Emily Wildt

Raker-Roberta's Young Plants

Sales representative and trial garden director

What professional and/or personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

• Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Michigan State University
• Helping Raker-Roberta’s launch a successful specialty cut flower program
• Being named Trial Garden Director in 2023 and launching the most expansive cut flower trial gardens in the Midwest
• Serving on multiple school agriculture advisory boards that allow students to be certified in horticulture
• Being a member of the Greenhouse Grower Advisory Board

What led you to work in the horticulture industry? 

• I grew up on a dairy farm and loved agriculture, but working in a greenhouse was much more appealing than a milking parlor.
• I applied for a job at Raker in the early 2000s and fell in love with the culture.

What’s the best thing about your job? 

• I get to do what I love, every day.

Describe to a 6-year-old what you do in life?

• I sell baby plants to people who make them big and strong.

What are your favorite hobbies? 

• Kayaking
• Hiking
• Biking
• Snowboarding

When you’re not working, what are 2-3 things we could find you doing? 

• Trying out new breweries in Michigan
• Kayaking in the summer
• Snowboarding in the winter

Tell us something interesting about yourself that other people may be surprised to find out.

• I played collegiate division III soccer for two years.

One thing you can’t live without? 

• Craft beer

What are you (un)secretly good at? 

• Putt putt golf

What are your top three bucket list items? 

• Travel to Greece
• Own a lake house
• Vice president of Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

What’s your favorite plant variety and why? 

• You don’t ask a horticulturist this question — we have lots of favorite plants.

You’re buying a vacation package to anywhere in the world without a budget, where are you going?

• Western Europe. I would love to visit Spain, Italy and Greece.