It was an evening of excitement and anticipation on July 13, 2015 as the winners of Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence and Grower of the Year Awards were announced. Nearly 400 members of the industry came together to recognize and celebrate achievement in breeding, growing and marketing.
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Terra Nova Nurseries’ Leucanthemum ‘Luna’ won the vote for the Readers’ Choice award. The Terra Nova Nurseries team celebrates with Editor Laura Drotleff. (L to R): Dan Heims, Laura Drotleff, Ken Brown, Chuck Pavlich and Nathan Lamkey.
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Steven Still of the Perennial Plant Association accepts the Excellence In Marketing award
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Cortland Smith accepts the Best New Product award for Sporticulture, a company which provides access to sports licensing and marketing opportunities to growers, retailers and landscape contractors.
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Ron Van der Hengst, winner of the Excellence In Production award, enjoys the party with his wife and daughter before the ceremony
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Nick Gerace (right), winner of the Excellence In Innovation award, celebrates with team members from Welby Gardens
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John Rader of Proven Winners’ EuroAmerican Propagators talks about ‘Balsamic Blooms’ Basil, winner of the Editor’s Choice award
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Daniel Fevreau (L) and Jessie Kee (R) of Sheridan Nurseries celebrate receiving the Excellence In Perennials Production award and the Operation Of The Year award
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Head Grower Of The Year winner Tom Wheeler (middle) from Bell Nursery with Editor Laura Drotleff and Joe Lara of BASF, the sponsor of the Grower of the Year program
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George Casey (L), group publisher of Greenhouse Grower and Today's Garden Center, and Dennis Crum (R) of Four Star Greenhouses. Crum was Grower of the Year in 2013.
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Brent and Becky Heath of Brent & Becky's Bulbs
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Suzy McCoy of Garden Media Group with her granddaughter.
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Ivan Tchakarov (L) of Metrolina Greenhouses and Grower of the Year in 2014 with Darren Barshaw (R) of Proven Winners
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2015 Evening Of Excellence
Bill Calkins of Ball Horticultural Co.
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Katie Rotella of Ball Horticultural Co.
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Anthony Van Hoven of Battlefield Farms with Stephanie McKay of Nufarm
Celosia ‘Dragon’s Breath’ from Sakata was the Industry’s Choice winner, while ‘Balsamic Blooms’ Basil from EuroAmerican Propagators won the Editor’s Choice award. Greenhouse Grower’s readers chose Leucanthemum ‘Luna’ from Terra Nova Nurseries as the Readers’ Choice award winner.
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Three new grower awards were added to the mix this year for excellence in production, innovation and leadership. They went to: Ron Van der Hengst, South Central Growers – Excellence In Production Nick Gerace, Welby Gardens – Excellence In Innovation Tom Wheeler/Bell Nursery – Excellence In Leadership
An additional three new awards for excellence in annuals, perennials and greenhouse vegetable production went to the following operations: American Color – Excellence In Annuals Production Sheridan Nurseries – Excellence In Perennials Production Houweling’s Tomatoes – Excellence In Greenhouse Vegetable Production
Grower Of The Year winner Tom Wheeler of Bell Nursery received his award to much applause, as did Operation of the Year winner Sheridan Nurseries. Kientzler was presented with the Industry Achievement Award and the Perennial Plant Association was recognized for Excellence in Marketing.