Left to right:  Joe Turner, Education; Jo Buttram, Mid America Chairperson; Jackie Lacey, South Carolina; Margaret Abbott, President; Renaye Johnston, Oklahoma; Rusty Eldridge, Missouri (Ozark Florists Association); Eddie Brown, Kansas; Shane Cranford, Arkansas; Mary Mitchell, Louisiana; Steve Boney, Mississippi.

Ten states were invited to participate in the inaugural Mid America Invitational Cup Competition.  Participants from the seven states mentioned above accepted the invitation.  Each participant were presented with a gold medallion.  The winner received the Mid America Trophy, $1,000.00 in cash, Tuition to a Teleflora School, Weekend at the Embassy Suites in Hot Springs, Gift Box Certificates from Smithers-Oasis, Syndicate Sales, Virgin Farms, Sole Farms/Vista Farms, Designer Dispatch and Lion Ribbon. 

Competitors in the first Mid-America Invitational Cup are shown on the following pages with their competition pieces in the same order as they are shown in this picture.