Jun 20, 2013

AAS Adds New Trial Grounds, Judges and DirectorSource: All-America Selections

All-America Selections (AAS) has added several new trial locations this year. The combined judges committee created a list of states and regions to target, and from this list, four have been selected as new trials locations.

• New Mexico State University – Fabian Science Center in Las Cruces, N.M., with Danielle Blackburn as the judge for Flower and Bedding Plant Trials

• Louisiana State University – Burden Botanic Gardens in Baton Rouge, La., with Katie Guitreau as the judge for Bedding Plant and Cool Season Bedding Plant Trials

• Green Bay Botanical Garden in Green Bay, Wis., with Mark Konlock as the judge for Flower, Bedding Plant and Cool Season Bedding Plant Trials.

• Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, with Dawn Stover as the judge for Vegetable Trials

Some current judges will also take on Bedding Plant Trials to expand to that trial to additional states.

• Eugene Blythe at Mississippi State University-South Mississippi

• Sherrie Benson Lang at University of Alberta – Devonian Botanic Garden

• David Graper at South Dakota State University’s McCrory Gardens

• Brian Kanotz at Callaway Gardens

• Jessie Liebenguth at Iowa State University – Reiman Gardens

• Steven Poppe at University of Minnesota West Central Research Station

• Alan Stevens at Kansas State University

AAS also welcomes new judges taking over trials at their respective locations:

• Angelica Cretu from Costa Farms, Bedding Plant and Cool Season Trials

• Kristi Challender from C. Raker & Sons, Cool Season Trials

• Jayson Force from Ball Horticultural, Flower Trials

• Katie McCarver from Michigan State University, Vegetable and Flower Trials

• Sam Schmitz from Ball Horticultural, Vegetable Trials

With all the new additions for AAS Trials, AAS also has appointed Jenny Wegley to its board of directors as a new AAS director. Wegley is a judge from Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, making her the first director from a non-profit/public garden on the organization’s board.

For more information on AAS, go to www.all-americaselections.org.