known as The Ohio Program or simply TOP) included 34 women and 14 men from 21 countries. Ten of them volunteered to help set up the conference.
Volunteers said they were amazed how AmericanHort gave them the authority to use their creativity and get things done. Prepared with a professional mindset to increase networking during the conference, many of them arrived with their business card on them, ready to give out with the kind of powerful handshake one develops in the hands-on jobs in their fields.
Interns participated in education sessions led by leaders in industry and education. OIIP also scheduled cultural activities for interns after the event, building peer relations that they hope will span their careers.