About AAS Winners - All-America Selections | AAS Judges Biographies

The All-America Selections Trialing Process

All-America Selections National and Regional Winners have been tested for garden performance by a panel of expert judges. Varieties that perform best over all of North America become AAS National Winners. Entries that performed particularly well in certain regions are named AAS Regional Winners. The AAS Winners offer gardeners reliable new varieties that have proven their superior garden performance in Trial Grounds across North America, thus, our tagline of “Tested Nationally and Proven Locally®”.

When you purchase an AAS Winner, you know that it has been put through its paces by an independent, neutral trialing organization and has been judged by experts in their field. The AAS Winner label is like a stamp of approval. And by requirement, all AAS Winners are bred or produced without using genetic engineering, commonly referred to as genetic modification or GMO.

For a downloadable Excel file of all AAS Winners from 1932 to present, please click here.

Who Determines an AAS Winner?

Independent AAS Judges determine the AAS Winners by judging and scoring the entries. Judges look for significantly improved qualities such as earliness to bloom or harvest, disease or pest tolerance, novel colors or flavors, novel flower forms, total yield, the length of flowering or harvest and overall performance. In the last ten years, an entry needs to have at least two significantly improved qualities to be considered by Judges for an AAS Award.

The Judges score each entry from 0 to 5 points, with 5 being the highest. Only entries that meet scoring criteria is considered for a possible Award. New, never-before-sold varieties with proven superior qualities are announced three times each year as AAS Winners.

Click on the video on the left where Paul James, AAS Judge, explains the judging process.

Trial Ground sign at Rotary Botanical Garden

AAS Trial Grounds

An AAS Trial Ground is one of the most important elements in the process of declaring AAS Winners. A Trial Ground is a location where a professional horticulturist works in their field and where the AAS entries are planted next to comparisons or scientifically speaking, controls. Once the AAS entries are transplanted into a Trial Ground, the AAS Judges observe and evaluate the garden performance. At the end of the trial season, the judges send their scores and evaluations to the AAS Office for tabulation.

Vinca Mega Bloom Pink Halo at Humber Arboretum Toronto - AAS Display Garden

Only the Best Become AAS Winners

Only the best garden performers (best scores) become AAS Winners. Once new varieties are announced as AAS Winners, they are available for immediate sale and distribution. Home gardeners will find seeds available from their favorite catalog or online seed source or as young plants at their favorite garden retailer.

See All Winners >

The AAS Judges

Judges are located in geographically diverse areas all over the U.S. and Canada. Since its inception, AAS has relied on the expertise of our volunteer judges to be the eyes and evaluators of our flower and vegetable entries. Without them, we could not confidently say that we have experts in the field who are trialing these new varieties to determine which entries are worthy of an AAS Award.

If press or media would like to contact or interview one of our AAS Judges, please contact the office for an introduction.

Click here to see a map of all trial sites throughout North America.

We are grateful to our judges and thank them for their time. We would like to acknowledge the following experts for their contributions:

Mark Amiya, Sakata Seed America

Mark has vast experience in the commercial sector of the agricultural industry as a former employee of Tanimura and Antle. He has shown dedicated service to Sakata Seed America as Farming Operations Coordinator. Mark has grown the AAS trials in Salinas since 2008. He joined the AAS as a Judge for the 2015 AAS Edible Trial.

Diane Anderson, University of Illinois

Diane Anderson is a Research and Education Specialist at the University of Illinois and since 2002 the Grounds Supervisor of the 60-acre UI Arboretum. The Arboretum houses the Hartley Selections Garden where ornamental varieties are evaluated and AAS winners displayed. AAS trials were added to Diane’s evaluation program in 2012. Diane studied agronomic weed science at Southern Illinois University and after 14 years in Agronomy at the University of Illinois obtained an M.S. in Horticulture. She oversees 2 fulltime gardeners and 5 student interns in maintenance, new project development, and plant collection expansion. A recently completed ponds renovation included replacing invasive species with natives.

Alex Augustyniak, West Coast Seeds

Alex grew up on a farm in Ontario with over 400 acres of vegetables, 15 acres of tomatoes, and a pollinator area of wildflowers; he’s been growing things ever since. Alex is currently the General Manager at West Coast Seeds where they are trialing flowers, herbs, vegetables, cover crops, sprouting seed and microgreens for their own business’ product offering. He enjoys helping customers learn how to grow annuals and perennials and is expanding their display and demonstration gardens to help customers visualize their options. He joins AAS as an Ornamental Seed Judge for the 2018 Trials.

Ashley Balderston, Vesey's Seeds Ltd.

Ashley began her career at Vesey’s Seeds in 2009 where she was an assistant worker for the flower trials, planting display and ground maintenance. In 2010 she began working in the seed germination lab, she enjoyed her work at Vesey’s so much she decided to earn her horticulture certificate from the University of Guelph. In 2016 she became the Flower Horticulturalist at Vesey’s Seeds, where she continues to work with flower trials and the germination lab. Ashley is an Ornamental Seed judge.

Steve Bellavia, Johnny's Selected Seeds

Steve Bellavia is a senior product technician at Johnny’s Selected seeds. He began his career with Johnny’s in 1993 as a call center representative and moved into the commercial sales department the following year. In 1997 Steve transitioned into the research department, where he has since conducted field work on nearly every vegetable crop offered by Johnny’s. He is particularly passionate about peppers and Asian vegetables. Because a full week of field work on the job doesn’t satisfy all of Steve’s growing and cooking passions, he also takes pride in maintaining a large home garden to grow food for eating year-round. Steve’s many years of mentorship from former Johnny’s AAS Judge Rob Johnston’s combined with his tenure in the vegetable trialing program makes him the natural choice to become the official vegetable Judge of the company.

