AAS Honors Two Industry Professionals

Chris Beytes & Jennifer Zurko

All-America Selections (AAS) recently honored two horticulture luminaries at their annual Awards Banquet, held this year at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin. The banquet culminated a three-day event where industry representatives, judges, breeders, growers, retailers and resellers gathered to visit AAS Trial Grounds and Display Gardens in and around Madison, Wisconsin.

The prestigious AAS Medallion of Honor is presented to an individual who’s given a lifelong dedication to the advancement of horticulture. The 2016 Medallion of Honor recipient is Jim Nau of Ball Horticultural Company, West Chicago, Illinois. Jim started his career in June 1982 right out of college where he earned his degree from Iowa State University. The Gardens at Ball have evolved and thrived under Jim’s 34 years of managing the showplace gardens. Jim’s work in The Gardens at Ball has earned him a stellar reputation as a knowledgeable plantsman, an author of multiple books and countless articles, and a friend to many.                      

Breeder Janika Eckert of Johnny’s Selected Seeds received the 2016 All-America Selections Breeder’s Cup award at the recently held All-America Selections Summit held in Madison, Wisconsin. Janika has created four AAS-winning varieties: Diva spineless sweet cucumber in 2002; Carmen, an early sweet red Italian pepper in 2006; Escamillo, an early sweet golden Italian pepper in 2016; and Cornito Giallo, a half-size sweet golden Italian pepper in 2016. Of the company’s 50 exclusive varieties, seven have earned AAS awards.

But Janika isn’t the first from the Maine seed and tool company. Founder and Chairman Rob Johnston was given the 2013 Breeder’s Cup for his contributions to the world of horticulture. GT