Tanner Bailey

Griffin Greenhouse Supplies

Pro technical specialist

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

• Embracing fatherhood with two incredible sons and cherishing precious moments with my wife as a family
• Establishing a non-profit organization in Guatemala dedicated to supporting agricultural communities
• Launching a greenhouse initiative on our family farm in Alabama
• Contributing as a valued member of the esteemed GGSPro Technical Services team at Griffin Greenhouse

What led you to work in the horticulture industry? 

• From an early age, I’ve felt drawn to the wonders of the great outdoors. The notion of immersing myself in the world of plants alongside kindred spirits felt like a calling.
• While there were alternative career paths available, my family urged me to explore new horizons. Enrolling at the University of Georgia proved to be a pivotal step toward realizing my aspirations in horticulture.
• The invaluable education, guidance and networking opportunities I encountered in Athens have played a crucial role in shaping my professional journey.

What’s the best thing about your job? 

• Problem solving

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

• Imagine someone who has a plant that’s not feeling well, but they’re not sure what’s wrong. They reach out to me for help. They send me photos of their plant, and I provide them with advice on how to nurture their plant back to health, making it happy and thriving once again.
• It’s like being a plant doctor, diagnosing and prescribing care from afar.

What are your favorite hobbies? 

• Offshore fishing
• Playing with my sons
• Cooking
• Spending time with family

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

• Probably cooking, building forts on the beach with the boys or fishing

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

• Random — I can do a realistic owl hoot with my natural voice, which is helpful when hunting turkeys in the spring. I’m obsessed with saltwater fishing and being out on the ocean.

What are you (un)secretly good at? 

• I’m bilingual in Spanish.

What are your top three bucket list items? 

• Living on a sailing catamaran island hopping with my family
• Traveling to all seven continents
• Seeing my children thrive and grow up happy and healthy

What’s your favorite plant variety and why? 

• Osmanthus fragrans, it has an amazing smell that is filled with childhood memories of family.

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

• First stop, Spain for the culture and vibe.
• Next, France for the cuisine and natural wines.
• After that, over to Italy for the cuisine, culture and art.

One thing you can’t live without? 

• Fresh ceviche