01/14/11

Story by Peggy Graham

Horticultural Sciences Field Day

JCCC hosts horticultural sciences field day

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Johnson County Community College horticultural sciences program in partnership with Hermes Nursery and Landscaping will host the first-ever JCCC Horticultural Sciences Field Day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in room 101 of the Regnier Center. The event, aimed at recruiting students to the horticultural field and providing information about job opportunities and careers in horticulture, is free and open to the public.

Lectures will be presented from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

8 a.m. opening remarks

8:10 a.m. Dalton Hermes, CEO, Hermes Landscaping, Overland Park, 2011 Industry Trends

8:45 a.m. Alan Stevens, director, K-State Research and Extension Center, Olathe, and JCCC adjunct associate professor, landscape design, Serving Tomorrow’s Gardening Consumer: Is knowledge of horticulture and ornamental plants enough to be successful?

9:30 a.m. coffee break

10 a.m. Collin Wamsley, entomologist, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Invasive Pests

10:45 a.m. Eric Nelson, owner, Family Tree Nursery, Overland Park, Plants Rule the World

11:15 a.m. Frank Male, production manager and certified landscape professional, Lawrence Landscape, and Jane Male, MAGICouncil, Landscape Industry Certification

11:45 a.m. Randy James, consulting arborist for Growing Concerns, a plant health service company, Manhattan, Tree Protection

12:15 p.m. lunch break

1:30-3 p.m. Carl Whitcomb, former professor, Oklahoma State University, and president Lacebark Inc., Improving Plant Root Systems

Attendees can network with industry leaders from local nurseries, plant retail centers, landscaping companies, parks and recreation districts, tissue culture labs, government agencies and other green industry businesses.

JCCC offers a horticultural sciences associate’s degree that transfers to Kansas State University, horticultural certificate, landscape technician certificate, sustainable agriculture certificate and entrepreneurship certificates in horticultural sciences and landscape technician.

For more information, contact Lekha Sreedhar, associate professor/chair, horticulture, JCCC, at 913-469-8500, ext. 3763.

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