Pam Bennett, Ohio State University Extension

Pam Bennett is an Associate Professor for Ohio State University Extension and is the State Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator as well as Horticulture Educator and Director in Clark County Ohio. She has a BS in Landscape Horticulture and an MS in Human and Community Resource Development from Ohio State University. Pam specializes in herbaceous ornamental plant trials and evaluates more than 200 varieties of annuals and perennials yearly. She presents programs on annuals and perennials as well as other landscape topics. In 2010, Pam won a national award from the National Association of Agriculture Agents. She has been a Bedding Plant, Flower, and Cool Season Judge for All-America Selections since 2012. Starting in 2015 Pam became an Ornamental Seed Trial judge and she is a Herbaceous Perennial Trial judge.

Sherrie Benson, Devonian Botanic Garden

Sherrie Benson is a member of the faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta where she manages the greenhouses and growth cabinets in coordination with teaching and research needs of ALES. She also prepares and maintains the plant material for undergraduate teaching labs. Sherrie ensures compliance with approved biosafety standards for work with plant pathogens, insects and transgenic plants. She attended the College of the Rockies in the Horticulture Technician Program. In 2012 Sherri was appointed as a Judge for All-America Selections. She is currently an Ornamental Seed Judge.

Solange Blais, Norseco

Solange received her diploma as a technologist in agro-environment and horticulture production in 2004. Solange has been working with Norseco for the past 7 years and recently took the position of seed buyer for the ornamental division. Solange is replacing long-time judge Lise Goudreau who is retiring after 30 years of managing this department . Solange assisted Lise with the 2017 trials and is looking forward to taking over AAS Ornamental Seed Trial in 2018.

Eugene K. Blythe, Mississippi State University - South Mississippi

Dr. Gene Blythe is on the faculty at Mississippi State University. He conducts research at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, with research focused on variety trials, commercial nursery propagation methods and production of aromatic plants for extraction of essential oils to be tested as potential plant protectants and insect repellents. Gene was a propagator at Monrovia Nursery in California for over 20 years, including 10 years as Propagation Manager. Gene has graduate degrees in business and horticulture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and Auburn University. He has been an All-America Selections Trials Judge since 2010. He judges the Ornamental Seed, Ornamental Vegetative and Perennial Trials.

Jeannine Bogard, Syngenta Flowers

Jeannine’s passion for vegetable gardening began at the young age of 5 when she started learning the basics of growing vegetables from her neighbor who was a retired farmer. Her hands have been in the dirt ever since. She is a 1982 graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor of science degree in Horticulture with a Vegetable Science emphasis. A 30+year veteran of the seed industry, Jeannine has worked extensively with plant breeders evaluating crops for introduction. Since 2012 she has actively managed all aspects of the Syngenta Flowers Home and Garden Vegetable program including sales, marketing and garden trials. In 2019 she joins AAS as an Edible Trial Judge.

Allison Boozer, Costa Farms

Allison Boozer graduated from Clemson University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. While at Clemson she helped research graduates conduct several experiments on rooting agents and moisture levels to promote roots. She also helped manage a sustainable garden and worked on campus beautification. After graduation she started her Horticulture career as an Annuals Manager for a retail garden center. In 2014 she joined the Costa Farms team as a grower in the Trenton, SC location for the perennial division. Some of her duties were planning out tasks for crops, overseeing production, inspecting incoming material, and overseeing chemical applications. In 2018, she was promoted to Research and Development Manager at Costa Farms where her responsibilities include their trial garden and confidential trials. Allison became a judge for the AAS Herbaceous Perennial Trial in 2018.

James Bourgeois, Norseco Inc

James has managed several garden centers throughout his career. He has been with Norseco since 2000 and has joined the All-America Selections council of judges for the 2015 trials as an Ornamental Vegetative judge.

Courtney Buckley, Sakata Seed America

Courtney obtained her doctorate in Plant Medicine from the University of Florida, where she worked in the university’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic helping to diagnose a wide range of issues, from fungal and viral infections to insect infestations and improper soil management. She then became Trials Coordinator for the R&D Department at Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton, Michigan and taught Greenhouse Management at Owens Community College. Courtney is currently the Head Grower-Trial Manager at Sakata Seed America where she oversees the ornamental seed trials and manages the production of new floral material presented at the California Spring Trials.

Teresa Bunn, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Inc

Teresa Beck Bunn earned her BS and MS in Genetics from the University of California, Davis. She has worked for Petoseed as a Summer Technician and the State of California as a Tomato Inspector. Her work experience also includes a Research Assistant and Plant Breeder for Harris Moran Seed Company and Seminis/Monsanto where she specialized in breeding tomatoes and peppers. She has been a Vegetable (now called Edible) Trial Judge for All-America Selections since 1992. In 2016 Teresa became an AAS Ornamental Seed Judge

Brian Campbell, West Coast Seeds

Brian Campbell is a production manager at West Coast Seeds. His current responsibilities include assessing seed quality and maintaining seed quality at commercial standards. He is the manager of the vegetable and flower trialing program at West Coast Seeds. Besides his work at West coast Seeds, Brian manages a commercial beekeeping operation at Blessed Bee Farm. The Edible Trials of 2016 mark the beginning of Brian’s trialing as an AAS Judge.

