August 2023 - 12

DUETS
After high school, I attended
North Carolina State University
(NC State) where I started in
agriculture education but switched
to horticulture science about halfway
through my first semester. As an
undergraduate student, I worked
for the NC State Bramble Breeding
Program, served as a teaching
assistant and interned at Rockwell
Farms in Rockwell, North Carolina.
Through these experiences, I learned
that I wanted to pursue a higher
education beyond a bachelor's
degree and help growers.
I stayed at NC State and joined
Brian Jackson's lab in 2011
investigating pine wood chips as an
alternative to perlite in greenhouse
substrates. After defending my
masters of science, I worked for Brian
Whipker until graduation. I was also
fortunate to join him on Extension
visits throughout North Carolina and
participate in the National Floriculture
Forum in New Hampshire. Peter, this is
where we originally met in 2013.
Peter: Another page out of the
" it's a small industry " book, Garrett.
Hosting the group at the end of your
day of touring remains a favorite
memory of mine. It was a career
marker for me to have colleagues,
industry experts, and graduate
students viewing research and
socializing in my greenhouse.
Garrett: After graduating from
NC State, I spent the summer back
home and prepared to move to West
Lafayette, Indiana, where I joined
Roberto Lopez's lab at Purdue
University as a full-time research
technician and part-time doctoral
student. My doctoral research focused
on optimizing root-zone temperature
and daily light integral to callus and
root vegetative shoot tip cuttings
of herbaceous perennials. I enjoyed
my time under the direction of Dr.
Lopez where I had the opportunity
12
AUGUST 2023 GPNMAG.COM
to conduct research under field, high
tunnel, double-poly and glass-covered
greenhouses, and walk-in growth
chambers on several ornamental
and food crops. He provided many
opportunities to travel throughout
Indiana on Extension visits, e-GRO
tours, grower meetings and present at
national and international meetings.
Peter: It's no surprise that
your work with Brian Jackson,
Brian Whipker and Roberto Lopez
introduced you to the Extension
side of our university programs. The
three of them share a commitment
of engaging directly with
commercial growers through
their programs.
I know you recognize this
as a very special opportunity
and, no doubt, it is precisely
why you chose these
programs and graduate
advisors to learn from.
My perspective remains
'old school' and anchored
in the belief that visiting
growers in their greenhouses shows
a commitment that they appreciate.
I've been on both sides of this street
and believe it to be true. Sure, we
can up our efficiency with electronic
extension work but sometimes it's
still the gold standard to stand with
a grower in his or her greenhouse to
exchange ideas.
Garrett: After earning my doctorate
in 2017, I joined the Department
of Horticulture at Michigan State
University (MSU) as the Eastern
Michigan greenhouse and controlled
environment outreach specialist with
a split between 85% Extension and
15% research. I was located offcampus
at the MSU Tollgate Farm and
Education Center in Novi, Michigan,
where I conducted research and held
grower meetings. I spent most of my
time visiting, assisting and educating,
yet learning, from many of the
Southeastern Michigan and MetroDetroit
Flower Growers.
In spring 2020, I joined the
Department of Horticulture at the
University of Kentucky (UK) as
an assistant Extension professor
of greenhouses and controlled
environments with a split between
65% Extension, 25% research, 10%
instruction and 5% service. During
my time at UK, I had the opportunity
to develop courses and teach,
broaden my research capacity to
include nursery crops and hydroponic
high-wire crops and leafy greens, and
focus on Extension initiatives.
The goal of my
program is to
provide growers
with relative and
timely information.
In January 2023, I joined the
Department of Horticulture and
Crop Science at The Ohio State
University as an assistant professor
for sustainable greenhouse and
nursery production systems with a
split between 50% Extension, 30%
research, and 20% instruction.
Peter: That's an impressive resume
Garrett, hearing about your path
after grad school brings to mind how
many of us navigate our homeowning
stage of life. Starter home first, then
move up to something that fits better,
and finally, finding a forever home to
settle into. As a very partial Buckeye
after my graduate school experience
at Ohio State just a quick minute ago
I hope your new address feels right as
your forever career home. Given your
extension responsibilities, what plans
can you share for helping growers in
Ohio and beyond?
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
