The Buckeye - November/December 2022

THE FINE PRINT

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

MOLLY JOHN M.J. Design Associates, Inc. 2022 OGIA President mjohn@mjdesignassociates.com

We are amongst one of my favorite times of year, Fall. The air just feels cleaner, humidity is gone and the splendor of the leaves changing color, for me creates a rejuvenated feel. I think so often we don’t take enough time to enjoy the beauty we have around us, no matter the season. For a profession that allows us to play such an integral part of our environment, whether it be; growing and propagating new varieties of trees, shrubs or flowers, to developing new disease resistant turf grasses to integrating all these new innovations into our designs and landscape installations, it’s a time to wrap up another successful year and start planning for the next.

In this addition of The Buckeye we are talking about charity and community service and show examples of what a few of our members are doing. I know this is just a small sampling of what is happening. Charity and community service doesn’t have to be some large, organized endeavor or project. Just helping a friend in need plant a tree or clean-up their house. Giving a little time to a local school or organization, to talk about plants, gardening or our environment. This past month was one of OGIA’s biggest events of the year, OHLO (The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics). Almost 20 organizations volunteered their time to create the events that the students competed in. Over 125 students competed from 14 schools around the state. Many of the students have never tried any of the events, let alone compete. I was there with our event; Site Surveying, and one reoccurring theme I heard from many of the students is we didn’t have time to prepare, or someone was scheduled to come teach us, but then had to cancel. I thought, this is a great opportunity for so many of us to help. Reaching out to your local career tech school and telling them you would be happy to spend two hours with some of the students. Two years ago, I helped a student at Tolles Career Center with plant identification. She brought her plant list, and we walked around our gardens identifying the trees and shrubs. We spent two hours and she felt much better about what the test would look like and what she would need to know. The same can be said for many of the events from; using a large mower, driving a truck and trailer, how landscape lighting and irrigation works, driving a skid steer, climbing a tree, etc. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but a few hours can go a long way in helping a student to have the confidence to compete.

We are all in the midst of wrapping up what I hope was another successful year for all of us. As I wrap up my last two months of my term as President of OGIA and write my last article, I hope one thing has come through and that is PASSION. If there is one

thing my husband, Joel and I have always felt, “we love what we do every day.” From the first article I wrote to today, what I wanted most was to encourage all our members to get involved. To find a part of our profession that you have a strong feeling for and help make it better. There is no question we are all busy and our work takes a lot of time out of our day and away from our families. I am sure asking everyone to do a little more, in the back of your mind your going, “how could I ever fit that into my schedule?” But, when you truly believe in what you are doing, you can find the time. As I always say, the more people who get involved in something, the less time is needed by everyone.

As we begin planning for 2023, please dig deep and think about what you can do to make a positive impact on our industry. How can you help OGIA be the leader in our profession? Tracy, Roni, Sara and Jim work hard for our organization and are trying to put together programs and activities that will grow our members, our employees and our profession. One initiative continuing and developing next year will be certification and training. This year we have begun work on rewriting the manuals for the outdated OCNT Garden Center and Grower tests. There is much more work to be done and from surveys completed at the beginning of the year, this was something most of our membership wants. Certification and training allow us to set the standard and teach our employees the basics. As our workforce changes and evolves, we all spend a lot of time and money on training. If we could have a common resource to help teach the basics, wouldn’t that be great? Encouraging certification gives us the opportunity to show our employees we have faith in their abilities and want to see them grow in our organizations. Developing longevity for individuals in our industry.

I know from all of my articles you all probably feel like I am standing on my soapbox. Well, I probably am. I have been part of the green profession for over thirty years. I have had many mentors and many past ONA/ONLA/OGIA members who I looked up to and learned from. While I don’t think I am that old, I am now one of those “older” members. I hope I can have the same influence on the next generation of green professionals. Find your passion. Develop it. Get out and help! Make a difference!

It’s been a pleasure working with my fellow Board members. I wish Genevieve Reiner-Mills all the best as she succeeds me as President.

Thank you.

