SFA Horticulturists Win Regional Competition

The Stephen F. Austin State University Horticulture Judging Team recently won Second Place Overall Team Award at the J. Benton Storey Undergraduate Judging Contest in Orlando, Florida, February 1-4, 2002. The contest is sponsored by the American Society for Horticultural Science Southern Region, Association of Collegiate Branches. Under the direction of Dr. David Creech, SFA horticulture students Jessica Chester, Ryan Conklin, Gary Frain, and Nathan Unclebach competed against teams from seven other universities, including Texas A&M, Louisiana State, and Mississippi State.

The SFA Team took second place in Woody Ornamentals and Greenhouse Floral and Foliage Plants. Jessica Chester earned first place Fruit Crops Individual Award and second place Overall Individual Award. Ryan Conklin received an individual first place in the Woody Ornamental contest.

Team members also attended meetings and seminars. Dr. David Creech presented a paper "Ornamental Plant Evaluation at the SFA Mast Arboretum," and Seth Rodewald-Bates, SFA graduate student in Horticulture and vice-president of the ASHS Southern Region Association of Collegiate Branches, presented a paper, “Developing a Virtual Field Trip Network Node for the SFA Mast Arboretum.” Heather Hammers, Horticulture Graduate Assistant, accompanied the team to Orlando.

Pictured standing: Ryan Conklin, Dr. David Creech, and Heather Hammers. Front row: Jessica Chester, Nathan Unclebach, and Gary Frain.

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