2023 NNLA Awards
Several awards were presented during the 2023 NNLA Annual Meeting. Those presented awards
include:
2023 Gold Leaf Award - Jim Locklear & Lauritzen Gardens
The Gold Leaf award is given to a group or individual who has actively shown outstanding support to NNLA and the nursery and landscape industry in Nebraska. Sheila Schrader provided the following introduction for Jim.
Jim Locklear and Lauritzen Gardens have done just that. Their mission statement states that “Lauritzen Gardens is a living museum of unique four-season plant displays, maintained to the highest standards consistent with environmental stewardship. It provides memorable educational and aesthetic experiences for all.” Lauritzen Gardens is also engaged in statewide and regional conservation work which we had the pleasure of hearing about during Jim’s presentation at the conference.
2023 Hall of Fame Award - Addie Kinghorn, NCNLP
The Hall of Fame award is given to a member of the NNLA who was instrumental in advancing the NNLA and the nursery and landscape industry and who has been active in the nursery or landscape industry for 20+ years. NNLA nominated Addie for the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award in October 2022 as she has made significant lifetime contributions in Nebraska’s horticultural field through teaching, communications, plant exploration, business, and leadership. She did not receive this national award but was very fitting to receive the NNLA Hall of Fame award. On behalf of NNLA, Ann Wickenhauser introduced Addie at the Annual Meeting.
Addie’s pure love of the horticulture industry is truly infectious by all who know her. She is an avid collector of plants and if it was possible to propagate and share a plant, Addie would find a way and share why the plant was important to her. Throughout her career, she helped everyone she met appreciate the importance of the industry and has been a female pioneer in what is traditionally a male-dominated industry. Addie Kinghorn has become one of the foundational members of the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association (NNLA). Addie was one of our earliest Nebraska Certified Nurserymen (NCN), has served as a member of the NCN committee, as the chairperson, and received the honor of being named NCN of the year in 2001. An honorary membership was given to Ms. Kinghorn in 1998 by the NNLA. Addie also served on the board of directors for six years from 2010-2016.
Ms. Kinghorn worked as an instructor in the Horticultural Department of Metro Community College (MCC) for over thirty years. Addie’s passion charged students to become the best at what they wanted to do – landscape designer, turf maintenance, greenhouse manager, or simply a home gardener. Her love for the industry and thorough teaching methods instilled the importance of plants in sustaining our environment and creating a more enriching place to live. Many students voice appreciation of her teaching approach. Addie would combine the class curriculum with her years of plant and business experience to share her real-world views. She was willing to share her failures, as well as her successes, hoping students would not repeat any failures. Addie received the American Horticultural Society 2012 American Great Gardeners National Teaching Award.
Considered an expert on perennials, she was often asked to consult on projects and was a sought-after speaker. When the green industry began offering more perennials to their customers, many in the industry considered this a new trend. However, Addie was already well versed as she was always learning about plants that were underutilized or rarely considered.
The Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association is stronger, and its members more educated because of Ms. Kinghorn and her involvement. The Nebraska green industry owes its success to Addie’s significant influence – it is rare to find someone within the industry that has not met Addie somewhere along their career.
2023 Distinguished Nursery Professional Award: Julie Van Meter, NCNLP
NNLA defines that recipients of the Distinguished Nursery Professional Award should be active role models for the industry and their communities, active in the nursery and landscape industry for 10 or more years and a member of NNLA. Jason Kuehl provided the following introduction for Julie.
From being the boots-on-the-ground Nursery Inspector to moving up to the head of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, many of us have had the pleasure of working with Julie Van Meter over the years and her professionalism and dedication to the state and to the Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association. NDA and NNLA have a long-standing partnership, and Julie has long been an advocate and supporter of Agriculture, Horticulture, and NNLA. She has also been a valued advisor to the NNLA Board, and unfortunately, with her new responsibilities, she will no longer be serving in that advisor capacity.
In November, we received the sad news that Julie had resigned from her position as Program Manager and State Entomologist after 20 plus years to pursue a new opportunity with the United State Department of Agriculture as a National Policy Advisor. I am sure she will do well in her new position and that she will continue to make a positive impact with this new challenge. Congratulations, my friend. You deserve everything your hard work and dedication shall provide, and they are fortunate to have you. Best of luck from all of us, and stay in touch!
2023 Distinguished Landscape Professional Award: Lee Olson, NCNLP, Landscape INK
NNLA defines that recipients of the Distinguished Landscape Professional Award should be active role models for the industry and their communities, active in the nursery and landscape industry for 10 or more years and a member of NNLA. Sheila Schrader provided the following introduction for Lee.
Lee Olson meets and exceeds all of these requirements. He has been in the landscape industry for over 25 years and has over 21 years of landscape design experience. He does custom landscape design and rendering for his clients. Lee has been an active member of NNLA since the mid-90s. He is the backbone of the NCNLP certification program, helping to facilitate testing and promote the value of being certified for over 12 years.
2023 Distinguished Nebraska Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional Award: Sheila Schrader, NCNLP - Schrader Landscape Design
The Distinguished Nebraska Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional Award is presented to a current NCNLP who exhibits the ideals and standards associated with the NCNLP professional status and is active in advancing the NCNLP program. Lee Olson provided the following introduction for Sheila.
This year’s award goes to someone who has been working diligently in the advancement of the NCNLP program. She has taken a lead role in the revisions of the testing manual and has been an asset to the committee. Sheila Shrader joined the NNLA board in November of 2019, she is in her second term and has served as Treasurer since 2021. She became an NCNLP in February of 2020 and joined the NCNLP committee later that year.