Paul Cappiello, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

Dr Paul Cappiello is the Executive Director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. Besides his work at Yew Dell, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky, where he teaches horticulture classes. Dr. Cappiello belongs to several professional organizations and has received several honors and awards. He has authored a book and many publications. Paul joined the Council of AAS Judges by judging the first herbaceous perennial trial in 2016.

Kristi Challender, C. Raker & Sons Inc

Kristi Challender graduated from Lansing Community College in 2006 with an Associate’s degree in Landscape Architecture. In 2001 she was hired at Raker’s in Litchfield, MI and has been involved with their trials since that time. She supervises the moisture management/feeding and pest/disease control during the summer. Kristi sows, transplants and cares for the AAS Trials where she oversees the crop from start to finish. Kristi is an AAS judge for the Cool Season Bedding Plant Trial and the Ornamental Vegetative Trial.

Chris Chechak, Stokes Seeds Ltd.

Chris Chechak has had various responsibilities at Stokes Seeds Ltd, Thorold, Ontario. She worked as an assistant to plant breeder, Dr. Kerr, specializing in sweet corn, tomatoes and peppers. After that Chris was responsible for design, maintenance and evaluations for the sweet corn, tomato and pepper field trials. Her current responsibilities include growing and maintaining all the trial farm vegetables and flowers and evaluating the vegetable trials. She received her BS in Agriculture, majoring in horticulture, from the University of Guelph. Chris has been an AAS Vegetable Judge since 2008. She is currently a Judge for the Edible Trial.

Bernadette Clark, North Carolina State University

Bernadette Clark is the Trial Garden Manager at the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Her responsibilities at the Arboretum include sowing all seed entries and pot up vegetative material , configuring the layout of all entries in the trials, rating the entries weekly, compiling the data, and writing the winter and summer trial reports. She is also responsible for the exhibit of large display containers that are “Living Billboards” for local companies. Bernadette has been a Bedding Plant Judge since 2005, a Cool Season Judge since 2006, and a Flower Judge since 2011 for All-America Selections. Currently she is an Ornamental Seed Judge.

Jessica Cloninger, Boerner Botanical Gardens

Jessica has been educated in landscape design and has a B.S. in Applied Plant Science. She gained experience working with the AAS trials as an intern at Walt Disney World. After her bachelor’s degree, Jessica worked in the retail garden center industry for eleven years. She was hired at the Milwaukee County Parks in 2010 and is currently responsible for the operations of the John & Hildegarde Voight Trial Garden. In 2015 Jessica joined the AAS Council of Judges as an Ornamental Seed judge.

Doug Cole, D S Cole Growers

Doug Cole is the President of D.S. Cole Growers and Chairman of New Hampshire Land and Community Investment Program. He is a member of America in Bloom and Past President of OFA. D.S. Cole is the first North American grower to be certified under Dutch standards to be a sustainable grower. In 2014 Doug joined the All-America Selections Council of Judges as an Ornamental Vegetative Judge.

Jessie Keith, Jessie's Garden

Biography coming soon!

Aubrey Cooper, LSU Ag Center Botanic Gardens

Aubrey Cooper is the Landscape Supervisor at the LSU Ag Center Botanic Gardens. Her primary responsibilities are to evaluate the landscape, maintain it, and install new landscapes in the front gardens and Windrush Gardens. She is also responsible for the upkeep of the Ornamental and Turf research area on the property. She earned her Bachelors in Environmental Plant and Soil Systems in May of 2016 and has worked on the property since 2014.

Angelica Cretu, Costa Farms

Angelica is the Manager of the Trial Garden and Research and Development Department at Costa Farms since 2010. She oversees the trial grounds, evaluates and collects data. She earned her Master of Science Horticulture in 2009 from the University of Florida. Angelica is an Ornamental Seed Judge for All-America Selections.

David Czarnecki, Ernst Benary of America

David Czarnecki graduate from Texas A&M with a B.S. in horticulture then graduated from the University of Florida with a M.S. and Ph.D. from the Environmental Horticulture department. His graduate degrees were in the field of plant breeding and genetics. He studied native ornamental species and invasive ornamental species while in graduate school. Upon graduation David was hired by Benary in 2011 and he works on breeding several species and his participation in greenhouse and field evaluations is ongoing.

Elizabeth Dahlheimer, Costs-Trenton SC

Elizabeth Dahlheimer earned her Associates Degree in Horticulture from Longwood Gardens in 1998. Elizabeth spent nearly 15 years planning, designing, installing and maintaining the trial garden at Green Leaf Plants as part of her duties as a New Products and Research Manager. She is currently a Research and Development Manager at Costa Farms where her responsibilities include their trial garden. Elizabeth joins All-America Selections as a judge for the 2016 inaugural Herbaceous Perennial Trial.

William Dam, William Dam Seeds Ltd

William Dam graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Horticulture and is the third generation owner of William Dam Seeds in Dundas, Ontario Canada. His company’s philosophy regarding the selling of good seed varieties is that “one must know them to sell them with confidence.” Bill has been instrumental in increasing the size of their trials from small family sized plots to over 1000 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers encompassing five acres. He is also responsible for modernizing the farming methods used by the company. Bill has been a Vegetable (now call Edible) Trial Judge for All-America Selections since 2011.

