Blooms and Beyond

Sometimes the most interesting plant science doesn’t come from a plant person at all. In this special two-part episode, Ping sits down with two collaborators who’ve spent fifteen years figuring out how drones can work in nursery and greenhouse production — Dr. Jim Robbins, a retired University of Arkansas extension specialist who’s loved plants since he was fifteen, and Dr. Joe Maja, an engineer who freely admits he wasn’t a plant person before the two of them met. Their accidental partnership, sparked by a 2009 question about counting plants in a field nursery, is the thread that runs through the whole conversation.

Part 1 is the grower’s field guide. What actually counts as a “drone,” and why does 55 pounds matter so much? Which license do you need — Part 107, Part 137, or both — and who regulates what? What are the five things a nursery can realistically do with a drone right now, from five-hundred-dollar marketing cameras to RFID inventory readers Joe is shrinking small enough to fly? And the question Ping keeps circling back to: does any of this actually pencil out, or should you just hire someone to fly for you?

Whether you’re a commercial grower weighing your first purchase, a student curious about precision ag, or a plant lover who likes a good origin story, this one rewards a full listen. Part 2 takes the conversation deeper into the RFID inventory work itself.

Listen Time: 66:20

Follow Along with the Transcript

“The choice shouldn’t be driven by the platform itself. It should be driven by the application. Whether it’s imaging, monitoring, or spraying, the key question is: what problems are you trying to solve?” — Dr. Joe Maja

“Think of your driver’s license — just a regular driver’s license. But if you wanted to be a certified CDL, it’s a much more expensive and involved process. And the same is true once we jump above 55 pounds.” — Dr. Jim Robbins

“The outdoor environment is very rough on engineered solutions.” — Dr. Jim Robbins

“I wasn’t a plant person before working with James, and my training was purely in engineering, so I approached everything from a systems and problem-solving perspective.” — Dr. Joe Maja

“I think the future solution is less about different hardware and more about smarter software.” — Dr. Joe Maja

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: June 21, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

How three women build the education that powers the green industry’s biggest event

Every July, thousands of growers, retailers, and plant lovers flood Columbus, Ohio for Cultivate — and behind roughly 160 education sessions packed into four days is a team of three. In this episode, Ping sits down with the AmericanHort education team: Meagan Nace, Rachel Rawls, and Alejandra Feliciano, Ph.D. They pull back the curtain on what it takes to plan the industry’s largest event, from the 400 to 500 session proposals they sift through each year to the speakers they lock in more than twelve months ahead.

But Cultivate is only the headline. The conversation moves into the education that runs all year long — Mastery Series deep dives, grower certifications, a brand-new badging program, the Grow Forward series for personal and professional growth, and live Spanish interpretation that opens every webinar to a broader audience. Alejandra explains why mirroring English programming in Spanish matters, and why having Hispanic researchers serve a Hispanic audience changes who gets reached.

For researchers and extension professionals wondering how to get involved, the team has a one-word answer: reach out. They share exactly what makes a session proposal stand out, why the practical “golden nugget” beats theory every time, and what keeps them coming back to the work. And yes — before the conversation ends, everyone names their favorite plant of the day.

Listen Time: 55:40

“I’m not sure that planning for Cultivate ever stops. We’re already looking at 2027.” — Meagan Nace (08:48)

“If it’s trending but it doesn’t change any decision-making or outcomes, it’s probably not gonna make the cut for education.” — Rachel Rawls (20:56)

“We have a complete ecosystem of educational products that meets our industry and individuals where they’re at in their career and in their stage of life.” — Meagan Nace (29:44)

“The number one word that resonates in my mind is we’re a partner to Extension and researchers, because we fulfill that outreach goal.” — Alejandra Feliciano (40:58)

“They really are the secret sauce behind education at Cultivate, and everything at Cultivate.” — Meagan Nace, on the volunteer community connectors (35:42)

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: June 14, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

Ping calls it “garden therapy.” Dr. Sheri Dorn gently corrects her — and that correction opens up a whole world.

