Bring FFA to AIFD Virtual Workshop 2022 ‘Fun with Creativity’

There is an old saying that ‘if one is good, two is better!’ For five FFA Teams from across the United States, the second “Bring FFA to AIFD Virtual Workshop,” hosted by the AIFD Career Development Committee, was a day to remember. Focusing on this year’s theme of “Fun with Creativity,” Woodbury FFA (Connecticut), North Calloway FFA (Missouri), Cape Fear FFA (North Carolina), Diamond Mountain FFA (Nevada), and Chelan FFA (Washington) joined design instructors, Lisa Belisle AIFD, Lesleighan Cravens AIFD, Sharon McGukin AIFD, and Julia Marie Schmitt AIFD, on Saturday, September 24, 2022, via Zoom. Thanks to this event’s sponsors, students were able to design with tropical flowers while utilizing eco-friendly containers in unique and creative ways. The American Floral…

Inspiring and Empowering the Next Generation of the Floral Industry

Alejandra Ruelas’ Life-Changing Internship Experience at Altman Plants Internships and scholarships encourage and support the next generation of our industry. The Endowment aims to inspire the future leaders of our industry and give them hands-on experience in the field to ensure the continued growth of floriculture. One of the many opportunities provided through AFE is the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program. Hear directly from one of our interns what her experience was like and how it impacted her future career goals!First, let’s share a bit about the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship – this program gives students the opportunity to gain practical floriculture/horticulture experience while training at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Students intern away from home for…

A Tour of Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago

Ball Horticultural Company’s mission is to be the world leader in the research, breeding, production, and marketing of ornamental crops. Their founder, George J. Ball’s motto was “All the Best and Nothing Else,” and it was evident that Ball puts these values to practice during our recent tour of Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago, which was seamlessly coordinated by Ball’s Director of Research Operations and AFE Board of Trustees member, Dr. Megan Bowman. Even though Ball is an international company that advances the industry on a global scale, it was apparent that they still keep the individual grower in mind in everything they do. Upon arriving at Ball, we were greeted by a riot of color from their display gardens…

White LEDs: A Cost-Effective Alternative to Red + Far-Red LEDs

Many important greenhouse floriculture crops are long-day plants, meaning they require long days and short nights (usually less than 8–10 hours of darkness) to produce flowers early. In areas where winters have short days and long nights, the flowering of long-day plants grown during that time is delayed or inhibited. To shorten long nights and promote flowering of long-day plants, growers can use dim photoperiodic lighting at the end of the day (day-extension lighting) or in the middle of the night (night-break or night-interruption lighting). 16-hour days created from day-extension lighting or 4 hours of night-break lighting are generally sufficient to achieve complete flowering of long-day plants.In the past decade, “flowering” LED lamps with custom light spectra including red (R)…

Executive Director, Debi Chedester, AAF Receives the John H. Walker Award

We would like to extend a warm congratulations to our Executive Director, Debi Chedester! She recently received the 2022 John H. Walker Award on Sept. 8 during the Society of American Florists 137th Annual Convention in Orlando, FL.The John H. Walker Award was established in 1979 to honor the contributions of SAF’s former long-time Executive Vice President and recognizes floral association executives for the role they play as leaders of the industry.Debi has been with AFE since 2008 and worked for the Society of American Florists before that. During her time in the industry, she has been a passionate and dedicated leader, tackling challenges head-on and always keeping the success of the industry at the forefront of her work.Through her…

AFE Creates New Young Professional Advisor Position

Dr. Melinda Knuth to Serve as First Advisor to the BoardAs a part of the American Floral Endowment’s continued focus on the next generation of floral industry members, a special advisory position has been established for AFE’s Board of Trustees. The AFE Young Professionals Council Advisor to the Board is a special position that will engage and interact with the AFE Board of Trustees and Staff to represent the industry’s young professionals and share their perspectives. This new Advisor will participate in AFE Committee and Board meetings, share the perspective of the next generation, and influence how AFE engages with young professionals. It is a unique volunteer opportunity facilitating direct connection between longtime industry leaders and up-and-coming members. Each Advisor will come…

AFE Announces New Chairman and Trustee Appointments

AFE announces the appointment of its new Chairman of the Board and incoming Trustees. The announcement was made during AFE’s annual event, Funding the Future of Floriculture, held on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, in Orlando, Florida, at the SAF Convention.Current AFE Chairman Laura Shinall of FreshPath Marketing spoke about her two years of leadership during COVID-19 and her work with the Trustees during this most challenging time. She highlighted the advances made through AFE’s new Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, industry outreach, and collaboration. Shinall passed the AFE gavel to incoming Chairman Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops, noting, “The great work of the Endowment continues as it has for the past 61 years and will continue for decades more!” Young begins his…

Appreciation, Recognition, and Funding the Future of Floriculture

The Endowment hosted its annual event during the SAF Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.The afternoon was full of excitement as industry members and supporters joined together after a long three-year gap in AFE’s annual in-person events due to the pandemic. AFE Chairman Laura Shinall, Managing Partner of FreshPath Marketing, kicked off the event by welcoming everyone back and setting the tone for celebrating AFE’s supporters and accomplishments.“We’re excited and thankful to see everyone again and celebrate the many successes of the past few years,” noted Shinall, “It’s important to share the impact being made throughout the industry thanks to the many generous industry donors. Through contributions to AFE, industry members support innovative research, educational opportunities,…

AFE’s Newest Research Coordinator, Laura Barth

Among the five focus pillars of AFE is the important branch of research. This area guides the industry’s current practices to new heights in sustainability, improved methods, and revolutionary discoveries. To help facilitate this mission, AFE has expanded our team to include Laura Barth – AFE’s Research Coordinator.Research is a continuous top priority for AFE’s funding. Research helps AFE provide the best and most current information and solutions to pressing issues in the industry. Laura will work alongside Dr. Terril Nell, AFE’s current Research Director of 8 years, to pursue and disseminate this information through industry outreach and collaboration, communications, and other critical resources like our Grow Pro Webinar Series, Thrips & Botrytis Research Fund, and other currently funded research.Dr.…

AFE’s 2021 Arizona Travel Grant Recipient

Bringing Arizona Florists Continued EducationWith industry events back in full swing, the American Floral Endowment (AFE)’s programs like the Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant are key to bringing industry members continued education and valued experiences!AFE’s 2021 recipient, Patti Klawans of Tucson, Arizona, and Designer at Mayfield Florist, was able to connect with and learn from skilled designers volunteering in the flower room at the AIFD Symposium 2022 this past July in Las Vegas, Nevada after a year of postponing travel.Experiences like these are invaluable to industry members, bringing them to the crossroads of connection and first-hand education. AFE recognizes that professional skill building and career growth are continual pursuits. With the Arizona Retail Florist Education Travel Grant, Arizona florists have the…

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