inagnews COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE
SUMMER/FALL 2013
Meet Our New Alumni studying, she would come by and put scholarship applications in front of me. She made certain I filled out every form, and Carole’s the one who mailed them all for me.” Hosier took the opportunity to single out instructor Roy Walls whom he called Mr. Everything, “From computers to welding to woodworking Roy was the man to turn to.” See GRADUATION, pg. 6
By Tony Pagnotti The annual IAA pre-graduation reception held at the University Golf Course Club House May 20 was a family affair in more ways than one. Nearly 100 proud moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even five-day-old Duke Walsh--son of graduate Michael Walsh--were on hand to honor the IAA’s 15 graduates. “Creating a sense of family and community among students and staff is also what the IAA is all about,” said longtime faculty member Dr. Kevin Mathias during his pre-graduation remarks. Dr. Cheng-i Wei, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, echoed that same sentiment, “Even though the IAA has grown in
numbers over the years, it has been able to maintain a close knit atmosphere where students, faculty and alumni realize the importance of networking when it comes to employment after graduation.” Graduates Cody Cashman, Scott Hosier, and Michael Walsh represented their classmates by providing remarks. Cashman drew a laugh from the crowd when he praised IAA Director Glori Hyman, “At first we students thought she was going to be real strict, but in time we discovered she was always there for us.” Walsh, named IAA’s outstanding student of the year, applauded Business Services Specialist Carole Dingess for her never ending persistence. “She was the one who actually got me through the program. Whenever I’d be there Institute of Applied Agriculture 2123 Jull Hall, University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742-2525 iaa.umd.edu
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From the D irector ... p 2 Maryland D ay ... p 3 Shields Mem orial ... p 4 Distinguished Student ... p 8 A Lasting Im pression ... p 9 Around the ‘Tute ... p 1 0 Student File s ... p 11
College Forward A Transfer Advantage Program for IAA Students From the Director... At the IAA, we’re proud of the employment rate of our graduates. Over 90 percent of our students have jobs in their field by the time they graduate. Given the fact that new college graduates have faced an extremely difficult job market for the past four years, the IAA has every right to brag. Of course, much credit goes to our terrific alumni. You can meet our newest alumni on page 6. As you scan the bios of our recent graduates, you will notice that some of them plan to continue their education. And, the transfer process from the IAA into the University of Maryland’s baccalaureate program just became smoother with three new improvements.
course guides for students to ensure a smooth transition. Eventually, we will develop advising guides with the other departments in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to help facilitate smooth transitions into a variety of majors. These are exciting times at the IAA as we continue to improve and grow. Even our annual Shields Memorial Golf Tournament hosted a record-breaking number of players this year. But, don’t worry; the traditional good time was had by all. See Dr. Mathias’s story on page 4. Happy reading. d
First, the University’s Provost, Mary Ann Rankin signed an agreement that students may now receive resident credit for approved courses that they take while attending the IAA. This means IAA courses will be included on the student’s official UMCP transcript, and students will retain their GPA when they transfer into a baccalaureate program. Second, IAA students who meet the requirements will be admissible to UMD. This transfer advantage program creates a seamless path for IAA students who intend to complete a bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland. IAA students who complete at least 30 college credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and complete fundamental studies English and mathematics can be admitted to the university as degree-seeking students. And finally, the IAA advisors are working closely with their counterparts in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture to design transfer
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inagnews Institute of Applied Agriculture 2123 Jull Hall University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-2525 Phone: 301-405-4685 FAX: 301-314-9343 E-mail: gdhyman@umd.edu WEB: iaa.umd.edu IAA DIRECTOR Glori D. Hyman GRAPHIC DESIGN Jim Black inag news is published two times a year by the Institute of Applied Agriculture. The IAA welcomes all comments, alumni updates, and agriculturerelated news.
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May The Bess Bug Win!