Ping sits down with her colleague and friend Dr. Sheri Dorn, who took on a new role at the University of Georgia in August as assistant professor of socio-horticulture and horticultural therapy. Within the first two minutes, Sheri lovingly catches Ping using the loose term “garden therapy” — and that small correction becomes the thread that runs through the whole conversation. There’s a real difference between horticultural therapy (a clinical setting with a therapist, a client, and a goal), therapeutic horticulture (the benefits of a group gardening session), and socio-horticulture (the big bucket that holds every economic, environmental, social, and health benefit plants give us). Sorting those terms out turns out to be the difference between a feel-good hobby and a documented science.

From there the conversation ranges across Sheri’s path into the field — a childhood spent in an enormous inherited family vegetable garden, her mentorship under People-Plant Council pioneer Dr. Diane Relf at Virginia Tech, and the “plant magic” she first watched happen in community gardens. She walks through the research that explains why gardening lowers cortisol and blood pressure, why how often you garden matters as much as that you do it at all, and the landmark 1980s hospital-window study that showed surgery patients recovered faster when they could see a garden instead of a brick wall.

If you’re a grower, there’s a marketing message here you can take to the bank. If you’re a plant enthusiast, there’s a clear, encouraging on-ramp: try a basil cutting, sow some lettuce, call your county Extension office, and build from there. And if you’ve ever joked that gardening is cheaper than a therapist, Sheri has thoughts about that very expensive tomato.

Listen Time: 48:38

Follow Along with this Episode’s Transcript

Dr. Sheri Dorn — Assistant Professor of Socio-Horticulture and Horticultural Therapy, UGA Department of Horticulture & State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Formerly the State of Georgia Master Gardener coordinator. Bachelor’s and master’s in horticulture from Virginia Tech (working under Dr. Diane Relf and the People-Plant Council), PhD from the University of Georgia. She is building UGA’s new horticultural therapy certificate program.

“I like to say that my parents nearly killed my career in horticulture before it got started, because it was — honest to goodness, Ping — it was the family vegetable garden, and we had a huge one.” — Dr. Sheri Dorn (04:21)

“Those people, nine times out of ten, would not speak to each other if they ran into each other in the grocery store… But they have bonded over growing the plants.” — Dr. Sheri Dorn, on community gardens (08:55)

“I think the biggest misconception is that all gardening is therapy.” — Dr. Sheri Dorn (15:17)

“It was very clear that the patients that viewed the garden had a shorter hospital stay, took fewer pain medications, and they were less obnoxious, essentially… They were better patients, Ping.” — Dr. Sheri Dorn, on the Ulrich study (21:11)

“Don’t forget the people side of plants. We won’t have an industry if there aren’t people buying our plants.” — Dr. Sheri Dorn (30:19)

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: June 7, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

Season 2 opens with Lanie Riner — greenhouse grower, farm kid turned Executive Director of the Georgia Green Industry Association, and the person who wrote the letter that helped strengthen Georgia’s Freedom to Farm protections. Lanie runs GGIA while running Thunderwood Farms in Meriwether County, and she brings both perspectives to a conversation about what it takes to advocate for an industry that, as she puts it, “puts nature back in place.”

Ping and Lanie go back to a Ginkgo biloba tree and a job interview. From there, the conversation covers GGIA’s 35-year history, the COVID-era fight to keep horticulture classified as essential, the OSHA heat rule that could reshape outdoor work, and a Capitol Day tradition where plants are the only agricultural commodity that isn’t eaten by sundown. Lanie’s advice for anyone headed to meet a legislator: bring a true story — preferably your own.

The episode also digs into the challenges growers face right now: succession planning for family operations, the two-spot cotton leafhopper and its quarantine implications, H-2A and H-2B labor programs, and the ever-shifting Waters of the U.S. definition. Lanie’s three-to-five-year vision for GGIA centers on a united industry voice and growing the next generation through programs like the Junior Certified Plant Professional.