TRACY SCHIEFFERLE OGIA Executive Director tracy@ogia.org

It is that time of year when many of us start to think about giving. Giving to our loved ones, giving to our employees, or giving to charities. We do it because it feels good and in some cases it does good.

But why not make it part of your year-round culture if you haven’t already? It can do good for the soul, the community, and your bottom line.

Recent studies suggest that millennials have driven the social responsibility movement, with 70 percent of them reporting that they will spend more with brands that support causes. Given that millennials represent $2.45 trillion in spending power, the notion of “giving back” may be very powerful for your company’s sales, not to mention, it’s overall purpose.

Numerous businesses have come up with some creative ways of doing social good - for example, Stella Artois’ “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign, which provides access to clean drinking water to women (mothers) in third world countries. But you don’t need a huge budget or full marketing team to execute a strong “giving back” campaign. Corporate donations are a terrific way to generously help nonprofit organizations that matter to you, your employees, and your community. Most small businesses can make charitable donations each year. There are numerous benefits to company donations, but here are four that you may want to consider.

Employee Morale

Supporting a charity allows companies to take active interests in their own communities and can also lead to a boost in employee morale. If a company chooses to make a corporate donation, workplace culture can improve with increased employee involvement and a positive general attitude. According to a 2016 Deloitte study on volunteering, millennials were “twice as likely to rate their corporate culture as very positive” if their company participated in workplace volunteer activities. Employees respect companies that care for their community--it simply makes employees feel good and increases the emotional attachment to their employer.

One way to engage employees to participate is to align the company’s donation choices with causes that have the greatest meaning to your workforce. For example, you may choose to donate to a cancer organization after employees’ loved ones were diagnosed with cancer. You may opt to help cleanup veterans’ homes, create a park, or deliver meals.

Some companies take time during the year to have a volunteer day for employees to give back and have some fun as a company.

Increased Marketing

Charitable support is a wonderful way to do good in your community while also gaining some marketing in return. Donations put your company’s name out there, especially if you support some type of event. Just make sure that the event or charity mirrors your own company’s goals. For example, consider supporting a landscape clean-up project or work on a community park. That will show your current and future clients that you really care about your business and your community. Actively bring up your partnership to those you do business with, getting the idea of your social giving established with current and potential customers.

Tax Deduction

This is one of the most immediate benefits of corporate donations. You may not instantly see how your contribution benefits your community, but you will quickly notice the tax savings. Of course, businesses shouldn’t donate with the sole expectation of financial gain, but there are fiscal rewards for helping a charity in need. Businesses can usually receive tax deductions from sponsoring charities or events, but you should make sure to follow the rules and go about the process in the right way to comply with all tax requirements.

It is Good for Your Community

Charitable contributions have numerous benefits, but the most important one is obvious: you should give back to your community. Charitable donations help better your community, and the public will notice if a company is making a real effort to improve its surroundings. Your company’s charitable donations could help improve schools or parks, giving children safe places to learn and play. The opportunities are endless and extremely helpful.

There are many reasons why your company should make charitable donations, and any reason that motivates you is a good one. Donating to charities can help change your business and work culture. It can also have a dramatic impact on others. So, pick a cause that you believe in and make your community a better place to live. It is not only good for the soul it is good for business.

Committed to Giving Back

OGIA Members Invested in Charitable Efforts

BY ALANA SETTLE

Green industry businesses are remiss if they’re not including philanthropic initiatives in their business plans. Giving back to your community can boost your company’s reputation, enhance workplace culture, and ultimately even increase revenue. Moreover, studies show that participating in altruistic projects positively impacts mental health and wellbeing.

Any company can be charitable, yet green industry businesses truly benefit when they find ways to connect their unique offerings with a deserving cause.

Kurtz Bros., a mulch, soil, and landscape supply company and nursery, has found its niche with product donations. They have built a reputation as a generous supporter of a wide variety of neighborhood beautification projects, community gardens, and non-profit events.

For landscape companies, charitable acts could include simply “writing a check” or more involved, hands-on work. Over the years, ProScape Lawn & Landscape Services, LLC has supported countless charity events with monetary and in-kind donations. However, founder and president Luke Henry says his favorite way to give back is through volunteer landscape or snow removal service projects that can involve the whole company and their families.

