What Events and Trade Shows Does the American Fence Association Host?
The American Fence Association (AFA) hosts one flagship annual trade event, FENCETECH, plus a rolling calendar of chapter-level education and networking events. FENCETECH is the association's "premier annual trade event," and the next edition is scheduled for March 1–5, 2027. If you are looking for local, lower-commitment gatherings, the chapter calendar is where you will find them — recent listings include a Fence Foreman School in Poughkeepsie, NY (Sep 30), a Texas Chapter Golf & Casino Night with Education in Grapevine, TX (Oct 1), an Upstate Apple Picking & Education event in Red Hook, NY (Oct 2), and a Colorado Chapter Topgolf & Education event in Thornton, CO (Oct 7).
FENCETECH: The Annual Trade Show
FENCETECH is the AFA's largest recurring event and the one most relevant if your goal is to see products, take classes, and meet suppliers in one trip. The site describes it as bringing together "innovation, education, and connection," with workshops and expert-led sessions.
What the event covers, based on the AFA site:
- Attend — general attendance at the show
- Exhibit — supplier and manufacturer presence on the show floor
- Learn — workshops and expert-led education sessions
- Network — structured connection with other industry professionals
2027 dates: March 1–5, 2027. The AFA lists this as a "save the date," so treat the dates as announced but check the event page for registration opening, venue, and session schedules before booking travel.
Who FENCETECH Is For
| If you are… | FENCETECH is useful for… |
|---|---|
| A contractor or installer | Education sessions, product sourcing, peer networking |
| A supplier or manufacturer | Exhibiting, sponsorship, advertising |
| Someone new to the industry | Broad overview of products, standards, and training paths |
The AFA also sells supplier-facing opportunities around the event, including sponsoring AFA University, exhibiting at FENCETECH, and advertising with AFA.
Chapter Events: Education Plus Networking
Beyond FENCETECH, AFA's 20 chapters run regional events that mix training with social formats. The pattern visible in the current calendar is an education component attached to a recreational activity — a golf night, a casino night, apple picking, or Topgolf — which lowers the barrier for attending compared with a multi-day trade show.
Examples from the AFA calendar:
- NY/LI Chapter — Fence Foreman School, Poughkeepsie, NY (Sep 30)
- Texas Chapter — Golf & Casino Night with Education, Grapevine, TX (Oct 1)
- NY/LI Chapter — Upstate Apple Picking & Education (FFS), Red Hook, NY (Oct 2)
- Colorado Chapter — Topgolf & Education, Thornton, CO (Oct 7)
Because these are chapter-run, the specific content, cost, and registration process vary by chapter. Use the AFA calendar as the entry point and follow the individual listing for details.
How to Find and Register for Events
- Go to the AFA website and open the Events section or the calendar.
- Scan upcoming listings — chapter events and FENCETECH appear in the same calendar area.
- Open the specific event for date, location, and registration details.
- For FENCETECH specifically, use the event page to choose between attending, exhibiting, or sponsoring.
- If you want advance notice, use the site's email signup ("Be the first to know") to get event and member-benefit announcements.
Expected result: you should end up on either a registration form for a specific event or a save-the-date page if registration has not opened yet.
Common Snags
- Chapter events are not centrally standardized. A listing may show a date and city without full pricing or agenda, because the chapter handles those details.
- FENCETECH 2027 registration may not be open. The site currently presents it as a save-the-date; do not assume you can register immediately.
- Login may be required for some areas. The site has a "Join / Login / MyAFA Portal" structure, so member-only content or pricing may sit behind an account. The available material does not state which event pages require login.
- Dates can shift. Verify before making travel arrangements, especially for chapter events posted months ahead.
Where Events Fit in the Broader AFA Offering
Events are one of four pillars the AFA presents on its homepage: Join (membership), Grow (education), Lead (volunteering), and Succeed (events). The association reports 1,800+ member companies, 10K employees, 20 chapters, and a presence across 50 states and 15 countries. If your interest is certification rather than events, the AFA's education side includes AFA University, career pathways, schools, certifications, and approved education providers — a separate track from the trade show and chapter calendar.