Listen Time: 50:15

Follow Along with this Episode’s Transcript

Lanie Riner — Executive Director, Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA); Owner, Thunderwood Farms. UGA horticulture graduate who started as a pharmacy student, found her way to Miller Plant Sciences, and built a career spanning greenhouse production and statewide industry advocacy. She personally testified before OSHA on the proposed heat rule and led the effort to secure essential-industry status for Georgia’s green industry during the 2020 shutdown.

“In our society, throughout every society, we learn through storytelling. … When you go to talk to a legislator or a regulator, whatever the point is that you are trying to make, it needs to be a true story. That’s the first thing. And it needs to — it’s even better if it’s your story.”

“We put nature back in place. But it’s exactly what we do. Our industry is where people and nature intersect.”

“Yours is the only industry that it is not eaten up at the end of the day.”

“We could not advocate for our industry at all without our university partners and extension. Extension provides that unbiased scientific support. It’s not an opinion.”

“We are stronger when we work together.”

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: Sunday, May 31st, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

When an invasive thrips species arrived in Florida and shut down nurseries overnight, Dr. Alexandra Revynthi and her team raced to find answers within a 48-hour window. This is the story of that research — and the integrated solutions that followed.

What happens when a single insect — just one — can place an entire nursery under quarantine? That’s the reality Florida ornamental growers faced when Thrips parvispinus arrived. In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Alexandra Revynthi, assistant professor of ornamental entomology and acarology at the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center, to explore the science behind managing one of the most challenging invasive pests to hit the ornamental industry in recent years.

Alexandra shares her remarkable journey from collecting flowers at her grandmother’s house in Greece at age 11 to becoming a leading researcher in ornamental pest management — with a surprising detour through mites and roses in Amsterdam along the way. Together, Ping and Alexandra dive deep into the practical research that’s giving growers real tools: from the lab screening that identified which products actually work against this pest, to an innovative dip treatment approach that lets propagators start clean.

Whether you’re a grower battling thrips in your operation, a student fascinated by entomology, or a plant enthusiast who wants to know why that gardenia looks a little rough — this episode is packed with plant power and practical wisdom.

Listen Time: 48:19

View this Episode’s Transcript

Consulte las Notas del Programa

Dr. Alexandra Revynthi — Assistant Professor, Ornamental Entomology and Acarology, University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center. Originally from Greece, Dr. Revynthi specializes in developing integrated pest management programs for pests of ornamental plants. Her research on Thrips parvispinus has provided critical tools for Florida’s ornamental industry during a quarantine crisis. Favorite plant: Phalaenopsis orchids.

“My parents always thought, she’s 11, she’s going to change her mind. It’s too early, but I didn’t. And I’m happy that I didn’t.”

“When the thrips arrived, we were like, ‘Okay, here we go again.’”

“At that time, a single individual was enough to place a nursery under quarantine. Only one insect.”

“For the growers, definitely, it’s one of the worst nightmares that you can get from a pest because you cannot even see them. You only see the damage when the plants cannot be saved anymore.”

“We always encourage them to do the beating method.”

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: April 12, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

What happens when two self-described suburban kids with a hunger for nature end up as county extension agents in Georgia’s most populous counties? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Gabrielle LaTora (UGA Extension, Fulton County) and Eric Marlowe (UGA Extension, Gwinnett County) for a wide-ranging conversation about the land-grant university system, the role of extension agents as “science translators,” and the surprising diversity of agriculture happening in metro Atlanta.

From the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 to the modern challenges of soil contamination and stormwater management in urban food production, Gabrielle and Eric share their winding paths to extension, what a typical work week looks like, and why — in an age of AI and information overload — having a real person to talk to matters more than ever. Along the way, you’ll hear about mealworm protein powder in shipping containers, equine production rankings that shocked even the local agent, and why every extension agent eventually has to learn about lawns.

