DINNER UNDER THE STARS
29TH ANNUAL DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Join us for the 29th annual Dinner Under the Stars on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Join leaders across agriculture, conservation, and policy sectors for an unforgettable evening of connection and impact at the U.S. National Arboretum. Set against the backdrop of the Capitol Columns, this open-air event features cocktails, a tented dinner, and opportunities to engage with key figures from industry, Capitol Hill, and the Administration.
This event is co-hosted by Martha Van Dale, COO of NASDA, Chandler Goule, CEO of National Association of Wheat Growers, and Anne MacMillan, Principal of Invariant GR.



TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS
Host your friends and colleagues or put together a table at the event. A limited number of tables and tickets are available for Dinner Under the Stars. Capitol Hill and Administration VIPs will be invited to this event. We look forward to working with you on seating.
Space is limited! To pledge your table sponsorship, contact us at dinner@fona.org. Sponsorships are tax deductible above $150 per person, in accordance with federal tax law. Tax-deductible regrets donations are always appreciated.
EVENT BENEFITS
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
*Based on a mutually agreed upon date and time. Blackout dates may occur.
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea): Official tree symbol of the District of Columbia. Beautiful native oak with gorgeous “scarlet” fall color. One of several species native to the National Arboretum and part of the National Oak Collection.
EVENT BENEFITS
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
*Based on a mutually agreed upon date and time. Blackout dates may occur.
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides): Iconic example of the value of plant exploration and conservation. Has gone from living fossil to important landscape tree in a geological blink of an eye! Notable collection by the Gotelli Collection at the National Arboretum.
EVENT BENEFITS
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
*Based on a mutually agreed upon date and time. Blackout dates may occur.
American elm (Ulmus americana): National Arboretum scientists have been involved in elm breeding, genetics, taxonomy, and conservation for over seven decades, releasing dutch elm disease tolerant selections as well as novel hybrids.
EVENT BENEFITS
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana): A noble pine from northern China, long cultivated, and reintroduced to American horticulture by USDA plant explorer Frank N. Meyer, whose original collections now reside at the National Arboretum. Lacebark pine is featured at the Arboretum in the Introduction Garden and the Gotelli Collection.
EVENT BENEFITS
Flowering Cherry (Prunus spp.): Collectively, the USDA and USNA have championed the use of flowering cherries for over a century. Although dominated by Japanese selections, species and hybrids also originate from China, Korea, and Japan and, now, breeding programs in the U.S., like our very own.
EVENT BENEFITS
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus sp.): Flowering dogwoods comprise one of the earliest collections at the USNA dedicated to displaying the breadth and diversity of our native flowering dogwood (C. florida), its close relatives, and the shrubbier members of a highly ornamental genus.
EVENT BENEFITS
Tax-deductible donations are always appreciated.


2025 SPONSORS
Thank you to the following supporters for sponsoring the upcoming 29th annual Dinner Under the Stars. Pledge your support today to join this growing list of sponsors and to maximize your visibility. Sponsor list as of June 10, 2025
Flowering Cherry $5,000
Amazon
Amy Titus
FMI – The Food Industry Association
NASDA
National Association of Wheat Growers
USA Rice
Flowering Dogwood $1,500
Jeanne Connelly and Marty Sherr
Conroy Landscape Architecture
Ralph Lopez and Linda Marks

MISSION IN ACTION
By attending Dinner Under the Stars, you are directly supporting FONA’s work at the U.S. National Arboretum. FONA ensures the Arboretum continues to thrive as a vital hub for horticultural research, environmental education, and community connection. For over 40 years, FONA has served as the Arboretum’s primary nonprofit partner and funds critical operations, youth education programs, and infrastructure improvements. We connect people to plants and science through public events, advocacy, strategic collaboration, and communications. Your partnership makes it all possible.

PAST DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Sponsor list as of September 6, 2024
Scarlet Oak $50,000
Robert and Kate Bartlett / Bartlett Tree Experts

Lacebark Pine $10,000
Bayer
International Paper / American Forest & Paper Association
Margaret Strand
Red Maple $5,500
Amazon
Agri-Pulse Communications
CoBank
Congressional Federal Credit Union
Corn Refiners Association
Farm Credit
FGS Global
FMI — The Food Industry Association
International Fresh Produce Association
Invariant / Anne MacMillan
National Association of Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
Nutrien
Platform for Agriculture + Climate Transformation
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
Flowering Cherry $3,500
AmericanHort
American Seed Trade Association
Marcel C. LaFollette and Jeffrey K. Stine
National Association of Conservation Districts
Michael Stevens
Amy A. Titus
Torrey Advisory Group
USA Rice Federation
W.S. Jenks / Becky and Jerry Siegel
Flowering Dogwood $1,200
Dennis & Zandra Chestnut
CropLife America
Elizabeth Dugan
National Capital Area Garden Club
Nzinga Tull
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Dorothy & Kenneth Woodcock

















Photos by Lissa Ryan Photography.
Sponsor list as of September 10, 2023
Scarlet Oak $50,000
Robert and Kate Bartlett/Bartlett Tree Experts

American Elm $15,000


Lacebark Pine $10,000
BASF
Bayer
EarthOptics
National Confectioners Association
Lisa and Chris Smith
Red Maple $5,500
CoBank
CropLife America
Farm Credit
FGS Global Food Team
FMI — The Food Industry Association
Anne MacMillan/Invariant
National Association of Wheat Growers
Syngenta
Flowering Cherry $3,500
Agri-Pulse Communications
American Seed Trade Association
Congressional Federal Credit Union
Marcel C. LaFollette and Jeffrey K. Stine
Lloyd E. Mitchell Foundation
NASDA
National Association of Conservation Districts
Nancy and Robert Shoemaker
Michael G. Stevens
Linda A. Strachan
Amy A. Titus
Torrey Advisory Group
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
USA Rice Federation
Tuckie and Don Westfall
W.S. Jenks/Becky and Jerry Siegel
Flowering Dogwood $1,200
AgSpire
Laura and Guy Cecala
North American Millers’ Association
Nzinga Tull
Dottie and Ken Woodcock
In-Kind Donors



















Photos by Plume Photography.
Sponsor list as of September 15, 2022.
Scarlet Oak $50,000
Robert and Kate Bartlett/Bartlett Tree Experts

American Elm $15,000


Lacebark Pine $10,000
Anonymous
Bayer
CropLife America
Outlier Development
Syngenta
Red Maple $5,500
Abbott
BASF
CoBank
Elizabeth M. Dugan
FMI — The Food Industry Association
Invariant and Anne MacMillan
Michael Torrey Associates, LLC
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Corn Growers Association
National Farmers Union
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
Flowering Cherry $3,000
Agri-Pulse
American Forest & Paper Association
American Seed Trade Association
Betty Boyle
Lynne H. Church
NASDA
Jeffrey K. Stine and Marcel C. LaFollette
Michael G. Stevens
USA Rice Federation
University Park Friends of the Arboretum
Nina Weissberg and Stuart Martin
W.S. Jenks/Becky and Jerry Siegel
Flowering Dogwood $1,200
AgSpire
American Forest Foundation
Laura and Guy Cecala
Gail Charnley Elliott
Forbright Bank
Laura Wood Peterson Consulting Inc.
In-Kind
Other Half Brewing
Supreme Core Cider




















Photos by Plume Photography.













Photos by Plume Photography.














