Todd Nelson is OAN President and the CEO of his family’s nursery. He is known by colleagues as a hard worker and a caring boss.

WOODBURN, Ore. — Todd Nelson climbed back into the white pickup truck to drive to the next section of Bountiful Farms, his family’s nursery. The gravel under the tires crunched as Nelson pointed out which plants require pruning by hand, such as the Japanese maple trees, and which can be pruned by the “All Machine,” a large, GPS-driven piece of equipment so named because it can do a bit of everything, from pruning to spraying.

Nelson is the CEO of Bountiful Farms, an approximately 700-acre wholesale plant nursery in Woodburn, Ore., that started as a family hazelnut farm. His nephew, Blake Nelson, is his CFO and partner.

Nelson lives on the property with his wife, Lisa, and the youngest two of their six children. This year, Nelson is also serving as president of the executive committee on the Oregon Association of Nurseries board of directors.

He’s been involved with OAN for about five years, but hadn’t paid much attention to its work before being invited to join the board of directors.

“I had no idea how important it was until I was able to sit down in our board meetings and to hear all that’s being done behind the scenes,” he said. “That blew me away.”

This year, as president, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Oregon’s representatives in the Capitol. He appreciated the opportunity to share the concerns of Oregon nurseries with them.

“We need a voice and we need to be heard,” Nelson said. “We need to make sure that we are being very smart about how, as an industry, we’re going to be successful in years to come.”

At Bountiful Farms, Nelson takes a hands-on approach as CEO, just as he saw his dad do while growing up. He drives around and checks in with the employees who are handling daily tasks like pruning hydrangeas or staking and tying trees to keep them growing straight up.

Many of them speak Spanish, a language Nelson is fluent in after spending time in Chile as a young adult, so he talks with them to see how the day is going and if they need anything. On one occasion, while Nelson was talking with someone else, an employee pointed to a spray can, indicating the spray was low and needed replacing. Nelson pulled out his phone to make a note.

“He cares,” said Tiffanie Baker, a manager of sales and production. “He’s probably the most caring, humble boss an employee could have. He’s got a lot of things going on but he will always make time for you.”

Some employees have been with Bountiful Farms for nearly 40 years. Scott Durst has worked there for 26 years, through many transitions, including when Nelson took over about 15 years ago.

“I think he’s handled everything well that he’s gone through,” Durst said. “It’s been a good example to me.”

Since Nelson got involved with OAN, Durst has noticed that Nelson seems more aware of the big picture and what other nurseries are facing. One concern for Nelson and others, as always, is the labor shortage.

The size and success of Bountiful Farms makes it possible to invest in machines such as the “All Machine,” which was custom-made in the Netherlands. It streamlines some of the processes at the nursery. Mechanization can eliminate repetitive labor, which can cause injuries over time. The “All Machine” allows employees to focus more on the work that requires human skill and artistry.

However, many smaller nurseries are unable to make this kind of investment, and Nelson worries about how they will handle the continued labor shortage, especially with Oregon’s new overtime law.

Still, in a changing landscape, Nelson is happy with his life’s work.

“There’s really no better opportunity to work,” he said, smiling. “It’s amazing. I want our next generations, including my own children, to want to come and be nursery men and women. I want my kids to have the same passion that I have because I love what I do every morning.”

At Portland test garden, everything is coming up roses

State of the nursery industry: Thriving despite challenges

Todd Nelson: OAN president leads with humility

Farwest Show, the West’s largest nursery gathering, to celebrate 50th anniversary

Farwest presentations feature innovations, research

Harnden’s Nursery: Tree nursery flourishes

Melad Tree Farm: Provides a unique service

California Flora: Native plant nursery thrives in wine country

North End Nursery promotes organic gardening

Summer Winds grows in many locations

Biringer Nursery: Family operation with heart

Institute for Applied Ecology conserves native species