Connie Dam-Byl, William Dam Seeds Ltd

Connie Dam-Byl is the Flower Seed Manager for William Dam Seeds in Dundas, Ontario Canada. She graduated from Sheridan College for Fashion Design and Production and later became accredited as a Floral Design Judge with the Garden Clubs of Ontario. Connie oversees the flower trials and designs the display beds for William Dam Seeds. She devotes a lot of her time speaking to garden clubs and horticulture societies about new seed varieties each season. Connie has been a Cool Season Judge for All-America Selections since 2011. She is currently a judge for the Ornamental Seed trial.

Venelin Dimitrov, W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

Venelin was born and raised in the town of Silistra in north-eastern Bulgaria -South Eastern Europe. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Agricultural University Plovdiv (Bulgaria) in 1999. Venelin began his career in horticulture with Wyevale Transplants in UK during his summer brakes in college, internship at T & L Nursery in Woodinville, near Seattle and then working at Maryland Flower and Foliage as a green-house grower. Before Joining Burpee in 2009, Venelin spent 9 years working for Mayer Seed International in Baltimore as a horticulturalist. At Burpee he has been involved in garden performance evaluation, and selection of the best flower colors and shapes for Burpee’s home gardening customers. He spends his free time in the garden, with his family, antique shopping and traveling.

Robert Durgy, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Robert Durgy has been the Farm Supervisor for the CT Agricultural Experiment Station at the Griswold Research Center in Griswold, CT since 2008. The farm is a field station for scientists to conduct experiments on agricultural, horticultural and forestry crops. Previously Rob worked for 13 years for the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, the last four managing the Plant Diagnostic Lab. Research studies have concentrated on field corn and vegetable production including pest and weed management, soil fertility and organic production practices.

Rob has been assistant to the All-America Selections vegetable trials judge, first under Dr. Richard Ashley and now Dr. Jude Boucher, at the University of Connecticut since 1992. He has taught the vegetable section of the UConn Master Gardener course since 2002.

Richard Durham, Univ of Kentucky

Richard Durham earned a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Kentucky and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Florida. He is currently an Extension Professor of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky where he teaches classes in Plant Identification and develops on-line plant related resource materials for K-12 teachers. His extension activities are centered on consumer horticulture and assisting in various county programming needs as well as coordinating the Kentucky Master Gardener Program. He is the former chair of the Consumer Horticulture National Committee and the past vice president of the American Society for Horticulture Science Extension Division. Richard has been a Flower and Cool Season Judge for All-America Selections since 2011. He is currently an Ornamental Seed and Perennial Judge.

Mark Dwyer, Rotary Botanical Gardens

Mark has been the Director of Horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, WI since 2000. He directs the maintenance and improvement of this 20 acre botanical resource with a talented grounds staff and many dedicated volunteers. Mark has degrees in landscape architecture (University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana) and urban forestry (UW-Stevens Point). Mark’s true passion is obtaining, growing, observing and photographing all types of plants. Mark joined the ranks of AAS Judges for the new Herbaceous Perennial trial in 2016.

Scott Evans, Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

Scott Evans is the Horticulture Program Coordinator for Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. His primary role within Extension is leading the Master Gardener volunteers in the two county area. Scott is passionate about plants and pollinators with his B.S. in Botany and Environmental Geology and Masters in Agriculture. Scott joined AAS in 2018 as a judge in the Ornamental Seed Trial, and an assistant in the Edible Trial.

Dennis Ferlito, Bejo Geneva Home & Market Gardens

Dennis Ferlito is currently the Facility Manager for Bejo Seeds, Inc in Geneva NY. He manages a 309 acre vegetable research and product development farm that conducts trials for breeding, market development, dealer training and promotion. He is involved in trial planning, implementation, growing and conducting trial evaluations for Breeders, Product and Market development. He has also worked closely with researchers at Cornell University. Growing vegetables has been a lifelong passion for Dennis. In 2014 Dennis became an AAS Vegetable Judge. He is currently a judge for the Edible Trial.

David Fiske, Massachusetts Horticultural Society

David Fiske is the Gardens Curator at Massachusetts Horticultural Society, since 2007. He manages all gardening and landscaping at this 36-acre facility. The grounds include 8,000 square feet of greenhouses, 15 acres of annual, perennial and vegetable gardens, 15 acres of lawns and hundreds of mature specimen trees and shrubs. Since 2001, David and his wife, Nancy, run Fiske Gardens which specializes in antique and heirloom plants. David has been a judge with All-America Selections since 2009.

Adam Flint, PanAmerican Seed

Adam Flint has been with PanAmerican Seed since 2017 as a Research Facility Manager. In his role he oversees the PanAmerican Seed Research Facility located in Santa Paula, California. He works with a dedicated team, primarily focusing on ornamental plant breeding, seed milling, and marketing events. In his past Adam has worked as a Production Manager and Research and Development Grower. Adam has been an All-American Selections judge for Ornamental Seed since 2018.

Alex Gerace, Welby Gardens

Alex Gerace is the President and CEO of Welby Gardens in Denver, CO. This is a family owned business, which opened in 1948. The greenhouse has one million square feet of growing space and produces 70 million plants yearly. Al serves on the AAS Comparison Committee and judges all AAS Trials. His first year as an All-America Selection’s judge was 1994.