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By Tony Pagnotti As a first year IAA faculty member, I gladly volunteered to help with Maryland Day. “Wherever you need me, just let me know,” I foolishly said. So on the last Saturday in April, I made my way to Ag Avenue, passing the always popular free ice cream and fearless tree give aways. Then, I saw a large group of children and parents huddled around what I found out was a first ever event of its kind at Maryland Day. The IAA’s own insect aficionado Dr. Kevin Mathias came up with the idea to conduct bug races. That’s right—Bess bugs to be exact, a member of the beetle family also known as a patent leather bug because of its black shiny shell. I looked on with delight while kids gathered around a makeshift wooden race course watching Dr. Mathias carefully paint numbers on the backs of the dozen
inch-long beetles. At post time, the bugs were carefully placed in the center of a drawn circle. The first one to make it past the circular finish line would be the winner. Race after race, children from ages 2 to 10 cheered for their favorite bug as it crawled closer and closer to victory. Then, Dr. Mathias invited me to join the fun and be responsible for starting the races. While each race lasted less than 10 seconds, it took four times as long to round up the racers and corral them in the starting gate--a task that required touching each insect, which tickles your hand. Before long, the pint sized spectators were asking if they could hold their Bess buddies. Many of the boys and girls posed proudly with bug in hand as moms and dads snapped pictures. What impressed me most about this all was that the kids were having a heck
of a good time during which no prizes were awarded and no recreational technology was involved. No new gizmos or gadgets, just old fashioned bugs were needed to have fun. Even though there was so much to see and do at Maryland Day, most of the kids didn’t want to leave the IAA’s Bess Bug races. One little one started crying, “I want one as a pet,” as Mom picked him up and started to walk away. Although clearly her boy was bugging her, she asked me where she could get one. With Dr. Mathias nowhere in sight, I shrugged, “You could go searching through decayed tree bark which is their natural habitat, or if you don’t want to go through all that trouble you might try Bess Buy.” d
IAA/AGNR Receive MSDE Award of Excellence Department of Education’s (MSDE) Award of Excellence. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources received the Career and Technology Education (CTE) Reaching for the Goals Award of Excellence due in large part to the IAA’s work with CASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education) and hosting two CASE summer institutes. AGNR Dean Cheng-i Wei, IAA Director Glori Hyman, and Associate Dean Leon Slaughter (pictured above, left to right) were named as the 2013 team to receive the Maryland State
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“Three years ago when MSDE was adapting CASE, we met with them to determine ways we could help,” explains Hyman. “We wanted to increase the rigor and relevance in high school agriculture programs, help teachers, and Summer/Fall 2013
help prepare students for college and careers in agriculture. Because of our strong ties with agriculture educators, the IAA led the effort to host a CASE Institute.” The University of Maryland became a CASE affiliate thanks to the dedication of IAA Instructor Roy Walls who went through the CASE Institute to become an affiliate professor. “Roy worked daily —and non-stop—with the CASE participants while they were on campus,” says Hyman. “If anything needed to be done, Roy took care of it.” See EXCELLENCE, pg. 8
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NEW MATH!
Shields Memorial 16 0 + 18 Tournament = $15,00 0 A Huge Success By J. Kevin Mathias After a week of rain, the clouds parted for the 34th Annual Shields Memorial Golf Tournament at Twin Shields Golf Club on Friday, May 10, and Elvis appeared. A packed field of 160 golfers traversed the wellconditioned course and rolling terrain at Twin Shields Golf Club throughout the picture perfect day. For the first time, I actually played in the tournament and had a fantastic time as I and 4 former students somehow shot 10 under par. We were led by our appointed captain, Dan Skarwecki (Golf ‘85), since he reportedly had true captain experience on the high seas. Unbeknownst to me, Skarwecki actually sank three vessels. When we needed to make a putt, the players naturally cheered, “Way to sink that putt captain!” It was also a special time for me to see how important our alumni, golf and turf businesses and associations were in supporting this tournament. Well over 80 players in the tournament were UMD alumni or turfgrass professionals and a majority of our hole sponsors were turfgrass businesses and associations. Mark Merrick’s (Golf ‘86) daughter came up with a new fund raising scheme called “Closest to the Keg Hole”, and we earned over $600 on players attempting to land their drive closest to a beer keg in the middle of the 14th fairway! In order for me to play in this year’s tournament, current IAA
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students took charge of such activities as the putting contest, the long drive hole, closest to the keg hole, and double your money hole along with creating the theme top hat of the tournament at different locations on the course.
