2017 ASHS Annual Conference

The green industry demands employees with experience and/or knowledge of the industry. Without this basic knowledge considerable time and money is spent on training by the employer. In order to make young, inexperienced workers more valuable to this industry and help overcome this lack of basic knowledge, a program titled Greenscaping and Growing it Green has been created. The UF/IFAS Manatee County Commercial and Environmental Horticulture programs have partnered with the Manatee County School District to offer a program that is geared towards high school students, ages 16 to 18. This program and teaches participants how to apply best management practices to landscape maintenance and nursery production. Three audiences; FFA students, career prep high school students attending technical schools, and at-risk youth, are targeted. The participants learn scouting techniques, pest identification, and principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focusing on biological, mechanical and cultural practices such as; appropriate fertilizer application, tree and ornamental installation and maintenance, invasive plant management, sustainable turf management, biological controls, record keeping for scouting and nursery production management. Educational outreach methods include hands on demonstrations, discussions, educational games, and presentations. A pre and posttest and a six month follow up survey were conducted. Post surveys reported 91% (19/21) showed knowledge gained in basic horticultural theories. Surveys also recorded 82% (17/21) of the attendees acknowledged that they changed their perception of agriculture employment and would consider it as a possible career choice. In the follow up survey, 86% (18/21) of the attendees stated that they had changed maintenance practice to align with the best management practices taught during the workshop (some examples were to fertilize and irrigate at the correct rate and time when needed). In order to assist the green industry clientele with the demand for qualified employees, this workshop serves as an important step to prepare youth with an understanding of the industry and teach them the best management practices making attendees more valuable employees and a productive members in the agricultural and green industry workforce, and an asset to the community at large.