Leigh Geschwill, F & B Farms and Nursery

Leigh runs sales and marketing for F & B Farms and Nursery, a greenhouse grower for the independent market in the Pacific NW. Industry wide she participates in the Oregon Association of Nurseries Research Committee, the Oregon Department of Agriculture Nursery Advisory Board, and is a director for the Hort Reseach Institute. Leigh helped bring the International Trials Conference to Portland’s Farwest Show in 2015. She is passionate about research and innovation for our industry. At the greenhouse, she evaluates new plant introductions and in-house trials for product development and market suitability. Leigh joined AAS in 2018 as an Edible Trial judge.

David Graper, McCrory Gardens SDSU

Dr. David Graper has been a Professor of Horticulture at SDSU since 1990. In 2006 he became Director of McCrory Gardens and the SD Arboretum, located on the campus of SDSU. David is particularly excited about the new Education and Visitor Center at McCrory Gardens and how it has transformed the gardens into a year-round facility for education, outreach and the enjoyment of gardening and nature.

Dr. Graper earned his B.S. in Plant Science from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls (1983), his M.S. in Horticulture from Colorado State University (1985) and his Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Maryland (1990). Dave currently teaches several classes and areas of special interest are perennial flowers, greenhouse production and field cut flower production. Dr. Graper was the state coordinator of the SD Master Gardener Program for about 10 years, and was on the SD Public Television “Garden Line” for 18 years. He has been an AAS Judge since 2005.

Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Garden

Since 1986, Richard Hawke has been the Plant Evaluation Manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Plant Evaluation Program is one of the largest and most diverse in the nation and received the Award for Program Excellence from the American Public Garden Association in 2008.

Richard has a horticulture degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Plant Evaluation Notes, a Chicago Botanic Garden publication reporting the results of evaluation trials. Richard is an instructor for the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden and in 2005, received the Perennial Plant Association’s Academic Award for teaching excellence. Richard is an author and contributing editor for Fine Gardening and writes for other horticulture publications.

In 2016 he joined the AAS Council of Judges and is a Herbaceous Perennial Trial judge.

Haldor Howard, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City

Haldor Howard is an assistant professor of Horticulture at OSU, Oklahoma City. He is the recipient of the L.E. “Dean” Stringer Award for Teaching Excellence. Haldor was recognized with the Grower of the Year award by the Oklahoma Greenhouse Growers Association. He serves on the boards of directors of the Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association and the Oklahoma Horticulture Society. Haldor has been an AAS Judge since 2000.

Peggy Huff, Johnny's Selected Seeds

Peggy Huff has been employed at Johnny’s Selected Seeds since1994 where she works as a Flower Research Assistant conducting the trials. Her job involves working with professional vendors and breeders selecting high quality flowers for their flower program and answering technical questions for commercial growers and home gardeners for their outbound and inbound call center. Peggy has been a Flower Judge for All-America Selections since 2011. She is currently a judge for the Ornamental Seed and Perennial Trials.

Paul James, Southwood Farm & Market

Paul James is a long-time vegetable gardener. He has personal experience from his grandparents’ farm to his own garden. In 1995 Paul launched Pay Dirt Productions and produced “Gardening by the Yard,” for HGTV. The show ran for 19 seasons. Paul hosted and produced several prestigious parades, cooking shows and garden festivals. After retiring from the production business, he returned to gardening basics at Southwood Landscape & Garden Center. Here Paul became an AAS Edible Trial Judge in 2016.

Paul has a BS in Chemistry, with undergraduate credits in botany, plant physiology and plant pathology.

Jim Jenkins, College of Western Idaho

Jim Jenkins is a Certified Nursery Professional who has been in the horticulture industry since 2010. He is a lab supervisor and teaches the annuals and perennials classes at the College of Western Idaho. Jim joins All-America Selections as a judge for the 2016 Herbaceous Perennial Trial.

Tom Johns, Territorial Seed Company

Tom Johns is the owner and president of Territorial Seed Company. He has served on the AAS Board of Directors for six years. Tom has been an AAS Vegetable (Edible) Trial Judge since 1995.

Jessie Keith, Sun Gro Horticulture

Jessie is a lifelong gardener and naturalist with family roots in both fields. In 1999 she obtained a BS degree in Public Horticulture from Purdue University, and she completed her MS in Plant Biology from Michigan State University in 2003. As a student, she completed internships at Longwood Gardens and the American Horticultural Society where she helped support plant trials. Since then, she has served as a horticultural educator, garden writer, photographer, and online horticultural communications expert for a several companies in the gardening industry. Currently, she oversees communications for the international growing media company, Sun Gro Horticulture. Jessie’s tenure as an AAS Ornamental Vegetative and Herbaceous Perennial Trial Judge began in 2019.

Denise Kelly, Smith Gardens Inc.

Denise Kelly has been with Smith Gardens since 2009 as Trials and Planning Manager. In this role she is responsible for choosing genetics and coordinating production planning across four greenhouse facilities on the Pacific Coast. She manages the planning of over 4,700 line items and 32 brands. With her great knowledge of genetics and eye for what works for the consumer, Denise has been selected to sit on multiple Grower Councils for big-box retailers. She is an AAS Herbaceous Perennial judge since 2016.

Denise loves to cook as she believes culinary art and horticulture go hand in hand. She is also a rock climber, skier and wake boarder. Denise has been a volunteer with several nonprofit organizations helping to build houses and clean up wilderness areas. Her interests also include wood working, painting and mosaics. In 2015, Denise was one of GPN’s 40 under 40.

