The 37th Annual Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals (CALCP) Spring Training Conference took place March 4–5, 2025, at the Sheraton Denver Tech Center in Greenwood Village, Colorado. This two-day event drew hundreds of professionals from the arboriculture, landscape, and lawn care industries, as well as exhibitors, volunteers, and board members. Designed to provide 16 hours of continuing education for applicator technicians, the conference offered ISA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and met the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s verification requirements for annual pesticide training.

The educational program featured a lineup of respected speakers, including Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University, who presented on topics such as insecticide characteristics, stinging insects, and long-term insect trends in western tree populations. Other highlights included presentations by Judd Fitzgerald of Helena Agri‑Enterprises on site-specific herbicide use, Mel Kyer from the Colorado Department of Agriculture on state and federal pesticide regulations, and Thia Walker from CSU on safe pesticide mixing and handling. Luke Killoran, Denver’s City Forester, shared insights on integrated pest management in urban forestry, while Jay Hicks of Hicks & Associates provided legislative updates impacting the green industry in Colorado.

Attendees benefited from sessions covering a wide range of topics, including turf and industrial weed management, pesticide safety protocols, adjuvant use, equipment calibration, and strategies to reduce drift. The conference also addressed broader concerns such as rangeland restoration, wildlife habitat, and wildfire resilience. With its comprehensive focus on regulation, safety, and sustainable practices, the Spring Training Conference reinforced CALCP’s commitment to elevating industry standards and fostering a well-informed, compliant workforce across the state’s green sector.

Don Frantz of Wilbur‑Ellis Pro Markets was honored with the prestigious Golden Gun award. This accolade was presented to Don as he embodies professionalism, expertise, and a spirit of honest altruism. Frantz’s dedication to serving customers, advancing industry standards, and his unwavering commitment to the betterment of everyone in the green industry are widely recognized by all.