Sharon and Terry have spent decades running and growing their family business, Harding Nursery, which has been in operation for 69 years. Their dedication to the industry spans generations, beginning with Billie Harding, Sharon’s father, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
Terry and Sharon have both served on the CNGA Board of Directors, Terry in 2011 through 2014 and again in 2021 through 2024. Sharon served in 2018-2019. They have consistently been active and generous members of the association, well known for their hospitality and willingness to bring industry peers together. From regularly hosting barbecues to famously providing a catered prime rib dinner at the Plant Walk at Colorado Springs Utilities in 2023, they have always created a welcoming environment for colleagues and friends. If you want someone to host an event with a warm welcome and the BEST food, look to Sharon and Terry.
Education has been a cornerstone of their involvement. Sharon and Terry are strong supporters of the CNGA certification program and frequently host CCNP classes at Harding Nursery. Over the years, many CCNPs have come through their program. Sharon earned her CCNP certification in 1987, Terry followed in 1989, and the nursery currently employs five CCNPs.
They are also long-standing supporters of CHREF, generously donating their Denver Broncos tickets year after year to the CHREF Silent Auction, and consistently attending the Industry Celebration. Sharon further contributed to the industry by serving as a speaker at the Women in Horticulture Luncheon in 2009.
Family is central to everything Sharon and Terry do, and that value is clearly reflected in their business. Their daughter Kristen and her husband Chad, along with their son Dustin, now play significant roles within the company. Sharon’s sister Debbie has also been a long-time part of the nursery as well. Together, Terry and Sharon have expanded Harding Nursery from a retail and wholesale operation in Colorado Springs to include growing grounds in Calhan, Colorado, and Naples, northern Idaho.
When they are not working, Terry and Sharon devote their time to their family—children, grandchildren, and extended family—enjoying the outdoors through hunting, football, and other activities that reflect their deep-rooted connection to both family and land.