Read on to learn how these companies have infused their company culture with a philanthropic spirit.

OGIA: Why do you feel it’s important for your business to give back to its community?

Jeff Stemler, Senior Account Representative, Kurtz Bros.: The community has been so supportive of our business that we feel it’s only right to give back when we can. We also realize that a strong community benefits all residents. We have been a part of the Central Ohio community for over 30 years and we look forward to continuing to serve the community we love for many more years to come.

Luke Henry, Founder/President, ProScape Lawn & Landscape Services, LLC: Giving back through service and donations is a great way to show that we care about more than just the bottom line. We actually talk about a triple bottom line, where yes, we have to generate a profit to stay viable and fuel the continued growth of our business, but with that, we also focus on the growth of our team as individuals, as well as giving back to our community. I believe that in order to truly be successful, we have to be hitting all three of those areas.

OGIA: Workplace surveys show that employees want to feel proud about where they work. According to a Deloitte survey,

70% of employees said volunteer activities are more likely to boost employee morale than company-sponsored happy hours, and more than half of millennials surveyed consider a company’s philanthropic initiatives to be a deciding factor when choosing between job offers with similar responsibilities, pay, and benefits.

How has your community service work benefited your employees or enhanced the company culture?

Jeff: We have supported a lot of projects for family members of our employees. It really makes the employees feel great when their employer supports something that means a lot to their family.

Luke: Service projects are a really fun way to get our managers and field staff (and families) all working beside each other, so it forges the human connection. While we are volunteering, there are no titles. We are all just volunteers.

OGIA: Most companies find community service projects, donations, or sponsorships to be beneficial for building company awareness. And discerning consumers care about a company’s values. Are sponsorships and donations a part of your marketing and PR plan?

Jeff: One thing we probably haven’t done enough of is “toot our own horn.” We donate a lot of material and support a lot of organizations without taking full advantage of all the marketing benefits. When we decide to support an organization, it’s because we believe in their cause, and we have the ability and resources to support them. However, we do plan on doing a better job of documenting our donations and the impact they have on the community going forward.

Luke: Yes, I definitely think these activities raise awareness of our company and our

presence in the community. We write donations and sponsorships into our marketing plan every year. At the same time, if we are only looking at the dollars as a marketing expense on our P&L, I think we miss the point. First, the donations of time and money are an investment, not an expense; they are an investment in the type of community where we want to live and do business. These activities also help align us with the types of people we want as clients. They see the work we are doing and want to do business with like-minded people. It’s a positive upward cycle that starts with us being generous in the first place.

OGIA: How does your company manage your various philanthropic projects/ initiatives?

Jeff: We receive maybe 40–50 donation requests a year, mostly in the spring. Generally, each site manager manages the projects that initiate from their location. Site managers have the ability to make decisions on small requests. Larger requests come to me, and I will make a decision or consult with the general managers. However, we did hire someone this past winter who we are training to oversee all donations and community support projects.

We budget for a certain amount of donations per year. As a general rule of thumb, we only donate materials we make ourselves (most mulches, soils, composts). If it’s a product we buy and resell such as limestone, then we may offer a discount but not a full donation. Trying to determine which projects to support can be a challenge. I’d love to be able to approve all requests.

Luke: Historically, a lot of the philanthropic initiatives funneled through me as the owner; however, it’s been really gratifying as we’ve grown to involve other leaders on our team to help scout, plan, and execute various donations, fundraising, and service

The community has been so supportive of our business that we feel it’s only right to give back when we can.

opportunities. Generosity gets more woven into our culture this way, and it multiplies our effectiveness to have more people using their creativity and passion towards doing good.

We have a budget of how much we can give to various organizations, teams, and nonprofits and it is determined as a percentage of revenue. We are continuing to refine our system, but it involves a bit of a matrix related to the purpose of the organization, whether we have supported them in the past, and how they are connected to our company. For example, does the son of one of our team members play on the sports team who is seeking the donation? Is one of our team members a volunteer and passionate supporter of a particular nonprofit? Those are the types of opportunities we are more likely to fund.

