AAS Summer Summit Honors Two Industry Achievers
All-America Selections recently honored two horticulture luminaries at their annual Awards Banquet, held this year at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin.
The banquet culminated a three day event where industry representatives, judges, breeders, growers, retailers and resellers gathered to visit All-America Selections Trial Grounds and Display Gardens in and around Madison, Wisconsin.
Tour stops included the University of Wisconsin West Madison Research Station, Epic Systems’ sustainable landscape, A.P. Whaley’s vegetable trials, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Song Sparrow Nursery and Rotary Botanical Gardens, whose entrance featured a floral display made up of more than 100 All-America Selections Winners.
AAS Medallion of Honor
The AAS Medallion of Honor is presented to an individual who has given a lifelong dedication to the advancement of horticulture. The 2016 Medallion of Honor recipient is Jim Nau of the Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago, Illinois.
Jim started his career in 1982 right out of college where he earned his degree from Iowa State University. The Gardens at Ball have evolved under Nau’s 34 years of managing those showplace gardens. Nau’s work in The Gardens at Ball has earned him a reputation as a knowledgeable plantsman and an author of multiple books and articles.
Jan Patranella, Ball Seed, who has also served as an All-America Selections judge, presented a summary of Nau’s career with the Ball companies. As a long time judge, Nau has given many hours to the organization even before taking on the additional roles of director, vice president, president and then past-president.
AAS Breeder’s Cup
The All-America Selections Breeders Cup was established in 2004 to recognize a plant breeder who influenced horticulture by breeding new cultivars that brought significant improvements to those classes. The 2016 Breeder’s Cup Award recipient is Janika Eckert of Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Albion, Maine.
Christopher Saladi, Canadian sales manager at Johnny’s presented Eckert with her award while chronicling her career leading to her becoming a vegetable breeder.
Eckert’s first AAS Winner was Diva cucumber in 2002. That was followed by Carmen pepper in 2006, then Escamillo and Cornito Giallo peppers earlier this year. Eckert is originally from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
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