January 2014

Planting Seeds for the Future By Tim Hodson

One of the most enjoyable things I get to do every year is read and evaluate the essays submitted by college students for the GPN/Nexus Intern of the Year competition. It is so rewarding to read about the many different things each student learns — not only about horticulture but about themselves — during their internships.

Over the years, it has been a pleasure getting to know our former honorees like Lauren Tuski, Adam Moseley, Amy Hinkle, Drew Guffey, Jessica Boldt and Eric Pitzen (just to name a few) and see them develop into hard-working contributors to our industry.

And now I can't wait to see how our 2014 Intern of the Year turns out, because I'm sure she will be making her mark on our industry in the years to come.

Maddy Olberg is a senior at Cornell University and is scheduled to graduate in May. Last summer, she participated in the internship program at Ball Horticultural Co.

During her internship in Ball's Premier Seed Lab, Maddy had the opportunity not only to learn about the different aspects of horticulture, but she also learned more about some of her goals in life and how she can achieve them.

Her internship experience provided her with a unique opportunity to learn about innovative ways to grow plants and it also allowed her to grow personally. She was planting seeds in the lab and in the greenhouse, but she was also planting the seeds for her own future — and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Maddy's name as a future class member of GPN's 40 Under 40.

You can learn more about Maddy and her internship experience in Abby Kleckler's article, "Researching Success," on page 14.

Time is Running Out

Don't forget, the deadline for nominations for GPN's 40 Under 40 Class of 2014 is Jan. 20.
If you would like to nominate someone, you'd better hurry. Just go to www.gpnmag.com/40-under-40-nomination and fill out the online form.