VNLA Newsletter Spring 2018

Working with Dr. Bonnie Appleton, the VNA published their first “ Guide to Virginia Growers” in 1995. After the first successful year, Jeff took over the collection and up- dating of data from members, which has been expanded to 100-page publication and is also available online as a mo- bile-friendly database lookup. Since 1995, the VNLA has hosted an Annual Field Day at member grower’s nurseries, garden centers and landscape Ad - Eastern Shore Nursery of VA

In 1973, Jim Coartney and Dave Larsen offered him the op- portunity to become a part owner/manager of Laurel Creek Nursery, where he had worked in the summer of 1970. In the beginning, he began greenhouse production of annuals and pot plants, did landscape design and installation, and hand-dug B&B trees. After graduation from Virginia Tech, Jeff’s brother Greg, with a business degree, joined the business managing the farm and helping with landscape installa- tion.

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Early on, through the encouragement of Jim Coartney and Paul Smeal, Jeff joined the VNA (then the Virginia Nurserymen’s As- sociation). He exhibited for the first time for Laurel Creek Nursery at the MANTS Trade Show around 1974/75 at the Greenbrier Ho- tel in West Virginia. In late 1970’s Jeff joined the VNA Board , after the sudden passing of Bill Cole, (then the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association) to fill his position as the VNA representative from southwest Virginia. He ended up fast- tracking through the director’s term and moving through the officer ranks to serve as President in 1983. He was the youngest VNA president at that point. During that time, he was involved in setting up the Cer- tification program, working with ten other members to write the first study manual. Being the junior member of the committee, he received the #10 certificate in 1978. In February 1986, Jeff received a call from the VNA Executive Committee (Danny Shreckhise, John Machen Jr, and Bob Papetti asked if he could meet him in Staun- ton that afternoon to consider becoming the new VNA Executive Director ; he agreed, and the rest is history. Early that spring Jeff met with Wayne Sawyer, VNA Director, to set up the first VNA Summer Trade Show in Virginia Beach. By June, there were over 100 exhibitors signed up along with educa- tion programs to be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The VNA ran the show the following summer and then partnered with the MANTS trade show to take it over as their Summer Trade Show and eventually moving to Baltimore. Since 1978, the Virginia Certified Horti- culturist program has evolved with over 3,100 members being certified over the next 40 years. It is one of the most valuable member benefits.

Maybe you should care. Chances are, you can think of many businesses that have come and gone over the past four decades. W H O C A R E S T H AT W E ’ V E K E P T O U R N A M E G R O W I N G F O R O V E R 4 5 Y E A R S ?

We’ve been here through it all—putting down strong roots and branching out to provide our customers with quality plants year after year. And cultivating the expertise that can help your bottom line grow today and tomorrow. Call Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia and order plants from a company with a long history of excellence.

Eastern Shore Nursery

OfVirginia

Keller, Virginia • 1-800-323-3008 • www.esnursery.com

VNLA Newsletter NLA Newsl tter

April/May/June 2018 ril / ay / June 2018

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