Mike Friddle And Speedling [Slideshow]

Speedling produced about 200 million units of young plants for 2011.

Ornamental grasses are among the plants Speedling propagates.

Young plant production of ornamentals was down for Speedling this year, but the operation is also one of the largest young plant operations for vegetables in the United States.

Friddle also oversees finished production of a variety of items.

Friddle, center, receives a finalist's award for Head Grower of the Year. At left is Greenhouse Grower's Kevin Yanik along with BASF's Steve Larson.

Friddle accepts the Head Grower of the Year award.

Bobby Barnitz of Bob's Market and Greenhouses, far left, was also recognized July 11 along with Friddle. Barnitz's operation won Greenhouse Grower's Operation of the Year. BASF's Larson is pictured at center.

Mike Friddle, Speedling's head grower, was named Greenhouse Grower's second Head Grower of the Year at the Evening of Excellence reception July 11 at the OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio.

Friddle was one of four finalists for Head Grower of the Year along with Battlefield Farms' Marc Verdel, Bell Nursery's Ashley Smith and Nash Greenhouse's Chad Earles.

Friddle oversees young plant production at Speedling, which is one of 25 U.S. greenhouse operations ranked on Greenhouse Grower's Top 25 Young Plant Growers.