Just over $15,000 was raised at this year’s tournament and the proceeds support student scholarships and turfgrass educational programs at the University of Maryland’s Institute
of Applied Agriculture (IAA). In 2013 the IAA sent multiple teams of students to compete in national competitions. We placed 1st out of 34 teams in the Student Challenge at the Sports Turf Managers Association in Daytona Beach, Florida and had teams place 3rd, 4th, and 11th in a field of 69 teams at the 19th Annual GCSAA Turf Bowl Competition in San Diego, California. Since 1991 a total of 92 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students majoring in our Golf/Turf program. This accomplishment would not have been possible without alumni, industry, and the Shields families’ support of this benefit tournament. And Elvis, who showed up and gave his approval by posing with the players on the first tee throughout the tournament. d
The Ed Gasper team members le6 to right; Sco; Robinson (‘85), Bert Schoenadel (‘96) Jeff Tschudi, Elvis, Dan Skarwecki (‘85), Dr. Mathias, and Ed Gasper (‘84)
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PGMS Enters Circle of Friends The PGMS–DC Branch clearly fits into that category. The first and only student chapter of PGMS was started at UMD under the leadership and guidance of the PGMS-DC Branch. Students belonging to PGMS are exposed to networking and learning opportunities. Interacting with grounds professionals from the greater Washington area allows students to grow professionally and personally. IAA students benefit greatly from the mentoring and professional opportunities through exposure and scholarships the chapter has provided. We are grateful for the continual growth and partnership between the PGMS-DC Branch, the IAA and AGNR. d
Congratulations to the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) DC chapter, and its President Adam Newhart (Land, ’02) for being named to the AGNR Alumni Association’s Circle of Friends. The Circle of Friends award is presented to “individuals or organizations that have supported and enhanced AGNR initiatives and programs with mentoring or by providing services.”
Left to right; Eric Wenger, Adam Newhart, Dean Cheng-‐i Wei, and Ray Bosmans.
Hyman Wins Ethics Grant For years, Institute of Applied Agriculture Director Glori Hyman has discussed ethics in her communication classes, and now she is taking the discussion campus wide. Hyman was awarded a “Principles of Ethical and Responsible Conduct” Grant to conduct an interactive, campus-wide workshop on ethical communication.
classroom environment. Following our ethics discussion, students create a code of ethics, and we abide by that code throughout the semester. I believe a similar approach will work for campus staff to promote respect in the work place.”
Hyman says her workshop Terps Talk Honestly will use role playing, dialogue, and group interaction to raise awareness of respect through communication. Like so many IAA courses, this workshop will take an applied approach to teaching respect.
Striving to ensure continued excellence and the highest of ethical standards in its policies and practices, the university solicited proposals to integrate principles of ethics into the campus community. Participants were encouraged to educate the community and promote the university’s 10 Principles of Ethical and Responsible Conduct. Hyman’s was one of six proposals selected.
“In my oral communication classes, we discuss expectations, responsibilities, and roles of speakers and listeners,” Hyman explains. “The discussion opens our minds to multiple perspectives, but more importantly it sets a tone of respect within the INAG News
“I hope to help campus personnel understand the role communication
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Talk of the ‘Tute The IAA has gained national recognition in turfgrass management, and now we’re looking to be recognized in public speaking. The IAA hosted its first speech contest this spring. IAA Lecturer Nina LaTassa organized the event and coached the speakers. The judges, lecturers Ed Priola, Tony Pagnotti and IAA Director Glori Hyman had a tough task in selecting the top three winners from the talented group of orators. In the end, the top prize was awarded to Rahul Srinivas, who competed in and won the state finals on April 16 in Harrisburg, PA. Srinivas will be competing in California in August. The Maryland Turfgrass Council generously donated $50,000 to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) to establish the Turfgrass Pathology Endowed Fund. In addition to this initial contribution, the council has pledged another $20,000 annually for the next five years. The goal is to expand the fund to eventually support an Endowed Chair for Turfgrass Pathology in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture. d plays in creating respect,” says Hyman. “So many communication acts that can contribute to the breakdown of respect in a work environment and most are really unintentional, like failing to listen carefully, withholding information, unknowingly repeating false information, or changing opinions to adapt to an audience. This workshop will help staff to become more mindful of the way they communicate.” If this initial workshop is successful, Hyman says she hopes to make it an annual event to continue to raise awareness and address new ethical communication issues that arise. d