Listen Time: 60:44

“We’ve got to have all these smart, creative people doing research and generating knowledge, but then it really doesn’t mean anything if there isn’t somebody to communicate that to the public.”

“I’m like the Mouth of Sauron. I just, you know, with the university.”

“Those people are the science translators for the university.”

“How do we reconnect these human beings to this most human of all practices, which is cultivate the land in some way, shape or form.”

“All the stuff that AI that we’re apparently in competition with as ag agents, most of the stuff they’re pulling on is stuff that Extension already published. Cut away the nonsense and get to the source.”

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: March 29th, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

“Botrytis Blight: Gray Mold, Calcium Shields, and Building a Better Box”

What if the key to fighting one of floriculture’s most persistent enemies isn’t a fungicide — but a nutrient you can buy for $2 an acre? In this episode, host Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Jim Faust of Clemson University to tackle botrytis blight, the gray mold that haunts greenhouses and shipping boxes alike. Jim brings eight years of hands-on botrytis research and a passion for poinsettias that’s turning into a book.

From the disease triangle to the surprising power of calcium chloride sprays, Jim walks growers through practical, cost-effective strategies for managing this ubiquitous pathogen. Along the way, you’ll discover why botrytis mutates so aggressively, how a half-sprayed petunia flower proved calcium’s protective power, and why zinnia petals might be secretly doing photosynthesis. Whether you’re a commercial grower battling spring meltdowns or a plant enthusiast curious about the science behind disease management, this episode delivers both practical wisdom and fascinating plant biology.

Listen Time: 48:51

Consulte las Notas del Programa

Read the Transcript for this Episode

Meet Jim Faust (00:55)

Plant Spotlight: Poinsettias (03:16)

What Is Botrytis Blight? (08:19)

How Botrytis Spreads and What to Look For (13:32)

Biorationals vs. Traditional Chemicals (22:42)

Calcium: The Nutrient Defense (29:52)

Current Research Projects (41:20)

“There’s no such thing as a bad plant, but I have a soft spot for poinsettias.” — Dr. Jim Faust

“With every application of a fungicide, you are selecting for resistance.” — Dr. Jim Faust

“There’s nothing easier than spraying a chemical. It gets awfully complicated when we go to bio-based products.” — Dr. Jim Faust

“The best strategy is to prevent them from happening so that you don’t have to deal with the big issue or the big trouble.” — Dr. Ping Yu

The Disease Triangle

Botrytis cinerea — Gray Mold

Biorationals — Five Categories

Calcium and Cell Wall Defense

Zinnia Post-Harvest Discovery

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AFE Resources:

Get Involved:

Funding:

Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: March 15, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

“Hopping Into Action: Clemson Scientists Tackle the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper”

What happens when a tiny, five-millimeter insect from the Old World shows up uninvited across the American Southeast — and starts hammering everything from cotton fields to backyard hibiscus? In this urgent and information-packed episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with two Clemson University entomologists — Dr. Zee Ahmed and Dr. Tom Bilbo — to break down one of the most pressing pest threats facing the green industry, vegetable growers, and cotton producers right now: the two-spotted cotton leafhopper.

From Zee’s globe-spanning journey through Pakistan, China, South Africa, and beyond to Tom’s transformation from a spider-fearing kid to an insect-loving scientist, you’ll hear the personal stories behind the expertise. Then, the conversation dives deep into what growers need to know: how to spot this pest, why hibiscus may be driving its spread, and what early research is revealing about control strategies. The message? The sky is not falling — but scouting, scouting, and scouting is essential.

Whether you’re a commercial nursery grower worried about quarantine, an okra farmer watching your plants wilt, or just someone curious about how scientists respond to an emerging invasive pest in real time, this episode delivers the practical wisdom and collaborative spirit that makes plant science so powerful.

