Photo © Matt McClellan
In a night that was about looking back with gratitude and looking forward to the next generation, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. celebrated the nursery’s 80th anniversary Aug. 26, 2026.
The company invited employees, customers, suppliers, industry colleagues and friends to its Boring, Oregon, headquarters for an evening of dinner and dancing. The J. Frank Schmidt Jr. Arboretum was decked out in a fun '80s theme. Marketing director Jeff Lafrenz said more than 500 guests joined the party.
“Even though a lot has changed in 80 years, one thing that really hasn't changed is our goal has always been to grow the best trees ever,” J. Frank Schmidt III said in his remarks during the celebration. “That goal could never have been achieved by our family alone. I especially want to thank all of our great employees, past and present, who worked hard through the years to grow and ship the best trees we could for our customers. JFS is what it is today because of the people that have given their time and talent and hard work to the company.”
Frank III and his sister Jan stepped down in 2020 from their CEO and executive vice president leadership roles. Ben Rough joined the company as CEO at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he spoke about how JFS’ success is built on long-term relationships.
“I can tell you, the Schmidt family is committed to another 80 years,” he said. “They are looking to continue to invest in the business and supply you with the greatest quality trees they can.”
JFS grows more than 1.5 million trees each year on its 3,000 acres of Oregon farmland. The company is known for deciduous shade and flowering trees, which it sells to wholesale growers and retail garden centers.
JFS has developed and introduced more than 115 tree cultivars in its 80 years, starting with J. Frank Schmidt Sr., who developed an improved European mountain ash the company still sells today.
In 1966, the company introduced Red Sunset maple, which was selected by J. Frank Schmidt Jr. It quickly became the top-selling red maple in the country and remains a very popular cultivar today.
Royal Raindrops crabapple and Redpointe maple were introduced in 2003 and 2006, respectively, and have grown in popularity to become the company’s current best-selling trees.
JFS' tree R&D program evolved under the guidance of Keith Warren, retired director of new product development. Over his 40-year-career with Schmidt, Warren guided 87 new tree cultivars to commercial introduction, including 37 trademarked or patented trees from his personal breeding and selection work. Warren spoke alongside his The Tree Book co-author Michael Dirr at the celebration.
“It’s very significant for a family business that family people can work together and stay together,” Warren said. “It’s not that there have never been any squabbles between Schmidt family members, but I’ve always admired the way they pulled together and kept the business together.”
Editor’s note: J. Frank Schmidt III was selected as the 2009 Nursery Management Grower of the Year, back when our magazine was still called NMPro. His father, J. Frank Schmidt Jr., was the first NMPro Grower of the Year in 1997.