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Introducing Our Newest Alumni ... GRADUATION, from pg. 1
Following the program there were lots of handshakes, hugs and posing for pictures. Then the graduates and their guests proceeded to the University Armory, for the graduation ceremony to officially honor the Institute of Applied Agriculture’s Class of 2013. Yasmine Baker
Major: General Ornamental Horticulture Hometown: Silver Spring, MD Activities/Awards: MAEF Scholarship, Bowman Family Scholarship, Dean’s List, Montgomery County Farm Bureau Scholarship, Cecil Massie Scholarship Plans: Currently working as a horticulturist on campus at the President’s Residence
Cody E. Cashman
Roy James Edgar Crow
Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Kennedyville, MD Activities/Awards: Alpha Gamma Rho member and house manager, Turf Bowl team, Shields scholarship, Golf Course Builders Association of America Scholarship Plans: 2nd Assistant Superintendent at Congressional Country Club, Bethesda MD Scott Hosier
Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Perkasie, PA Activities/Awards: Turf Bowl team, PGMS, STMA, various scholarships Plans: Intern at Merion Golf Club, PA, prepare for US Open Kristen Johansen
Major: Agricultural Business Management Hometown: New Windsor, MD Activities/Awards: Club Lacrosse, 4-H scholarships, MD State Fair Scholarship Plans: Intern at the Wisconsin State Fair during the summer
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Major: Agricultural Business Management Hometown: Bel Air, MD Activities/Awards: Equestrian Team, Senator Barry Glassman Scholarship, Cecil M. Massie Scholarship Plans: Find work in the Agricultural or Equine field. Summer/Fall 2013
Jessica Leonard
Major: Equine Business Management Hometown: Davidsonville, MD Activities/Awards: Equestrian Team, Dean’s List, Most valuable rider on the Equestrian team and competed in regionals Plans: Continue riding/training and caring for horses. Also, work in family owned business at American Bus Sales and Service Stephen Jones
Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Catonsville, MD Activities/Awards: Shields Memorial volunteer Plans: Continue education, obtain bachelor’s degree. Tyler Kreft
Major: Turf Management Hometown: Hampstead, MD Activities/Awards: Turf Bowl team Plans: Continue career as Second Assistant Superintendent at Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, Owings Mills, MD
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Joshua Malnik
Sandra Amber Peregoy
Major: Golf Course Management Activities/Awards: Turf Bowl team, community service projects on campus, Dean’s list, Shields Memorial Scholarship Plans: Obtain bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and pursue my goal of becoming a Golf Course superintendent. Summer 2013, intern at Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, MD Justin Patenaude
Major: Agricultural Business Management Hometown: Baltimore, MD Plans: Continue education
Bryan Shepherd
Allen Turner, Jr.
And A Good Time Was Had By All!
Ryan Peach Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Greensboro, NC Activities/Awards: Turf Bowl Plans: To become a golf course superintendent Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Haymarket, VA Activities/Awards: Shields Memorial Scholarship, Dean’s List Plans: Continue in golf course management. Currently Assistant at Potomac Shores Golf Club in Dumfries, VA
Major: Landscape Management Hometown: Leonardtown, MD Activities/Awards: PGMS President, Dean’s List, 2013 Outstanding Student, TESCO Scholarship, MNLA Scholarship, PGMS Scholarship, IAA Scholarship Plans: Horticulturist at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD d
Major: Golf Course Management Hometown: Baltimore, MD Activities/Awards: Turf Bowl team, Shields Memorial Scholarship Plans: Continue my goal of becoming a Superintendent. Currently Assistant Superintendent at Sparrows Point Country Club, Baltimore, MD
Major: Sports Turf Management Hometown: Tallahassee, FL Activities/Awards: TESCO Scholarship, Dean’s List, Sports Turf Managers Association Student Competition Plans: To become the head groundskeeper for a major or minor league stadium
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Michael Walsh
Friendly Reminder: All alumni please be sure to send updated information about you and your whereabouts! Visit iaa.umd.edu/alumni, fill out the form and let us know what you are doing. We love hearing from our Alumni!
