Matthew Lehmann

Bailey Nurseries

Plant health department head

What 3-4 professional and/or personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

• Fixed irrigation control system that had over 30% non-functioning
• Converting old irrigation control system to a new, more efficient system
• Purchased and live in my grandparents’ house on 65 acres

What led you to work in the horticulture industry?

• I’ve always been interested in agriculture.
• In college, I took an introductory horticulture class and that got me started on my love for ornamental plants, especially trees.

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 help little plants grow up and get ready to live in their own home.

What are your favorite hobbies? 

• Deer hunting
• Church league dartball
• Vegetable gardening
• Spending time outside

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

• Wandering around the yard or working in my shop “until next Tuesday” 
• Going to church
• Driving my tractor
• Spending time with family

Do you have any unusual talents, or can you tell us something interesting about yourself that other people may be surprised to find out?

• My family butchers beef and hogs every year at my house.

One thing you can’t live without? 

• Family

What are you (un)secretly good at? 

• Pre-bed naps

What are your top three bucket list items? 

• Visit the Giant Sequoia trees in California 
• Visit early American historical sights out east
• See 24 hours of daylight in Alaska

What’s your favorite plant variety and why? 

• Liriodendron tulipifera.
• I’ve always liked tulip bulbs, so a tree that has leaves and flowers that are the same shape is amazing to me.

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

• I would buy hunting land instead of a vacation.