News
AFE Scholarships Delivering Career Impact: Meet Josh Henry
April 20, 2026
Josh Henry’s career in floriculture was born from curiosity. He didn’t have a clear roadmap about his future or how far he would go, but he had a passion for growing plants, and he let that desire steer the ship.
“I just said, you know, we’ll see where college takes me,” he said. What followed was a journey shaped by hard work and a network of scholarships, internships, and mentors that helped turn that early interest into a thriving career as a Technical Services Specialist with Ball Seed.
Josh began his education at The Ohio State University, earning an associate’s degree in greenhouse and nursery management, then completing a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at the same institution. He admits that as a first-generation college graduate, the road winding through his academics wasn’t always easy.
“I didn’t really even know how to navigate the college system at all,” he noted. “And I definitely didn’t have the finances there.”
Working three jobs to support his academic aspirations, Josh credits scholarship support from AFE as a defining factor in his ability to continue. As a sophomore at The Ohio State University in 2012, Josh earned the Lawrence “Bud” Ohlman Memorial Scholarship and Vocational (Bettinger, Holden & Perry) Scholarship to help him complete his two-year degree.
The following year, as a junior, he received the National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association (NGMA) Scholarship and, again, the Lawrence “Bud” Ohlman Memorial Scholarship. Then, in 2014, during his senior year, Josh was able to complete his degree with the financial assistance of the BioWorks IPM/Sustainable Practices Scholarship and James K. Rathmell, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for Horticultural Work/Study Abroad.
“Without the scholarship support, I may have just stopped at my two-year degree,” he said. “But the scholarships helped me pay to continue on.”
The opportunities for Josh extended beyond the classroom. After completing his undergraduate degree in 2015, Josh began his master’s program studies. Before starting, he received a scholarship for the Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Program, which provided a six-month internship at Smith Gardens in Oregon. He describes the experience as transformative.
“They did a really awesome job of exposing me to every different aspect of the greenhouse industry,” he said, noting the experience broadened his understanding of the business and, more importantly, introduced him to mentors who remain part of his life today. “We just gained such a close bond during that time.”
Josh went on to earn both his master’s and Ph.D. in horticultural science at North Carolina State University, continuing to receive scholarship support from AFE. In 2016, he received the Richard T. Meister Scholarship and became the first recipient of the now very notable Altman Family Scholarship.
In his current position with Ball Seed, Josh travels across North America to support growers, suppliers, and sales teams. He also spends time staying connected to the industry outside of work, remaining actively involved with the same organization that supported his journey. Josh contributes time to AFE through mentorship as part of the Young Professionals Council.
He has also volunteered as a scholarship reviewer and presented a Grow Pro webinar for the Endowment. Most recently, he joined AFE’s Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation committee.
“AFE made my education possible. I think it’s the least I can do to try and give back wherever I can,” he said.
