All-America Selections approves new trial grounds and new judges and appoints new director

To support its message of ‘Tested Nationally & Proven Locally’ the AAS Board of Directors is always on the lookout for new AAS Judges in areas where there are not already AAS Trials. The Combined Judges Committee created a strategic list of states and regions to target. From that list, they have added several new trial locations just this year: 

New Mexico State University-Fabian Science Center in Las Cruces, NM 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, WI with Mark Konlock as the judge for Flower, Bedding Plant and Cool Season Bedding Plant Trials

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

While analyzing the overall geographic coverage for the AAS Trials, the organization asked some current judges to take on Bedding Plant Trials to expand that trial to additional states. Those additions are:

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

And finally, AAS welcomes these 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 University of Michigan, Vegetable and Flower Trials
Sam Schmitz from Ball Horticultural, Vegetable Trials

All-America Selections is also pleased to announce a new addition to its Board of Directors. AAS judge from Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Jenny Wegley, is the newest AAS Director. This is the first time that AAS has had a Director from a non-profit/public garden on its board.

For more information, contact Diane Blazek, All-America Selections at dblazek@aas-ngb.org.