OGIA: Any advice for companies interested in becoming more involved in their community?

Jeff: I think they should first identify a need in their community. It could be a park cleanup or perhaps a community garden. Put together a plan and then start partnering with other local businesses to get support to see their project through to completion.

Luke: I’d say just do it. There is no shortage of need out there, and I assure you that if you reach out to a local nonprofit, they will find work for you and your team to do. Even if it’s just a handful of people for a few hours on a Saturday morning, that can be invaluable for a nonprofit that relies on volunteers to operate. You will all feel a whole lot better when you leave as well, which hopefully will energize you to continue doing more good! Our companies, our communities, and our world need more of that!

TONY SEEGERS

1803 Consulting, LLC tony@1803consulting.com

OPARR Changes Its Name

The Ohio Professional Applicators for Responsible Regulation (“OPARR”) Board voted at their September 23 board meeting to change the name of the organization to, “OhioPLANT” with the tagline, “Coalition of Pesticide, Landscape, Agriculture, Nursery, and Turf Professionals”. The idea for a name change has been discussed over the last few years to reflect a growing membership of partners representing nurseries, landscape and lawn care, and golf courses.

It was not an easy task to agree on a name that stayed true to OPARR’s original and continued core mission to represent pesticide and fertilizer applicators while respecting the new industry associations that joined over the last couple of years.

After much debate, the board believes the new name will reflect the growth of the organization while continuing its original mission. A larger voice carries more weight at the statehouse and OhioPLANT will remain your advocate.

A new logo and website will be forthcoming.

A Great Example of OhioPLANT’s Relationship With Policy Makers

The residents, businesses, and the State of Ohio have been battling harmful algal blooms in the Western Lake Erie Basin for several years. These blooms are made of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, that can produce microcystin, a known liver toxin that poses a risk to human and wildlife health. The HABs, as they are called, are mainly the result of phosphorous runoff into the waterways in the basin. The State has established the goal of reducing the HABs in the Western Lake Erie Basin to 1990s levels, which would require a 40 percent reduction of total phosphorous loading.

Most of the runoff can be attributed to agriculture, and for that reason, agricultural leaders have been working with the State of Ohio on practices to reduce the phosphorous leaving farmer fields. Embodying that relationship between agriculture and the state is Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio program, which he initiated in his first budget to help fund best management practices for agriculture. It also addresses other areas that help reduce phosphorous loading such as funding the restoration or creation of wetlands, the repair or replacement of failing septic systems, and aiding communities with storm water infrastructure. While much energy has been rightfully expanded on a relationship between the state and

agriculture to work on phosphorous reduction efforts, some have wondered about the phosphorous runoff from other industries like turfgrass, lawncare services, and golf course maintenance.

In August, the Lake Erie Commission’s Executive Director, Joy Mullinex, reached out to OhioPLANT’s lobbyist to inquire about the contribution, if any, of phosphorous loading from turfgrass, lawncare, and golf course members. Specifically, what can be done, if there is something to be done, by these industries to help the state reach its 40 percent reduction goal. Director Mullinex stressed that this was merely an informational gathering request.

In response, OhioPLANT’s lobbyist spoke with representatives of its turfgrass, lawncare, and golf course members as well as producers of the products used in their services. From that, a brief report was composed and shared with the Executive Director. The report stated that “there is little to no phosphorous used in the products and services by these industries. All the industries represented in this memo are served by licensed professionals who follow best management practices for their professions.” Startup fertilizers are used that do contain some phosphorous that is needed for germination and root growth but most of the lawncare products contain little to no phosphorous.

The report also referred to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America who developed and formalized their own best management plans in a manual titled, Best Management Practices for Ohio Golf Courses. These practices are very similar to the 4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship (right rate of nutrients, right source of nutrients, right time for application, and right place of application) used in agriculture. Golf courses, like lawncare service providers and farmers, use soil samples to determine the nutrient needs of the course. These industries, like all the industry associations that comprise OhioPLANT are mindful stewards of the environment.