Listen Time: ~55 minutes

Read the Transcript for this Episode

“So yes, I was a nerdy nature guy.” — Dr. Zee Ahmed, on collecting dragonflies as a child in Pakistan

“I was afraid of spiders and I had my parents do a spider check in my room, you know, every night. But now I love spiders.” — Dr. Tom Bilbo

“Sky is not falling. We can control this pest based on our trial.” — Dr. Zee Ahmed

“Scouting, scouting, and scouting.” — Dr. Zee Ahmed, on the most important thing growers can do right now

“A lot of people didn’t realize what the problem was until one of our agents would get out there and be like, you have the new invasive. It’s here.” — Dr. Tom Bilbo

What Is the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper?

What Is “Hopper Burn”?

Why Can’t You See the Eggs?

IRAC Groups and Mode of Action

What Are Sticky Cards?

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Mentioned in This Episode:

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Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: March 1st, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱

“Mite Watch: Spider Mite Management Secrets from 45 Years in the Greenhouse with Dr. Lance Osborne”

What do you get when you combine 45 years of greenhouse research, a PhD on whiteflies, and an unstoppable curiosity about every tiny creature crawling through Florida’s ornamental industry? You get Dr. Lance Osborne—one of the true icons of greenhouse pest management.

In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with her former colleague at the University of Florida’s Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) to dig deep into the world of spider mites. From their rapid life cycles and sneaky dispersal tactics to the “six-bullet” chemical rotation strategy and the power of predatory mites like californicus and persimilis, Lance brings decades of field-tested wisdom that every grower can put to work. Along the way, you’ll hear why sticky cards are useless for mites (use beans instead!), how banker plants revolutionize biocontrol, and why the best career advice from a 45-year veteran starts with “be a pain in the ass” and ends with building trust.

Plus: Lance reveals his newest excitement—discovering unknown natural enemies of mealybugs by hiding plants in the bushes and seeing what shows up. That’s real plant power in action!

Listen Time: ~50:46

Consulte las Notas del Programa

“Spider mites were the most sprayed pests in ornamentals nationwide… So that was a logical place to start in trying to develop an IPM program.” — Dr. Lance Osborne

“It’s like a gun. You’ve only got six bullets.” — Dr. Lance Osborne, on chemical rotation strategy

“Let them be your scouts. Let them run around and look for spider mites.” — Dr. Lance Osborne, on releasing predatory mites preventively

“You don’t BS people in this industry because if they’re still in business, they’re probably smarter than I am.” — Dr. Lance Osborne

“Something’s eating them all.” — Dr. Lance Osborne, on the mystery of why mealybugs disappear outdoors

Spider Mite Life Cycle

Why Scouting Beats Sticky Cards for Mites

The Chemical Rotation Dilemma

Biocontrol Pairing Strategy

Banker Plants

Translaminar vs. Systemic Activity

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Funding & Acknowledgment:

Blooms and Beyond is a podcast that covers plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower looking for management solutions, a student exploring horticulture careers, or someone who just loves plants and their stories, you’ll find something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu from the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who bring enchanting stories, pioneering research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your Takeaway: When you walk away from each episode, commercial professionals should have at least one piece of advice to help with production, and plant enthusiasts should have one cool fact to share about plants. Because that’s how we spread plant power to a larger audience and make the environment a little bit better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

AFE-Sponsored Episode: This is one of five AFE-sponsored episodes in Season 1, with topics shaped by AFE’s research priorities. Spanish translation of show notes available.

Episode Release Date: February 15th, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱🌻🌿

“Beyond the Blue Jacket: FFA, Service & Growing the Whole Student with Renee’ Martin”

What do chainsaw safety, cricket flour brownies, and a grandmother’s unwavering belief in her grandson’s potential all have in common? They’re all part of the extraordinary world of FFA — and in this episode, Renee’ Martin brings that world to life with warmth, wisdom, and a heart as big as the program itself.