James E. Klett, Colorado State University

Dr. James Klett is Professor of Landscape Horticulture and an Extension Landscape Horticulturist for Colorado State University. He has been at CSU for over 30 years and teaches in the areas of herbaceous and woody plant materials and in nursery production and management. He works directly with the Green Industry of Colorado, especially the nursery, arboriculture, garden center and landscape contractor industries. His research deals with landscape plant evaluation and introduction water requirements of landscape plants, green roofs, and other culturally related concerns with landscape plants. Jim Klett has been a Flower Judge for All-America Selections since 1999. He is currently a judge for the Ornamental Seed and Perennial Trials.

Mark Konlock, Green Bay Botanical Garden

Mark Konlock holds bachleors degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison as well as in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. He was a consulting engineer for 3.5 years before realizing engineering was not his passion so he returned to college to study horticulture. He served briefly as an Extension agent in Walworth County, Wisconsin; worked at a wholesale greenhouse; evaluated seed germination tests; labored on a fruit research farm; and created a yard waste recycling program in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, before taking his current position as Director of Horticulture at Green Bay Botanical Garden (GBBG) in 2005. During his tenure, the garden has expanded by 7 acres and increased the plant collection by 1,571 taxa and almost 26,000 plants. In recent years, the garden has expanded into horticultural science by becoming part of the northern Earth-Kind observational rose trial program and evaluated annual seed and vegetative crops for Ball Horticulture. Mark has judged the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association awards and writes one of the Hot Plant features for Wisconsin Gardening magazine.

Chris Krabbenhoeft, Chatfield Farms at Denver Botanic Gardens

Biography coming soon…

Jenny Kuhn, C. Raker and Sons Inc.

Jenny Kuhn has spent the majority of her career at C. Raker & Sons in seed related areas. She has been involved as a seed operator, seed purchasing, marketing, sales, database management and program development. Jenny has worked in trials by evaluating and making varietal selections for Raker. Currently, she is a product specialist with an emphasis on seed propagated annuals. Items are included in their programs based on her observations of trials, work with breeding companies and customer feedback. Jenny has been a Bedding Plant and Flower Judge for All-America Selections since 2010. She is currently a judge for the Ornamental Seed Trial.

Rod LeDrew, Grimes Horticulture Inc

Rod received his BS in marketing from Indiana Univeristy and completed his greenhouse trade study at DuPage Horticulture School in West Chicago, IL. He managed the potted and cut chrysanthemum range in Louisville, KY before joining Pan American Plant Company to manage and relocate Super Seedlings from IL to Parrish, FL. He owned and operated a wholesale greenhouse for finished annuals in Florida before joining Grimes Horticulture where he is currently President. Rod joins AAS as an Ornamental Vegetative judge.

Keith Lewis, Burden Museum and Gardens

Keith Lewis is the Manager of the Food and Fiber research area at the Burden Museum and Botanical Gardens. His primary responsibilities are to plant, maintain, harvest and evaluate fruit and vegetable crops. Keith has been a Landscape Horticulturist since 1999. He is a member of various landscaping organizations and has earned his BS in 2001 from Louisiana State University. The year 2014 marks Keith’s first year as an Edible (Vegetable) Judge for All-America Selections.

Jessie Liebenguth, Iowa State University - Reiman Gardens

Jessie Liebenguth has a BS in Horticulture from Iowa State University. Her experience includes working with annuals and evaluating trial materials at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. She has worked extensively trialing roses at Reiman Gardens, the botanic garden of Iowa State University. Their aim is to educate the public on new and exciting developments in the world of plant genetics by including new plants in their landscape design. Jessie has been a judge for All-America Selections since 2012. She is judge for the Ornamental Seed, Perennial and Edible trials.

Stephanie Makela, Pure Line Seeds

Stephanie has been involved in both the fresh market and commercial side of edible crops throughout her life. Growing up on a small farm in rural mid-MI, where her family cultivated a large vegetable garden and maintained a small fruit orchard every year, Stephanie was very involved in the 4H program. Selling fresh market crops at several farmers markets enhanced her knowledge of variety performance, consumers’ needs, and crop scheduling. Stephanie graduated in May of 2017 with a bachelor of science degree in Horticulture from Michigan State University. She is a Research Technician for the breeding and research program at Pure Line Seeds in Washington State.

Philip McCabe, Vesey's Seeds Ltd.

Philip graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree in 1985. From 1986-2016 he was employed with Parks Canada, first as a Peace Officer/Resource Management Specialist, and later as a Park Ecologist responsible for; terrestrial habitat restoration & protection, species at risk and invasive species vegetation management. Philip is in the Master Gardener program at Dalhousie University and is the Vegetable Trials Horticulturist at Vesey’s Seeds Ltd. Philip joins AAS as an Edible Trial Judge.

Daedre McGrath, Michigan State University

Daedre is the Annual Trial Garden Manager at Michigan State University. She instructs garden workshops and certification classes. Daedre earned her MS in Horticulture in 2012 and has an extensive background in Biology. She is currently a judge for the Ornamental Seed and Edible Trials for All-America Selections.

Sim McMurry, Metrolina Greenhouses Inc

Sim McMurry is the Growing Director at Metrolina Greenhouses for more than 20 years. In 2010 Metrolina was awarded Greenhouse Grower’s “Grower of the Year” Award. At that time, Metrolina with its 134 acres of greenhouses ranked number 6 in the Top 100 Growers. Metrolina is located in Huntersville, NC. Sim started as an AAS Judge in 2007. He now judges Ornamental Seed, Edible and Ornamental Vegetative Trials.

