The Southern Nursery Association ( SNA ) has announced the recipients of the 2019 SNA Awards . The honor will be presented at the 120th Annual SNA Business Meeting , scheduled for Tuesday , January 8 , 2019 , at the Baltimore Convention Center , Baltimore , Md. , during The SNA Conference .
The SNA Awards Program began in 1956 , when the recent John B. Wight , Sr . , propose to the officer of the Southern Nursery Association that an award be offered annually to the mortal of their selection who , in their view , had contributed most to the progression of the industry in the South and to the welfare of the Southern Nursery Association . This first prize , consider a life-time achievement award , was diagnose the Slater Wight Memorial Award in remembering of the late J. Slater Wight , brother of the tardy John B. Wight , Sr . Nomination . Selection is made by the SNA Board of Directors . This yr ’s recipient of the Slater Wight Memorial Award is Dr. Ted Bilderback of Raleigh , NC .
Established in 1974 by David E. Laird , Jr. , in computer storage of his father , SNA Past President David E. Laird , Sr . , the David E. Laird , Sr . Memorial Award is presented each year to know qualified young men and cleaning woman for outstanding servicing in the area of environmental gardening and to offer aspiration for others starting out in the bailiwick . The receiver must be 39 age of age or younger and must be a extremity of his / her state nursery affiliation . Nominations are made by the State Associations within the SNA region with last natural selection by the SNA Board of Directors . This class ’s receiver of the David E. Laird , Sr . Memorial Award is Jonathan Saperstein , current chief operating officer of one of America ’s great nurseries , TreeTown USA .
Established by the SNA Board in 1992 , the SNA Pinnacle Award is given to the person within the allied industry who , in the opinion of the SNA Board , has contributed most to the advancement of the industry in the south and to the welfare of the Southern Nursery Association . This award is limited to SNA members . Nomination and selection of recipients is made by the SNA Board of Directors . This year ’s recipients of the SNA Pinnacle Award is Scott Martiniere , Southeastern Sales Director for Harrell ’s .
In 1969 , an Award of Merit was created to honour those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to cosmetic horticultural research and , more specifically , to SNA . In 1972 , the SNA Board of Directors resolved that the Award of Merit would be renamed the Porter Henegar Memorial Award for Horticultural Research in store of the late Porter Henegar , Past Executive Secretary of SNA ( 1959 - 1972 ) , to commemorate his years of industrious effort and serve to the SNA . The recipient is pick out annually by fellow enquiry workers for his / her worry and workplace toward meliorate the nursery diligence . The recipient of the 2019 Porter Henegar Memorial Award is Dr. Allen Owings , Professor Emeritus , Horticulture , LSU AgCenter .
The SNA Board of Directors also honors individuals that have serve this association and the nursery manufacture in various capacity throughout the days and have made owing contributions during their active participation in the Southern Nursery Association with honorary membership award . This yr , one deserving industry fellow member has been take to have an SNA Honorary Member Award . He has , no doubt , made outstanding contributions to the tie and the industry during his participation in the Southern Nursery Association . This year ’s recipient role of the SNA Honorary Member Award is Donna Foster who served the South Carolina Green Industry Association ( formerly the South Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association ) as Executive Director for 22 years .
The Don Shadow Award of Excellence , named for the first recipient role , Don O. Shadow , Shadow Nursery , Winchester , TN , is give to an single , tummy or governance that has provided exemplary service , leaders and generousness in the ontogenesis , forwarding and use of new and improved landscape painting plants . recipient role must shew a sincere committal to and passion for flourish knowledge and use of new and improved plants for the landscape . Nominations are admit from attender of the Southern Plant Conference and SNA Members . nominee may be carry forrad from one yr to the next . Selection is made by the SNA Board of Directors . The 2019 recipient of the Don Shadow Award of Excellence is Tony Avent , Horticulturist and Proprietor , Hybridizer of Hostas , Rare Bulbs , and Hardy Ariods . Freelance Garden Writer , International Garden Lecturer , and Plant Auctioneer .
Read more about the award winners here .
