Seed Your Future Doubles Career Day Program at Cultivate’26
(L to R) Seed Your Future Cultivate’26 booth visits to Proven Winners, Willoway Nurseries, and North Creek Nurseries. | Seed Your Future
Last year, Seed Your Future’s Executive Director Jazmin Albarran took 20 students and teachers on a guided tour of Cultivate’25 as the first SYF Career Day opportunity. This year, Seed Your Future Career Day programs reached more than 150 students and educators at trade shows across the country. At the most recent show, Cultivate’26 in Columbus, 43 students and teachers from across the U.S. took part in a day of hands-on career exploration.
The day opened with remarks from Lionel van der Walt, the new President of AmericanHort, who set the tone for the day: “People are the greatest asset. Of the people you meet here today, and those that you may have already met this week, you never know when one of those relationships will impact your career and future. So, embrace today and embrace all of these meetings you’re going to have.”
Broch Martindale, President of Seed Your Future, also welcomed the students before they split into small groups. He encouraged them to explore every vertical and opportunity. “Our industry has so much to offer, but students can’t pursue careers they don’t know exist,” he says. “This event is about making those connections and helping them see the possibilities.”
Led by Master Gardener Volunteers, Seed Your Future volunteers, and other industry champions, the groups toured 39 exhibitor booths spanning growers, nurseries, designers, brokers, and more, getting an up-close look at the careers that could define their futures.
Student and Educator Insights at Cultivate’26
The day’s impact was felt across every group: students, teachers, and volunteers alike.
“The trade show tour was an amazing experience that exposed me to the many sides of the horticulture industry, from marketing and production to ag technology and plant breeding,” says Dayana Ramirez, a student in the horticulture program at San Joaquin Delta College. “It was inspiring to see the wide variety of career paths and internship opportunities available nationwide.”
Eric Tanner, a horticulture teacher at Marlington High School and a Seed to STEM alumnus, called the day diverse, innovative, and inspiring.
“It was great to see this organization giving students and teachers a look at the wide variety of careers in horticulture,” he says. “I get to show the passion I have for this industry to my students at events like this.”
The enthusiasm extended to volunteers as well. “I believe what Seed Your Future is doing is so important in the development of students’ interest in the horticulture industry,” says Lisa Wiseman, Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer. “All the people we talked to made the point that there is a space for everyone in this industry.”
Of the feedback given from the participating exhibitors, the most common themes were that there is a real necessity for this next generation to join the industry. The presence of the students on the show floor gives a sense of hope and promise for the future.
“I am so excited to see a lot of new, young faces coming up into our industry, especially those who have a focus on native plants and sustainability,” says Josiah Gregory, Sales and Customer Service Manager at North Creek Nurseries. “The only way that the industry is going to continue into the future is if these new generations pick up where the current and older generations are leaving off.”
“Having Seed Your Future and the students join us at our booth to talk about the careers available to them is really exciting because we get to be part of bringing these young people into the industry,” says Susan Bacus Morgan, Marketing and Brand Manager of Star Roses and Plants. “There’s something for everybody. If your major is focused on technology, finance, customer service, marketing, really anything, there is a career opportunity for you in our wonderful industry.”
The afternoon closed with a milestone: one student was offered an on-site internship interview before leaving the show with an exhibiting business. This is a tangible example of what happens when students and industry leaders share the same space.
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