Kentucky Florist Association (KFA)

09/01/2026

This year, the Kentucky Florists’ Association introduced the Heart of America Design Contest for the very first time at our 68th Annual Convention.

Created as a national floral design competition, Heart of America invited designers from across the country to put their creativity, technical skills, and ability to think on their feet to the test.

Competitors had three hours to create four original designs onsite, including a Bridal Bouquet, Body Flower, Stars & Stripes Showcase Design celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, and a Surprise Design Challenge.

We were blown away by the talent and creativity these designers brought to our inaugural competition!

Please join us in congratulating our first-ever Heart of America winners:

🥇 1st Place - Patty Wallander, Wallander Floral & Events, Mississippi

🥈 2nd Place - Diane Carter, Benjamins, Frankfort, Kentucky

🥉 3rd Place - Cindy Hall, AIFD, CFD, KMF, Four Seasons Florist, Brookville, Indiana

Congratulations to our winners and to every designer who took a chance and joined us for the very first Heart of America Design Contest. You helped make this new KFA tradition something truly special.

We can’t wait to see where Heart of America goes from here! 🌸🏆

08/27/2026

Please join us in congratulating Destiny Mackey, KMF, recipient of the 2026 KFA President's Award.

Here's what KFA President Kim Lockman had to say about her:

Destiny has grown up in the floral industry, beginning with her grandmother, and with her mother's creative talent, she has learned from the best. Over the years, I've been able to watch her talent grow, and she's taken on roles on our KFA board many times.

About six months ago, I asked her to change roles and take on a new one as our Public Relations and Membership Director. Instead of asking a lot of questions, she just said, "Whatever you need me to do."

This lady always accepts a challenge and gives 100% in all she does, and always with a smile on her face. My grandma would say she is a firecracker!

Destiny is a Kentucky Master Florist with Fassler Florist in Fort Wright, Kentucky.

The President's Award recognizes individuals whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on the Kentucky Florists' Association. Congratulations, Destiny, and thank you.

08/25/2026

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Bonnie Dowler, recipient of the 2026 KFA President's Award.

Here's what KFA President Kim Lockman had to say about her:

Bonnie has been involved in KFA for almost fifty years. I've watched her work as a board member and behind the scenes, helping in any way she can. She has given freely of her product, her supplies, a lot of her time, and always with her opinion! She's the one who keeps us all in line. Her dedication to this industry and to KFA has made, and continues to make, a difference to everyone involved.

Bonnie has ran a successful wholesale business and currently is the owner and operator of STEMS LLC in Lexington, Kentucky.

The President's Award recognizes individuals whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on the Kentucky Florists' Association. Congratulations, Bonnie, and thank you.

08/20/2026

A closer look at the incredible creativity on display at this year’s KFA Designer of the Year Competition! 🌸✨

Throughout convention, talented floral designers brought their ideas to life through beautiful entries showcasing artistry, technique, creativity, and their own unique design styles.

These competitions are about so much more than choosing a winner. They give designers an opportunity to challenge themselves, try something new, learn from one another, and share their talent with the floral community.

Take a look through some of the amazing designs entered this year, and help us celebrate every designer who stepped up and put their creativity on display. 👏

We’re already looking forward to seeing what our designers create at the 2027 KFA Convention!

08/18/2026

The Gala was definitely a night to remember! 🪩🌸✨

One of our favorite parts of the 68th Annual Kentucky Florists’ Association Convention was coming together for our Stayin’ Alive Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating our floral community, recognizing incredible accomplishments, and having a whole lot of fun along the way.

From the awards and special recognitions to the disco looks, laughter, dancing, and time spent with friends, this was the perfect way to celebrate the people who make KFA so special.

Thank you to everyone who dressed up, showed up, hit the dance floor, and helped us keep the groove going! 💃🕺

Take a look back at some of our favorite moments from the Gala, and if you were there, tell us your favorite memory from the night in the comments!

08/12/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Kentucky Florists’ Association Designer of the Year, Keith Bauer! 🏆🌸

Keith Bauer of Huntingburg Greenhouses in Huntingburg, Indiana, earned this year’s top honor after an outstanding performance throughout the Designer of the Year Competition.