The inquiry by the Lake Erie Commission Executive Director and the ability to respond to policy makers demonstrates why OhioPLANT is important for its members. While the name might have changed, the core mission remains the same, a large voice protecting the interests of its industry partners and promoting smart policies.

GROOVY PLANTS RANCH

BY ALANA SETTLE

As independent garden centers strive to set themselves apart from big box stores, they can look to Groovy Plants Ranch in Marengo, Ohio for inspiration.

What began as a small, wholesale specialty succulent nursery has steadily grown into a full-service retail destination, offering annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetable plants, mums and pumpkins in the fall, and a large selection of houseplants year-round.

“We are plant lovers and want to share that love and excitement and exuberance we have for plants with everyone who comes to visit,” said co-owner Liz Hughes.

Liz’s husband, co-owner Jared Hughes, is a grower at heart. He graduated from Columbus State Community College’s Landscape Design program and spent 10 years working for Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse Co. In 2007, he began propagating succulents out of a small greenhouse on his parent’s property as a hobby and shortly afterward began selling them to wholesale clients. In 2015, Jared and his wife, Liz, purchased a greenhouse property previously known as Fargo Herbs and launched the Groovy Plants Ranch retail operation. Liz left her position as an art educator to be part of the business full-time.

Today, Groovy Plants Ranch has around two acres of growing space with 8 Quonset huts and employs 8 full-time staff and up to 30 seasonal employees. The company strives to grow as much of its own plant material as possible.

The Ranch is in a rural area about 30 minutes outside of Columbus and has received attention as an experience worth traveling for. Specialty plants that can’t be found elsewhere bring in plant enthusiasts near and far, while the Ranch’s distinctive branding and family-friendly feel elevate the standard shopping experience for both novice and experienced gardeners.

Visitors to Groovy Plants Ranch meander through immaculately kept grounds that include attentiongrabbing, photo-worthy displays, such as a painted,

vintage VW van, and ever-changing vignettes that showcase the owners’ eye for aesthetics.

First-time visitors are encouraged to “make a day of it.” An onsite potting area, where families can select their plants, pottery, and create their own container garden to take home, has been a hit. The Ranch’s website lists nearby attractions, such as restaurants, breweries, and shops. And like many garden centers, they regularly partner with food trucks and host various pop-up shops and family events.

“People visit us and build memories. They fill an afternoon with something they’ve never done before,” said Liz. “But none of that means anything if the plant quality isn’t there. They continue to come back because we have high-quality products and excellent selection.”

Merchandising techniques keep the store always looking new for those return customers. Plant displays are moved frequently¬—every couple of weeks—to showcase new plant material. Even mainstays like pottery are moved around just as often. Liz says it takes new staff a little time to get used to the fact that they’re constantly rearranging but get on board once they realize the impact a continuously fresh display can make on the look and feel of the garden center.

The garden center’s staff is a tight-knit group, many of whom have growing backgrounds.

“We have a team of core managerial staff, likeminded people who love plants and are committed to high quality in their area of expertise,” said Liz.

All employees must be committed to the company’s values of quality above all else, extraordinary customer service, and fastidious cleanliness of the grounds. Liz proudly shared that a majority of their online reviews compliment them on their friendly and knowledgeable staff.

“We’d rather be short staffed and pay overtime than hire someone who’s not a good fit,” said Liz.

The company’s recent growth includes hiring a fulltime staff member to manage its unique brand. Liz

said it wasn’t easy to convince themselves they needed a marketing manager but have seen the benefits of having consistent communication with their customers. Marketing remains a team effort though; Liz and Jared are actively involved in the garden center’s social media, often in front of the camera for regular video walkthroughs of the Ranch and educational updates. Liz says all employees have the opportunity to be involved in social media if they show a vested interest in the company and have a grasp on the brand voice.

The marketing efforts have paid off. Jared and Liz strive to do things differently, and their ambition has received national attention. The garden center has been featured in Home & Garden and Midwest Living magazines. Jared’s hybrid, the ‘Canary Wings’ Begonia, won the Retailers’ Choice Aware at Cultivate ’18 and Liz made the list of Greenhouse Product News’ 40 under 40 in 2021, among other accolades.

