ProHort: Programming for Green Industry Professionals
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Nicole Stoner
Extension Educator
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
Beatrice
Abstract
The ProHort: Lawn and Landscape Update is presented annually to Green Industry Professionals in the State of Nebraska. It was developed as a way to educate green industry professionals on updated best practices at a lower cost point than some of the larger conferences available to them. Many of the people we see at our programs are groundskeepers and parks crews who don’t have the time or resources to attend the larger, longer conferences. This one-day program is designed to update the participants on the important and emerging issues we see most in our line of work.
In 2022, 195 Green Industry Professionals attended one of the programs that were replicated at 5 different locations across the state of Nebraska. From the Evaluation (N=122), 62% are returning participants from past ProHort programs. These participants have learned a lot of useful information over the years, including positively identifying plant problems before treating with pesticides, such as identifying tree diseases or weed pests (93%). This program has proven to be effective at educating a group of Green industry professionals who may otherwise be missed by larger, more intimidating and costly conferences and is a good way to connect with those members of our community and build relationships with them so that they see Extension as a trusted source of knowledge and information.
Authors: Nicole Stoner, John Fech
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Nicole Stoner Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, 68310-3514
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John Fech Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, 68124-3175