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The Walsh Sheet
Journal of a Distinguished Student by Glori Hyman
What does it take to be IAA’s Outstanding Student? A high GPA? A scholarship recipient? A club leader? An active campus citizen? This year’s recipient, Michael Walsh, has all of the above. Walsh, a Landscape Management major, graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.67 and was named to the Dean’s List three times. His academic excellence helped earn him five scholarships that nearly covered the cost of tuition for a year. Not one to shy away from hard work or a challenge, Walsh spent a summer in Marion, IN, supervising a gravestone realignment project in Marion Veterans Cemetery. Later, as an IAA student, he put those leadership skills to good use as the President of the student chapter of the Professional Ground Management Society (PGMS) and tackled two campus landscape projects. First, the PGMS student group renovated the landscape around Rossborough Inn, and second it installed a rain garden at the base of the IAA Teaching Garden to correct the erosion.
excited to gain first-hand knowledge from a well-established, top-rated company. He began installing forest retention fencing, tree armor, and root protection areas; then, the derecho storm hit, and like so many tree companies, Walsh spent weeks operating chain saws, chippers and stump grinders to remove 100-foot trees that fell in the storm. Those long, hot, exhausting days, got Walsh thinking about career choices in other areas of landscaping. As soon as he graduated, Walsh was offered a job as the Horticulturist at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD, where he continues to be outstanding. On top of all that, Walsh and his wife Linda had their first child, Duke, in May—less than a week before graduation. Duke was present to watch his dad walk across the stage in his cap and gown. Now, that’s a tough act to follow. d
But Walsh wasn’t finished improving campus. He installed a Siberian Kale Research Plot to kill nematodes and improve soil quality.
IAA and AGNR Receive MSDE Award For CTE That’s A-OK! EXCELLENCE, from pg. 3
Hyman admits that hosting a CASE Institute was “a tremendous amount of work,” but she is proud of the accomplishment and appreciates the recognition MSDE has given the college by awarding it this prestigious award. The AGNR team received the Reaching for the Goals Award of Excellence for helping the State reach its goals of increasing rigor in CTE education programs, providing professional development for teachers, and ensuring the programs meet industry standards. Hyman, Wei and Slaughter were recognized at MSDE’s Awards of Excellence Reception on April 23 in Baltimore. The IAA and AGNR continue to partner with MSDE’s Career Technology Education (CTE) to encourage high school students to pursue academic programs that lead into ag-related careers. “Our goal is to help make the high schoolto-college transition a little easier and smoother for students,” says Hyman.d
SPREAD THE WORD Fall Open House for Prospective Students
During the summer of 2012, Walsh interned with Bartlett Tree Experts in Gaithersburg, MD. Hoping to make a career in tree care, he was
Monday, October 14, 2013 Friday, October 25, 2013 Monday, November 11, 2013
IAA Agnites Careers! 8
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For details, go to: http://iaa.umd.edu/news/events
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Alumni News & Notes
Brian Kealy, GOLF ‘12, is now the Assistant Superintendent at Piedmont Golf Club in Haymarket, VA. He was formerly employed as a Spray Technician at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Sydney Wallace, AGBUS ’12, was named Facility Manager in February of the Research Greenhouse Complex (RCG) on campus. The $18 million facility built in 2003 beside Comcast Center houses environment growth chambers, cold and postharvest storage rooms, and a graduate laboratory. Todd Hotchkiss, LAND ‘10, has been extremely busy at Valley Crest Landscaping and was promoted to production specialist in November. Then in February, he was promoted again to the Field Operations Manager.
Jake Valentino, GOLF ‘10, was promoted to Golf Course Superintendent at the Ashwood Golf Course in Apply Valley, CA. He was recently given an Assistant Superintendent Award through the Billy Casper Management. Lauren Kovac, EQUI ’09, is a DQP for the Horse Protection Program. She lives in Baltimore, MD. DQPs (designated qualified person) are knowledgeable horse people who have been formally trained and licensed by USDA certified horse industry organizations or associations. Pat McNamara, GOLF ‘09, is now the Head Superintendent at Piedmont Golf Club in Haymarket, VA. Chris Turner, GOLF ‘08, accepted the job of First Assistant at Hunt Valley Golf Club in Phoenix, MD. Congratulations to Aleena Collins Steele, EQUI ’06, and her husband Michael on the birth of their twin girls. Emma Katherine and Claire Elizabeth arrived on May 8. They join big brother Jackson. Everyone is well.