Groovy Plants Ranch sets its sights on a bright future but as Liz says, they “have no five-year plan.” They want the business to grow organically and have learned over the past couple of years to be nimble and “follow the wind.”

“Our major goal, coming out of COVID and heading into a downturn, whatever that looks like, is to grow more of our own plants,” said Liz.

Plans include building more greenhouses, educating existing staff, and hiring more people in order to grow more and buy less.

Learn more at groovyplantsranch.com.

To be profiled in The Buckeye, please contact Sara Cantees | sara@ogia.org

Photos via Groovy Plants Ranch Instagram - @groovyplantsranch

People visit us and build memories. They fill an afternoon with something they’ve never done before.

Ohio High School 2022

The 7th Annual The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) took place on October 12 & 13, 2022 at The Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio.

OHLO tests students’ skills and inspires many to choose the green industry for their career development. Each competition is designed to test students’ skills through hands-on, competitive events designed by industry professionals. OHLO broadens the high school education experience and introduces students to the many opportunities offered by a career in the green industry.

2022 COMPETITION HOSTS

Arborist Skills Ohio ISA

Compact Excavator Operation Ohio CAT

Cost Estimating Columbus State Landscape & Management Program and Columbus State Landscape Alumni Association

Hardscape Installation Oberfields, LLC 9 Tree Lanscape Construction

Herbacous Plant ID Millcreek Gardens, LLC

Irrigation

Wolf Creek Companies Landscape Maintenance Operations EMI Schill Grounds Management

Landscape Plant Installation Willoway Nursery, Inc. Delagrange Landscaping & General Construction

Low Voltage Lighting Grunder Landscaping

Sales Presentation Hidden Creek Landscaping

Skid Steer Bobcat Company

Surveying

M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

Truck & Trailer Benchmark Landscape Construction, Inc.

Turfgrass Ohio Turfgrass Association & Ohio Lawn Care Association

Woody Plant OSU ATI

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Gold Sponsor EMI Bag Sponsor Brian-Kyles

Awards Sponsor Grunder Landscaping

Safety Gift Sponsor Nufarm Chill Zone Sponsor Grass Groomers, Inc.

Snack Sponsor The Davey Tree Expert Co.

Lunch Sponsor Benchmark Landscape Construction, Inc.

Pizza & Beverage Sponsor Schill Grounds Management Todd’s Enviroscapes, Inc.

Token Sponsor Yard Solutions

Bronze Sponsors

M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

Five Seasons Landscape

The Davey Tree Expert Co. LandscapeHub

1st Impressions Landscape & Garden Center Vermeer All Roads Yardmaster, Inc. Landscapes by Terra, Inc.

Supporting Sponsor

Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery Bryan Equpiment

2022 MEDALISTS

Arborist Skills

Gold: Delaware Area Career Center

Silver: Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus

Bronze: Knox County Career Center

Compact Excavator

Gold: Colton L. – Knox County Career Center

Silver: Lane B. – Fairfield Local Bronze: Jacob G. – Jackson High School

Cost Estimating

Gold: Cooper G. – Upper Valley Career Center

Silver: Wyatt C. – Upper Valley Career Center Bronze: Savannah W. – Jackson High School

Hardscape Installation

Gold: Delaware Area Career Silver: Knox County Career Center

Bronze: Upper Valley Career Center

Irrigation Assembly & Trouble Shooting

Gold: Knox County Career Center

Silver: Jackson High School

Bronze: Upper Valley Career Center

Landscape Maintenance

Gold: Knox County Career Center

Silver: Delaware Area Career Center

Bronze: Columbiana Co Career & Tech Center

Turfgrass

Gold: Knox County Career Center

Silver: Jackson High School

Bronze: Upper Valley Career Center

Low Voltage Lighting

Gold: Jacob F. – Jackson High School

Silver: Isaac B. – Knox County High School

Bronze: Jacob W. – Upper Valley Career Center

Herbaceous Plant ID

Gold: Maeve V. – Lorain County JVS

Silver: Breanna R. – Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus

Bronze: Lily H. – Marysville High School

Truck & Trailer Operation

Gold: Upper Valley Career Center

Silver: Delaware Area Career Center

Bronze: Jackson High School

Plant Installation

Gold: Upper Valley Career Center

Silver: Jackson High School

Bronze: Knox County Career Center

Skid Steer Operation

Gold: Hunter T. – Delaware Area Career Center

Silver: Colton L. – Knox County Career Center Bronze: Levi B. – Columbiana Co Career & Tech Center