Penelope Merritt-Price, Young's Plant Farm

Penny received a BS and MS in Horticulture from Auburn University. She also interned at Callaway Gardens where she worked on the AAS Vegetable Trials. Penny started working as Trial Garden Coordinator for Young’s Plant Farm in 2012. She is an AAS Ornamental Seed and Ornamental Vegetative Judge.

Jeff Mills, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds

Jeff grew up gardening with his family, and has been passionate about plants, agriculture, and food for as long as he can remember, getting his first job at age 15 working at a retail nursery. Jeff received his undergraduate degree in Plant Biotechnology from UC Davis and later completed his Master’s Degree in Plant Genetics there as well. ). Jeff has been working at Seminis Vegetable Seeds/Monsanto for 15 years, first developing molecular markers for Melon; and later (currently) leading the cantaloupe breeding program. He works to develop hybrid melon varieties for farmers all over the world. In his spare time, Jeff develops new varieties of dwarf tomatoes and sweet corn, focusing primarily on flavor and novel/attractive varieties for home gardeners.

Brian Minter, Minter Gardens

Brian Minter is an author, radio host, professional speaker and an avid horticulturalist. He is a member of GWA and a syndicated columnist. He received his BA from the University of British Columbia and holds an Honorary Doctorate at the University of the Fraser Valley, where he is also their Chancellor. Brian is the recipient of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honors. He chaired and hosted two major conventions in Vancouver: GWA Symposium (2005) and International Association of Garden Center Congress (2008).

Along with his wife, Faye, they co-own Minter Country Garden Store. In 2014 Brian joined the All-America Selections family of Judges as a Judge for the Vegetative Trial.

Sara Mitchell, Green Leaf Plants

Sarah Mitchell works for Green Leaf Plants®, a division of Aris Horticulture Inc. Currently she is New Product Development Manager, where she evaluates new varieties, works with breeders and breeding companies, manages the trial garden. She also works closely with marketing in the promotion of new varieties. As Greenhouse Operations Manager, Sarah also guides the Lancaster, Pennsylvania growing staff to produce more than 60 genera of garden plants. Sarah joined the AAS Council of Judges in 2017 to judge the Herbaceous Perennial Trial.

James Newburn, Univ of Tennessee Dept of Plant Sciences

James is an assistant director and curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens. He started working for UT as a student in 1992. He received his B.S. in horticulture in 1995 and in 1999, after receiving his M.S. in public horticulture. James joined the AAS Council of Judges for the 2015 trials and is a judge for the Ornamental Vegetative and Perennial Trials.

Rose Oberholtzer, Mast Young Plants

Rose is the Innovating Manager for Mast Young Plants where she has worked since earning her Bachelor’s of Horticulture at Michigan State University in 2015. While at MSU, Rose worked for the MSU Plant Sciences Greenhouse, as well as the Horticultural Demonstration Gardens. After graduation, Rose began working for Neal Mast Greenhouses, where she was a section grower for three years. Rose is a judge for the Ornamental Seed and the Ornamental Vegetative Trials.

Barbara Park, Twilley Seed Company

Barbara Park is part owner of GeoSeed Company and the Otis S. Twilley Seed Company, Inc. Her main responsibilities include managing the purchasing group, providing an informational interface between her customer service representatives and the seed suppliers, and choosing new vegetable product for Twilley. As part of the Twilley product choice, Barbara has spent the last ten years testing many of their new varieties or potential new varieties in her own home garden. Just for fun, each year she likes to challenge herself to grow one new thing she has never grown before.

George Park, GeoSeed

George Park received his BS Economics at Davidson College & MA Economics at Duke University, with additional course work auditing Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Population Genetics, He spent many summers as a youth hoeing, weeding, planting, and rooting at the family business, Park Seed. George worked at Park Seed from 1976-1988 and became an AAS Flower trial judge, an assistant to an AAS Vegetable Judge, and Director of AAS. After three years as Partner and Managing Director at K. Sahin Zaden BV in The Netherlands, George returned home and started GeoSeed in 1993 and purchased Otis S. Twilley Seed Company, Inc. in 1994.

Todd Perkins, Syngenta Flowers, Inc.

Todd Perkins is a breeder with over 25 years experience at Syngenta Flowers, formerly Goldsmith Seeds located in Gilroy, CA. His significant breeding accomplishments include AAS Flower Award Winners Cleome ‘Sparkler Blush,’ Zinnia ‘Magellan Coral,’ and Zinnia ‘Zowie!’ In 2010 Todd was awarded the prestigious All-America Selections Breeders’ Cup Award. Todd has been an AAS Judge since 2002 and serves on the AAS Comparison Committee.

Steven Poppe, Univ of Minnesota West Central Reasearch & Outreach Center Gardens

Steven R. Poppe coordinates the environmental horticulture program at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) in Morris, MN. That program provides scientific evaluations of annual and herbaceous perennial flowers, small fruits, trees, shrubs, windbreaks and shelterbelts, hardy shrub roses, and turf, making it a perfect environment for the AAS Trials.

Steven got his start at WCROC by using his horticulture and landscape design degrees as a horticulture technician, research coordinator and scientist. Over the years, he has been the recipient of many service awards in addition to the author or co-author of multiple articles for professional publications. Steven is an Ornamental Seed and Ornamental Vegetative Judge for All-America Selections.