Steve Lutz, GOLF ‘95, is the Superintendent at Hunt Valley Golf Club in Phoenix, MD. Scott Brannan, HORT ’84, owns Distinctive Landscaping, a landscape contracting operation in Athens, Alabama. The company services the northern Alabama area of Huntsville, Madison, Decatur and Athens. Erroll Thompson, HORT ’81, after working many years in the ag & landscaping industry, Erroll is going back to school to pursue a new career in counseling. Lynn Batdorf, HORT ’74, retired after 36 years at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. where he was Curator of Boxwood, Perennial and Aquatic Plants. Since 1985 Lynn has served as the Registrar for The American Boxwood Society, which is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Buxus L., and is a national expert on boxwoods. He has written three books on the subject. d
IAA Friendship Leads to Lasting Impressions by Ken Ingram
If you’ve ever attended a Redskins game at Fed-Ex Stadium the name Lasting Impressions might ring a bell. Perhaps it’s the large banners above entrances, digital advertising around the stadium, or their epic tailgate parties with live bands and catered food (actually featured on NFL Films). However you might not have realized that Lasting Impressions is a landscape contracting company owned by two IAA graduates. Jim Flippo and Ken Combs were turfgrass management majors at the IAA in the 1970s. Both started their careers as golf course superintendents. Combs actually followed Flippo as Golf and Grounds Superintendent at
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the sprawling Leisure World community in Silver Spring. Flippo started Lasting Impressions in 1980 and Combs joined him as a partner in 1984. Today they maintain more than 170 properties and employ over 150 people. Combs says the secret to their success has been relationships. Approximately 90% of their enhancement and new installation work for their eight crews comes from properties they already maintain. Lasting Impressions is truly a full service landscape contractor, they do not subcontract work like many of the large, national firms. They provide a staggering 54 different landscape services in house including all
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maintenance activities as well as irrigation installation, hardscaping, and tree work. They grow much of their own plant material in their 30 greenhouses and even manufacture their own mulch. There is no denying that Flippo and Combs love sports. Their relationship with the Redskins led to the total renovation of the Fed-Ex grounds, work at Redskins Park, and a maintenance agreement at the new Redskins training camp facility in Richmond, VA. They also maintain 18 high school fields in Prince George’s County in a partnership with the Redskins called Fields for Tomorrow. Since golf course maintenance is their See IMPRESSIONS, pg. 12
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Around the ’ tute
Welcome to Meredith Epstein and Jason Entsminger gain respect as professionals, and advance sustainability in the field. She also loves cooking, running, biking, and digital drawing.
Farewell To IAA Lecturers Ray Gless and Ellen Polishuk Ray Gless and Ellen Polishuk joined the IAA faculty in the summer of 2011 in the Agricultural Business Management program. Gless, who headed the ag business courses, accepted a job as Assistant Director for the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center. He will be teaching agribusiness at the center and developing and teaching an online class for the local community college that partners with the center. Polishuk, who taught the sustainable agriculture classes, has accepted an offer to write a book on biologically grown vegetables. She will continue to operate her organic vegetable farm in Virginia, Potomac Vegetable Farms.
Farewell Also To The Green Couch The Green Couch has left the building. The muchloved and well-used green couch in the IAA student computer lab had to be removed to allow for more work stations. We know the couch that comforted many students during stressful exams will be missed.
