OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

During our department award ceremony last Saturday, four special awards were presented. The 2024 Distinguished Landscape Architecture Service Award was awarded to Leah Campbell and Jonathan Campbell. The 2024 Distinguished Horticulture Alumnus Award was given to Stephen Stanphill, and the 2024 Outstanding Departmental Staff Award was presented to Brenda Sanders. Join us in congratulating these deserving recipients!

Our Welcome Back Lunch yesterday was a great opportunity for students and faculty to connect outside the classroom. We're thrilled to have students back on campus and excited for what the semester has in store!

On August 17th, Bentley Park in Norman, Oklahoma, was dedicated in honor of Lionel K. Bentley. Mr. Bentley began his career with the City of Norman's Parks and Recreation Department and later went on to run his own successful sod farm. He was a valued friend of our department, and his family recently donated funds for the future Lionel K. Bentley Turfgrass Research Center building.

Last week, Katie Stenmark, a PhD student in our department, presented 'Brewing Local: The Story of Hop Cultivar Selection and Crafting the Unique Flavor of Oklahoma' at Research on Tap. Katie was the first graduate student invited to present at this initiative, which provides an opportunity for researchers to engage with the community. Way to go, Katie!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 49th Annual Awards Ceremony this morning. Thank you to all of our donors who make this event possible!

More pictures to come this week.

That’s a wrap on the first week of school! We’re so glad to have you back on campus, students! It’s been a busy week, with over 3,000 plants handed out during the plant drop, showing new students around Agricultural Hall, and preparations for tomorrow morning’s scholarship banquet.

Exciting news from the Student Farm! Sam, one of our master's students, is the first Graduate Research Assistant for the Student Farm and is being advised by Dr. Shivani Kathi.

We're excited to announce our first Student Farm Graduate Research Assistant! 🎉 Sam has been a valued member of our farm team for over a year and has now transitioned into a Master’s student and GRA. She is a joy to work with, and her curiosity is contagious!

Join us for the Turf & Landscape Field Day at the Turfgrass Research Station in Stillwater on September 18th. Don't miss out—register now: https://bit.ly/3Wrj4cD

Welcome back, students! Swing by the office in Academic and Administrative Suite 320 in Agricultural Hall to grab your "Welcome Bag" of goodies.

🎉 Congratulations to McKenzie McCaleb! 🎉

This summer, McKenzie achieved a major milestone by earning her Master of Science in International Agriculture under her advisor, Dr. Moss. Her thesis, titled "An Exploratory Study of Tribal Extension Services and Needs in the Pawnee Nation Community of Oklahoma," highlights her dedication to serving Sovereign Tribal Nations.

Next, McKenzie is taking her talents to Montana! She will be joining Montana State University as an Agriculture and 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent. She hopes to empower communities to achieve food sovereignty and independence while promoting climate-smart agriculture.

Join us in celebrating McKenzie's incredible accomplishments and wishing her all the best!

Research on Tap is back! 🍻

Join Katie Stenmark, crop science Ph.D. student, at IRON MONK on Monday, August 19 as she discusses growing hops in Oklahoma for local craft breweries.

This edition will explore the science and rich historical background of selectively breeding a variety (cultivar) of hop for Oklahoma craft brewers. Stenmark's research involves an intricate interplay of genetics and diverse environments in shaping hop varieties that have evolved in geographical isolation over centuries.

Whether you are a beer connoisseur, a local brewer, or an enthusiast of agricultural science, this conversation promises to provide insights into the creation of regional hop flavors.

Learn more about this event and make plans to attend future installments of Oklahoma State University's Research on Tap series ➡️ okla.st/3EwCrtN

🎉 Congratulations to Jess Richmond! 🎉

This summer, Jess achieved a major milestone by completing her Master of Science in Horticulture under her advisor, Dr. Maness. Her thesis, titled "Effects of Planting Date and Variety on Yield and Quality of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Oklahoma," shows her dedication to understanding how to better grow food in Oklahoma.

During the last two semesters, Jess has been working at Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center in Stillwater as their Community Garden Manager while finishing her degree. She will continue working at Our Daily Bread and will begin a Horticulture Therapy certification program through the University of Tennessee online this month. Jess aspires to become a registered horticultural therapist through the American Horticulture Therapy Association.

Join us in celebrating Jess's incredible accomplishments!

Exciting Update! The Horticulture faculty has relocated to the third floor of the new Agriculture Hall. Meanwhile, the Landscape Architecture faculty will continue to be based on the third floor of Legacy Hall (the original Ag Hall). Come visit us in our new and updated spaces!

OSU ranks No. 1 nationally for UN Sustainable Development Goal to address hunger, food insecurity - Oklahoma State University For the second straight year, Oklahoma State University has been awarded the top rank in the U.S. for its work to combat hunger and food insecurity.

Dr. Mason and graduate student Victor Ware were interviewed about their garlic research at the Cimmaron Valley Research Station, which began last October. Read more about their project in the article below.

Oklahoma garlic research proves fruitful and flavorful - Oklahoma State University Researcher at Oklahoma State University grows 10 varieties of garlic.

Dr. Justin Quetone Moss was recently quoted in a Barron's article about the rising supply chain costs driving up the price of cut flowers. Click the image to read the full article.

Inflation Is Still Out of Control in Some Places. Just Look at This Industry. Prices for indoor plants and cut flowers surged 9.4% last month from a year earlier.

This summer, nine students participated in the Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU) program. To conclude their time, they created posters showcasing their research. Today, they presented these posters at the 2024 OSU Undergraduate Summer Research Expo.

Thank you to all who participated in the Growing Hops & Grapes in Oklahoma Field Day last Friday!

Congratulations to Cody Klein, an alumnus of the Landscape Architecture program, on being elected to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Council of Fellows. Being elected to the Council of Fellows is among the highest honors ASLA bestows on its members. This recognition honors individuals for their exceptional work, leadership, and service.

Congratulations to Anthony Scarpitti, an undergraduate student in our department, on being selected as one of the recipients of the 2024 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program, sponsored by Rain Bird. This scholarship is awarded to college students studying and pursuing careers in the irrigation field. Anthony said, "My future in irrigation is a promising one. As the owner of a small landscaping firm who decided to continue his education, I have been putting the skills I acquired in my irrigation class this past spring semester to work!"

Dr. Justin Quetone Moss was a panelist at AmericanHort's Cultivate Conference earlier this week. Alongside six other Horticulture Department Heads, he discussed how university horticulture departments and industry members can collaborate to prepare students for impactful and meaningful careers in the industry we all love.

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Lu Zhang on being selected to participate in the ASHS Leadership Class IV!

Congratulations to the ASHS Leadership Class IV!

Gerald Burner, Kathryn Fontenot, Matthew Mattia, Sh*tal Poudyal, Ping Yu, and Lu Zhang

Learn more about the ASHS Leadership Program at https://ashs.org/page/leadershipprogram

There is still time to register for the Growing Hops and Grapes in Oklahoma Field Day taking place July 19th!

Join members of our department at the Cimarron Valley Research Station in Perkins on July 19th for a Field Day on growing hops and grapes in Oklahoma! Register at: https://bit.ly/3W0yHJf

Oklahoma Gardening visited the Cimarron Valley Research Station to talk with Dr. Tyler Mason about his garlic trial and other ongoing research projects. Click below to learn more about Dr. Mason's work!

Garlic Research Casey visits Vegetable Extension Specialist, Tyler Mason to see what he's been growing at the Cimarron Valley Research Station. #5101 Airdate: (07/06/2024)Que...