Sales Presentation

Gold: Kyliegh B. – Jackson High School

Silver: Josie M. – Knox County Career Center

Bronze: Cooper G. – Upper Valley Career Center

Woody Plant ID

Gold: John M. – Knox County Career Center

Silver: Megan R. – Jackson High School

Bronze: Breanna R. Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus

Surveying

Gold: Jackson High School

Silver: Fairfield Local Bronze: Delaware Area Career Center

TOP FIVE TEAMS

1. Knox County Career Center 2. Upper Valley Career Center

Delaware Area High School

Jackson High School

Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus

TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS

1. Noah Y. – Delaware Area Career Center 2. Bryan R. – Delaware Area Career Center

Jaden H. – Jackson High School 4. Ethan S. – Jackson High School

Carson G. – Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus

Jacob F. – Jackson High School

Hunter T. – Delaware Area Career Center

Lane B. – Fairfield Local

Cheyenne B. – Fairfield Local

Lucas C. – Fairfield Local

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

Ashtabula Tech & Career Campus

Columbiana County Career & Tech Center

Delaware Area Career Center

Fairfield Local

Jackson High School

Knox County Career Center

Lorain Co JVS

Marysville High School

Patrick Henry High School

Penta Career Center

Tolles Tech

Upper Valley Career Center

Since 1997, we’ve worked with outdoor lighting contractors, electricians, landscape design/build contractors, and other professionals to make the world a brighter place. We’ll partner with you to provide expert advice on the best lighting solution to fit your project and budget. Our team also offers design and technical support at no additional cost. And to ensure the job gets done on time, our warehouse stocks a huge inventory of

OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY ADVOCACY DAY

NEW MEMBERS

The following companies have been approved for OGIA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current OGIA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within three weeks following receipt of this issue of The Buckeye.

The following companies are applying for ACTIVE membership:

American Native Plants Natalie Forte PO Box 246 Chase, MD 21027

A’s Lawn Service Andrew Ellis 5991 Derby Drive Medina, OH 44256

Specialty Crop Farm Labor Contractors, LLC Brandon Mallory 510 Clinton Square, PMB 5010 Rochester, NY 14604

The Employers’ Association Bob Bethel 1787 Indian Wood Circle, Suite A Maumee, OH 43537

Under the Tree Design LLC Steven Maravich 2314 Cranford Road Upper Arlington, OH 43221

Yardmaster Inc. Travis Bales 1447 N Ridge Rd. Painesville, OH 44077

The following students are applying for Student membership:

Ashtabula County Technical & Career Center

Haley Borcicky James Burton

Rebekah Dawson

Eva Dettling

Lexxis Dickey Michel Gill Carson Glasier Gunnar Haffa James Hill Evelyn Houston Trent Miller Autumn Murphy Roberto Perez Jared Randolph

Margel Rockow Breanna Rossiter Samuel Snyder Rebecca Zarczynski

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Jeanne Huynh Clay Schneider

Columbiana County Career & Tech Center

Maddy Black Levi Blake Emma Browne Kaiden Clark Madison Cook Clayton Delposen Kadan Elrod Ivy Fish Jonathan Fracchione Devin Gishbaugher Gavan Gordon Noah Harrelson Ahliyah Hartman-Ensell Evan Heestand Drew Heiland Michael Hoffee ArickaAnn Hooper Wyatt Johnson Samantha Kallas Ethan Mancuso Chase McCurdy Jessica Norris Airianna Pasco-Scullion Carson Peck-Campbell Cole Pickens Anthony Sachs Johnathan Simpson Hadley Tice Bryan Torres Shane Venezia Dustin Vint James Walter Pierson Wolfe