Meredith Epstein joins the IAA faculty as our new Sustainable Agriculture Lecturer and Advisor. Raised in Montgomery County, MD, she earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from St. Mary's College of Maryland, a M.S. in Agriculture, Food & Environment from Tufts University, and a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture, from the University of California Santa Cruz. She has over five years of organic fruit and vegetable production experience. She found farming by way of working on food issues from an environmental behavior and policy perspective. She approaches agriculture all the way from nuts-and-bolts skill building to food systems analysis. Epstein is passionate about helping new farmers receive the training and support they need to create viable agricultural enterprises,
Welltraveled, Jason Entsminger comes to the IAA from Reno, NV, and joins the faculty as our Agricultural Business Management Lecturer and Advisor. Entsminger holds an International M.S. in Rural Development from Universiteit Gent, a M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida, a B.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics, a B.A. in International Affairs, and a B.A. in French Language and Literature all from the University of Nevada. His multi-disciplinary academic background allows him to offer students a broad perspective in an increasingly globalized agro-food system.
Ingram Receives Pepsi Grant Congratulations to IAA Lecturer Ken Ingram on receiving a Pepsi Grant for the Professional Grounds Management Society Student Chapter to harvest native plant seeds and host plant giveaway.
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Student Files A Garden Serenade IAA student Nick Harmer livened things up in the garden this spring as he serenaded fellow garden volunteers with great acoustic tunes. While students and staff weeded, watered and transplanted, Harmer played the guitar and sang. The solo acoustic session provided serenity and a sense of camaraderie among the student volunteers. We look forward to more events at the Garden.
IAA Students and Faculty Join PGMS Meeting
PGMS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Congratulations to IAA first-year students Kelsie Birney (Ornamental Horticulture) and Collin Plumley (Landscape Management) on being awarded 2013 Professional Grounds Management Society D.C. Chapter scholarships. Birney, a Dean’s List student from Cecil County, has a deep appreciation for plants and would like to own a greenhouse someday. Plumley received the Charlie Clements Memorial Scholarship, named for Clements who ran Clements Landscaping, a very successful business. Four of the Clements’ children attended the IAA and continue to work in various green industry positions the Washington area. Plumley who grew up in Sykeville, MD, hopes to follow in Clements’ footsteps and own a successful landscaping company.
Allison Miller transplants tomato plants into planters.
Register Now For Fall Online Classes The Institute of Applied Agriculture offers the following online courses which meet Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) education requirement for pesticide applicator’s certification. Each class is accepted by MDA in lieu of six months of experience.
With its location on the Potomac River, 50 acres of extensive plantings, a greenhouse and nursery, Mt. Vernon is a horticultural paradise and a dream job for some IAA students. Thanks to the IAA partnership with the DC Branch of the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), IAA students and faculty enjoyed a tour of Mt. Vernon’s grounds, led by Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture. IAA’s Sustainable Agriculture Advisor Ellen Polishuk appreciated George Washington’s gardens and his innovative farming practices that included crop rotation and production of a variety of seeds that he introduced into large scale agriculture production. IAA Horticulture Advisor Ken Ingram marveled at the trees that were planted by George Washington himself in the 1700s. IAA students Kelsie Birney, Collin Plumley, and Brian Knott enjoyed what some people call the world’s greatest view from the back of the mansion overlooking the Potomac River. George Washington may be remembered as a great leader and military strategist, but he always considered himself a farmer and pioneered innovative agricultural methods. He introduced the use of mules to American farmers and he kept meticulous records of his work with plants. The Mt. Vernon’s Ladies Association used these records to restore the estate to its 18th century form, actually using archeologists to find the holes of old fence post when fences are rebuilt today. Mt. Vernon should be considered as one the nation’s great outdoor learning environments for agriculturalist and the IAA is pleased to have had such a learning opportunity. d
• Insects of Ornamentals and Turfgrass (Category 111A and 111B) • Turfgrass Management (Category 111C) • Pesticide Use & Safety (all categories) To register visit: iaaonlinecourses.umd.edu
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IAA Friendships Are a Lasting Success! IMPRESSIONS, from pg. 9
blood, Lasting Impressions contractually maintains three courses: Heritage Harbor near Annapolis and Blue Heron and Cove Creek on Kent Island. They have a large headquarters facility in Upper Marlboro and satellite
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facilities in Bowie, Clinton, Kent Island, and Chantilly, VA. At their Upper Marlboro complex they actually maintain six golf holes and a soccer field, both used as experimental plots and training grounds for employees. They are also innovators in the use of
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clean burning propane for mowers and trucks. Eventually, they hope to operate their fleet without gasoline using propane for large equipment and solar generated electrical power for small equipment. d
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