Join host Dr. Ping Yu and guest Renee’ Martin — former agriculture teacher, current PhD candidate, and lifelong FFA advocate — as they explore how agricultural education shapes not just careers, but whole human beings. From Renee’s roots in rural Southeast Georgia to her groundbreaking work in agricultural wellness and student mental health, this conversation reveals why FFA is so much more than blue jackets and livestock shows. It’s about service, community, critical thinking, and the kind of mentorship that can change the course of a life.

Whether you’re a grower curious about the next generation entering your industry, a teacher looking for encouragement, a student wondering what path to take, or a plant lover who wants to understand how the people behind horticulture are shaped — this episode has something powerful waiting for you.

Listen Time: ~51 minutes

Renee’ grew up in Waycross, a small town in Southeast Georgia, where her grandfather’s garden first planted the seeds of agricultural curiosity. She attended the Ware County School of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences — a K-12 magnet school where students progressed from elementary introductions through advanced greenhouse management, animal showing, forestry, and even prescribed burning by high school. That pipeline of deepening experiences, combined with FFA, set the course for her career.

FFA — originally Future Farmers of America, now the National FFA Organization (renamed in the 1980s to reflect a broadened mission) — is built on a three-circle model: classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and FFA activities. Renee’ explains a critical distinction: FFA is intracurricular, not extracurricular — it’s woven directly into the curriculum standards, not tacked on. The program is available in middle school and high school, and Georgia is pioneering programs at the elementary level. The goal isn’t to make every student a farmer; it’s to develop agricultural advocates and leaders who understand where their food, fiber, and natural resources come from.

Renee’ shares the FFA mission — to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education — and the motto that students truly live out: “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve.” She describes how the motto maps onto the student experience: learn the basics, put them into action, build career skills, and ultimately give back to your community.

FFA teaches both technical skills (greenhouse management, animal science, small engine maintenance, chainsaw operation, generator safety) and the soft skills that employers consistently rank highest: communication, collaboration, time management, leadership, and simply showing up on time. But the conversation really lights up around service. From Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — when FFA chapters across the country raised money and shipped supplies — to Hurricane Helene in 2024, when students taught community members how to safely operate chainsaws and generators, FFA cultivates a deep heart of giving back. Ping shares her own experience calling South Georgia growers during Helene and witnessing the agricultural community rally around each other.

Supervised Agricultural Experiences are the bridge between classroom learning and the real working world. Renee’ shares the story of visiting a student’s SAE project on Sapelo Island — accessible only by ferry — at age 22, and describes a student who began an SAE at a veterinary clinic cleaning cages, progressed to assisting with procedures, and eventually became a paid intern over three years. SAEs represent a community investment in the future workforce, connecting students with mentors and industry partners in authentic settings.

In one of the episode’s most moving moments, Renee’ shares the story of “Baby Michael” — a student she taught at Ware County who was being raised by his grandmother. His grandmother believed deeply in FFA, always having his official dress ready on a moment’s notice. When she passed away during his early college years, Michael folded into Renee’ and her husband’s family — becoming, in every sense, their son. Today, Baby Michael is an agriculture teacher himself and a program specialist at FFA Camp Covington. Renee’ also shares how multiple middle school students who competed in agriscience fairs through her program have become Foundation Scholars at UGA, conducting their own research.

After a decade of classroom teaching, Renee’ transitioned to Okefenokee RESA as a school climate specialist, working across nine districts in Southeast Georgia on wraparound services — ensuring students have food, water, shelter, and clothing. This work exposed gaps in how pre-service teachers are prepared to handle student mental health, behavior management, and relationship building. Her PhD research now focuses on how agriculture teachers — who often see the same students from 6th through 12th grade — are uniquely positioned to recognize student needs, create safe classroom spaces, and support the whole child in ways other subject teachers often can’t.

Renee’ offers grounded, generous wisdom for teachers just starting out: avoid comparing your first year to an established program that took decades to build. Pick your core focus areas in year one and add gradually. Give yourself grace. Give your students grace. And her signature advice? “Don’t die on the hill of the pencil” — if a kid needs a pencil, just give them the pencil. Don’t take student behavior personally; they may be carrying something from outside your classroom. Build relationships from day one rather than waiting. And rethink grading — meaningful projects over busy work, always.