Columbus State Community College Seth Glazer Chris Itsell John Morgan

Cuyahoga Community College Gabrielle Fernandez Jennifer Seybold

Findlay City Schools Samuel Dolan

Jackson High School

Ariel Bailis Samuel Benedict Geoffrey Dolan Jacob Forro Ryan Fowler Jacob German Olivia Humbert John King Gabriella Morris Lana Nabors Dazlyn Nguyen Molly Shackle Matthew Smith Austin Stackhouse Kenya Steineck Benjamin Truesdell Addyson Utterback Izaya Vandiver Clarence Wagner

The Ohio State University Heather Oberlin Juan Quijia Pillajo

Patrick Henry High School Ella Badenhop Aiden Behrman Luke Bostelman Lincoln Creager Adrian Delgado Dalton Guelde Jaxson Guelde Braden Hall Olivia Harmon Logan Hudson Lane Jackson Trinity Johnson Nash Meyer Iris Moreno Anna Rivera Noah Robison Daniel Schmeltz Mason Schwiebert Thomas Smith Colton Stewart Jayden Strohaver Brook Tietje Avery Wright Wydel Wright

Pettisville High School Delana Damman Karter Kzachrich

Ella Richer Sophie Sterken Lily Wiemken

Tolles Tech Career Center

Ali Bahar Landon Bare

Jacer Belvins Wyatt Bruce Braydon Buchanan Matt Crawford

Dominic Davis

Josh Enterman

Daniel Fugazzi Noah Gartin

Robert Head

Marissa Horn Cameron Jones Owen Keiffer Zane Kosikowski

Casey Madden Daniel Resinger Nick Smith Matt Whetstone

Upper Valley Career Center Jarod Barnhart Nevin Bowling Cheyanne Bowman Dyaus Cavazos

Bryce Detrick Rylan Egbert Gavin Fitzgerald Becca Flory Aiden Fox Cooper Gambrell Tommy Grise

Jackson Hemmert Michael Hohenstein Evan Johnson

Zane Jones

James King

Zion McReynolds

Marymar Mulhern Devan Nix Carter Owens

Darius Pultz-Wolaver Boston Sherman

Paige Steinke Sophia Watterson Joshua Young

HUMAN RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

HR Hot Topics

BOB BETHEL VP of HR & Learning Services

USCIS & ICE Update I-9 Guidelines

On October 11th, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that employers should continue to use the current I-9 form after the indicated expiration date of Oct. 31, 2022 until further notice. See information on the USCIS’s website.

Additionally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also announced on October 11th that they will be extending I-9 flexibility until July 21, 2023. Read more on ICE’s website.

2022 OGIA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship

Regan Draeger The Ohio State University

FFA High School Scholarship

Kaitlyn McCormick Lorain County JVS

OGIA President’s Scholarship

Cascade Lighting, Inc. 20

Contree Sprayer & Equipment 2

Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc. 12

Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc. 4

Evergreen Seed Supply, LLC 17

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries, Inc. 20

Green Velvet Sod Farms Ltd. 21

Heather Oberlin The Ohio State University

Cara Robinson University of Cincinnati

Seth Glazer Columbus State Community College

Gabrielle Fernandez Cuyahoga Community College

Millcreek Gardens LLC 4

North Branch Nursery, Inc. 4

Premier Plant Solutions 4

Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. 6

OGIA EVENT CALENDAR

Subject to change. Visit ogia.org/events for more information.

February 22 Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day Ohio Statehouse

AD RATES & INFO

Contact Sara Cantees sara@ogia.org

Industry Association

Ohio Green Industry Alliance PAC

Ohio’s green industry can’t take a passive approach to advocacy. A political action committee strengthens our collective story with proactive leadership.

The PAC raises funds to support political candidates who have shown a commitment to understanding our industry and the challenges our businesses face. These candidates can beneficially influence legislative issues related to Ohio’s green industry.

OUR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL

Contribute to the PAC. Consider it an important investment to protect your business, amplify your industry’s voice, and ensure our continued successes.

For more information and to donate, visit ogia.org/OGIAPAC