Advancing Horticulture Careers at Northeast Community College
Richard Wright teaches students about irrigation equipment in the field.
S
ure, students in Northeast Community College’s Horticulture and Golf Course Management program learn about soil science in the classroom. But they also get out in the field and get their hands in the dirt. The result? A pipeline of young people who are prepared to take jobs in fields such as landscaping and golf course maintenance. Irrigation Leader spoke with a horticulture and agriculture instructor, Dr. Trentee Bush, a horticulture adjunct instructor, Richard M. Wright, and the ag program director, Jill Heemstra, about the program’s curriculum and goals.
Trentee Bush: I grew up on a family ranch north of Whitman, Nebraska. I have a bachelor’s degree in landscape design and a master’s in public horticulture administration, both from the University of Nebraska, and a PhD in educational administration. For 9 years, I taught at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. For the last 3 years, I’ve been here at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, teaching in the horticulture and agriculture departments.
20 | IRRIGATION LEADER | April 2022
Jill Heemstra: I got my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science at South Dakota State University, then came to Nebraska and worked as an extension agent. At first, I was in a traditional county-based role, focusing on farm management with an emphasis on small farms. Then, I moved into a grant-funded position, which was a less-traditional extension role. I did a lot of program and curriculum development and worked on manure management, water quality, and nutrient management issues. I did that for about 20 years, and about a month ago, I started here at Northeast Community College as the director of the agricultural program. Irrigation Leader: Would you tell us about Northeast Community College and the Horticulture and Golf Course Management program? irrigationleadermagazine.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about your backgrounds and how you came to be involved with this program.
Richard M. Wright: I’m from Omaha, Nebraska. I went to work for some friends doing turf irrigation about 46 years ago. I went out on my own about 44 years ago and have done everything in turf irrigation, from drip to golf courses. I still work at my own business, the Sprinkler Company, and I am an adjunct faculty member at Northeast.