Today’s students face pressures previous generations didn’t. Social media creates constant comparison culture and a stream of world stressors that Renee’ describes as “the news six inches from your face at all times on a personalized screen.” Teachers feel it too — the pressure to make elaborate social media content for plant sales, greenhouse tours, and program promotion. Renee’s message is clear: what you see on social media doesn’t have to be your reality, and it probably took 47 takes to get that cute dance video. Follow your own path.

Agricultural careers have expanded far beyond traditional farming. Renee’ points to paths in agricultural communications, LED lighting research, marine biology, and government leadership — including a friend who holds a high-level position with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture through an agricultural communications degree. The key she teaches students: “What skills do I have? What do I like? How do I merge them?” Jobs are constantly evolving (the shift from HPS to LED lighting alone revolutionized an entire sector), and the students who learn to adapt and think critically will thrive.

The agriscience fair teaches students to tackle actual problems — not hypothetical ones. Renee’ highlights a project where students made cricket flour brownies to address protein deficiency and climate change simultaneously, learning the what, why, and how of genuine problem-solving. With climate change visibly altering landscapes and the whole food system growing more complex (feed and grain to cattle to marketing to grocery to plate), critical thinking isn’t optional — it’s essential.

AI is here, and the agricultural education community is navigating it head-on. Renee’ describes teaching students (and colleagues) to build a knowledge base so they can recognize when AI generates impossible information — like a plant “five times the size of a building.” She notes the emergence of agriculture-specific AI tools like Breeze ETA alongside general platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Her advice: “Use AI for organization, not creation” — it will make up citations and invent facts. The goal is teaching students to verify, think critically, and use AI as a tool to master rather than a crutch to rely on.

Renee’ is graduating in May 2026 and has a full slate ahead: conference presentations in Costa Rica, Cuba, and Kentucky, plus growing work with the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance. She’s teaching Youth Mental Health First Aid and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, addressing high suicide rates in certain agricultural communities. Her work extends to post-Hurricane Helene support for growers who lost infrastructure (including chicken house collapses in Coffee County), AgrAbility programs for injured farmers, and creating accessible mental health materials in multiple languages for the diverse workforce on Georgia farms. Her vision: open-access support that reaches everyone, not just limited groups.

Renee’s parting words are beautifully simple: “Just do it.” Join FFA, try other Career Technical Student Organizations, get experiences outside the four walls of your school. She hopes listeners see how deeply agricultural education and FFA support the whole student — the exact thing every educator is being asked to do. It’s never too late to start: whether you’re in high school, college (Collegiate FFA), or just curious about horticulture (UGA Hort Club, anyone?). Build your collaborative nature and connect with the field.

“The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education.” — Renee’ Martin

“Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve.” — FFA Motto, shared by Renee’ Martin

“Don’t die on the hill of the pencil. Give them the pencil.” — Renee’ Martin

“The news is six inches from your face at all times on a personalized screen.” — Renee’ Martin

“Use AI for organization, not creation, because it will create random things.” — Renee’ Martin

“What ag teachers do every single day is exactly what we want all teachers to do.” — Renee’ Martin

What is FFA?

What are SAEs?

What are CTSOs?

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

What is Okefenokee RESA?

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Blooms and Beyond is a podcast that covers plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower looking for management solutions, a student exploring horticulture careers, or someone who just loves plants and their stories, you’ll find something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu from the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who bring enchanting stories, pioneering research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.

Your Takeaway: When you walk away from each episode, commercial professionals should have at least one piece of advice to help with production, and plant enthusiasts should have one cool fact to share about plants. Because that’s how we spread plant power to a larger audience and make the environment a little bit better.

Host: Dr. Ping Yu

Episode Release Date: February 1st, 2026

“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱🌻🌿