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Horticulture judging team wins regional competition
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Horticulture Judging Team at Oklahoma State University put their classroom knowledge to the test and came home with a victory from a regional competition that took place recently at Mobile, Ala.
The team placed first in the 67th Annual Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science, Association of Collegiate Branches competition. They edged out Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin State University to win the 1st Overall Team award. The four-member team consisted of Ellen Weatherholt, Tulsa; Laura McDonald, Bixby; Annie Crockett, Stillwater; and Matt Quirey, Blackwell. Also competing on an individual basis were Kadie Koepp, Tulsa; Michelle Rapp, Broomfield, Colo.; and Natalie Hall, Edmond.
In addition to winning top honors overall, the team also placed first in greenhouse floral and foliage plants, third in vegetable crops and second in fruit and nut crops.
On an individual basis, Weatherholt placed first overall, first in woody ornamental and second in greenhouse floral and foliage plants. Crockett placed first in greenhouse floral and foliage plants. McDonald placed third overall and was elected as the association’s newsletter editor.
“We're really proud of all the accomplishments our team and individuals garnered during the competition,” said Janet Cole, judging team co-coach and professor, department of horticulture and landscape architecture at OSU. “Our team and individual members typically bring home awards from the ASHS competition.”
Not only is the ASHS conference a time for our students to compete, it is also a time for them to learn what other clubs around the region are doing and interact with faculty industry professionals. This year the group toured Flowerwood Nursery where the Encore Azalea was developed.
Preparation for the competition began back in October. The club members met weekly and began learning about the different commodities they would be judging.
“We teach them what to look for in fruits, vegetables, nuts, foliage plants, cut flowers and woody plants,” said Cole, who co-coaches the team with Brian Kahn. “In January we start having mock contests. How the students do in the mock contests determines who is on the official team. The top four students over the course of the mock contests make up the team. Any other club member can go and compete as an individual.”
Also, the OSU Horticulture club, which sponsors the team, was named the Third Place Outstanding Collegiate chapter in the region. The club’s spring plant sale helps off-set the costs of attending the conference and judging competition.
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Trisha Gedon
Communications
Specialist
Agricultural
Communications Services
Oklahoma State
University
136 Printing
Services Building
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-3625
(phone)
405-744-5739
(fax)
trisha.gedon@okstate.edu
CUTLINE:
Members of the OSU Horticulture
Judging Team are back row, left to right, Brian Kahn (coach), Annie Crockett,
Ellen Weatherholt, Matthew Quirey and Janet Cole (coach). Front row, left to
right, Natalie Hall, Kadie Koepp and Laura McDonald. Not pictured is
Michelle Rapp.