And what a competition it was! Keith also took home top honors in all three individual design categories:

🌸 Sympathy Design Winner
💐 Wedding Design Winner
✨ Designer’s Choice Winner

The competition culminated in our live Designer of the Year Design-Off, where the Final Four brought their creativity, technical skill, and talent to the stage.

Congratulations to our 2026 Final Four:
🌸 Keith Bauer — Huntingburg Greenhouses, Huntingburg, IN
🌸 Dakota Ballamy — Stems, Lexington, KY
🌸 Brittany Harper — Lavender Hill, Jeffersonville, IN
🌸 Paul Wehr, ICFD, KMF — Combined Talents, St. Anthony, IN

And congratulations to Dakota Ballamy, our 2026 Designer of the Year Runner-Up!

We are incredibly proud of every designer who stepped up to compete this year. Competitions like this give floral professionals an opportunity to challenge themselves, showcase their artistry, and inspire everyone around them.

Please join us in congratulating Keith Bauer, our 2026 KFA Designer of the Year! 👏🌸🏆

08/11/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/19XH15cDpP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We couldn’t be more happy for Kentucky Florists' Association , Kentucky Master Florist Bryan McCoy | Bryan McCoy CFD, KMF: He has tested and achieved AIFD accreditation!

Another Southern Chapter member who has demonstrated that getting involved and working hard, pays off.
Congratulations Bryan! Poppy’s Flower Bar | NOW OPEN 🌸🍸

08/07/2026

Some weekends stay with you long after they're over.

The 68th Annual Kentucky Florists' Association Convention was one of those weekends.

For three incredible days, floral professionals from across Kentucky and beyond came together to learn, create, compete, reconnect, and celebrate the industry we all love. From inspiring educational sessions and hands-on workshops to exciting design competitions, the Trade Fair, and unforgettable moments with friends, this year's "Stayin' Alive" convention reminded us what makes KFA so special.

Thank you to every attendee, speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, volunteer, and Board member who helped make this convention such a success.

Take a few minutes to relive the memories with us. We hope this video brings back all the smiles, inspiration, and excitement from an amazing weekend.

08/06/2026

What an unforgettable weekend!

The 68th Annual Kentucky Florists' Association Convention was filled with incredible education, inspiring speakers, amazing floral artistry, exciting competitions, and friendships that remind us why our floral community is so special.

We've put together a special Convention Recap on our website where you can:
🌸 Watch the official recap video
🏆 Celebrate this year's competition winners
📸 Browse our convention photo gallery
👏 Recognize our award recipients
💜 Thank our sponsors, vendors, speakers, and volunteers
♦️ Get a first look at the 2027 Convention: A Royal Flush of Flowers

Whether you attended or are catching up from home, we invite you to relive the memories with us.

View the full recap here:
👉 https://kyflorists.com/68th-annual-convention

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 68th Annual Kentucky Florists' Association Convention such an incredible success. We can't wait to see you July 30–August 1, 2027!

Join the Kentucky Florists’ Association Annual Convention 2026 at Belterra Casino and Resort. Connect with Kentucky florists through hands-on workshops, competitions, networking, and a gala celebration. Grow your skills, gain inspiration, and elevate your floral business—register today.

08/03/2026

What an incredible weekend.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 68th Annual Kentucky Florists' Association Convention. From the inspiring education and hands-on workshops to the design competitions, Trade Fair, and unforgettable moments spent with friends, this weekend was one to remember.

Whether you traveled across Kentucky or across the country, competed in a design contest, shared your expertise as a presenter, exhibited in the Trade Fair, sponsored the event, volunteered your time, or attended your very first KFA Convention—thank you. You helped make this year's "Stayin' Alive" convention an incredible success.

A special thank you goes to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, convention committee, and Board of Directors for the countless hours that went into making this event possible.

The Kentucky floral industry continues to prove that when we come together, we learn, we grow, and we inspire one another.

We're still soaking it all in, and over the next few weeks we'll be sharing photos, celebrating our competition winners, highlighting educational moments, and reliving some of our favorite memories from the weekend.

Until next year... thank you for helping us keep the groove going.