John Porter, Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

John Porter recently began work as the Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator for Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Omaha, Nebraska. His position includes both extension outreach and the development and teaching of a new 2-year Urban Agriculture degree program with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. His position as assistant professor with NCTA also includes oversight of farm plots at the Omaha Home For Boys Cooper Memorial Farm for use in education, demonstration, and research programs. His areas of expertise include vegetable and fruit production, plant propagation, small-scale market farming, and edible landscaping. Previous to this position, he served nine years as the Ag and Natural Resources agent for West Virginia University in Charleston, WV, where he was the master gardener coordinator and developed innovative programming in the areas of urban agriculture and horticulture. He is an avid garden writer, which he shares on social media and online. He was the popular weekly garden columnist for the Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper in West Virginia before he moved to Nebraska. He has a BS degree in Botany/Biology from Marshall University and a MS degree in Horticulture from West Virginia University.

Rachel Prescott, Ball Horticultural Co.

Rachel earned her B.S. in Horticulture Production and Management from the University of Illinois and spent a summer as a Trial Garden Intern at Ball Horticultural Company. Upon graduation, she worked for a landscaping company and later a wholesale greenhouse before accepting her position as Grounds and Garden Production Manager at Ball. Rachel combines her background of annuals, landscaping and greenhouse operations to provide an elite trial ground for the company to use as a showcase for their products. Rachel is one of our ornamental seed judges.

Shelly Prescott, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Shelly graduated from University of Georgia with his BSA in Horticulture in 1988. He worked in the private sector before joining the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in 2005, where he is currently the Director of Horticulture. Shelly grew up helping with his family greenhouse business and is passionate about plants and plant displays. He has worked at Metrolina Greenhouses, Home Depot, Private Gardener on Sea Island, and Seasonal Color Designer/ Manager for several large landscape companies in Atlanta. Shelly oversees the AAS Display Garden at SBG and is a judge for the AAS Herbaceous Perennial Trial.

Cary Rivard, Kansas State University

Dr. Cary Rivard is an Assistant Professor and Fruit and Vegetable Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Rec. Resources at Kansas State University in Olathe, Kansas. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC where his research focused on the tomato. He has received numerous grants and has an extensive list of publications dealing with tomato grafting and disease management. Dr. Rivard is excited about the opportunities to provide support for local food networks and develop an applied research program that will help to promote local fruit and vegetable production. In 2012 Dr. Rivard was appointed as an AAS Vegetable Judge for All-America Selections. He is currently a judge for the Edible Trial.

Rick Roen, Seeds By Design Montana

Rick Roen started his career in the seed business in the late Pleistocene era by founding Helix Corp. that specialized in a complete line of herb and gourmet vegetable packets for retail stores. In 1984 he started Lake Valley Seed which retailed a complete line of vegetable, herb and flower packets to independent and small chain garden centers across the US. Later Rick helped start Seeds by Design, Terra Organics and Renee’s Garden.

Currently he spends most of his time writing custom software for seed businesses and as a devoted gardener in a tough Montana zone 3 environment.

Kirsten Rosen, Pure Line Seeds

In May 2015, Pure Line Seeds started their first field trials geared specifically towards fresh market vegetables. This was done not only to allow PLS employees a chance to look at the vegetable varieties they carry but also to let customers see the products. The 2016 Showcase trials included 140 10 x 10 ft. plots with 19 different vegetables and over 120 different varieties. Kirsten Rosen is the manager of these field trials and an AAS Edible – Vegetable Judge.

Sharon Rosen, Pure Line Seeds

Sharon graduated from the University of Minnesota-Waseca with an Applied Science degree in Landscape and Nursery Technology. She worked at Colorful Season Greenhouse in Alexandria, MN. planting vegetable and flower seedlings, transplanting seedlings, filling orders, and doing landscape jobs at private residences.

Robin Ruether, W. Atlee Burpee & Co

Robin has experience in managing annual and perennial trials. She has a variety of experience with aquatic plants and ecological restoration. Robin has been with Kansas State University Research & Extension Center since 2007.

Vicky Rupley, Harris Seeds

Vicky Rupley is the Executive Vice President at Harris Seeds, and has been with the company since 1994. Her journey in the seed industry began in 1985, and has been filled with many experiences at various horticulture companies including Harris Moran, Ball Seed Co. and Sluis & Groot America. Vicky received a BS at the University of Rhode Island and a Masters in Agricultural Education at UC Davis. Vicky has served as president of All-America Selections Board of Directors (2011-2012) and as an AAS judge since 2007.

John Ruter, University of Georgia

Dr. John Ruter teaches classes in plant identification and environmental issues in horticulture and serves as Director of the University of Georgia Trial Gardens. He completed his Ph.D. in Horticultural Science at the University of Florida in 1989. His research and extension activities are focused on nursery crop production and plant breeding and selection for the southeastern United States. Dr. Ruter has published over 400 scientific and popular articles and has received various academic awards and honors. In 2014, Dr. Ruter became a Flower Judge for All-America Selections. He is currently an Ornamental Seed Judge.

Sam Schmitz, Ball Horticultural Co.

Sam Schmitz is the Supervisor of Grounds Operations at Ball Horticultural Company since 2008. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Gardens at Ball. His role is to monitor and care for the plants in the gardens. Sam received his bachelor and master degrees from UIUC. Sam is currently an AAS Edible Trial Judge.

Denise Schreiber

Denise Schreiber was the Greenhouse Manager and horticulturist for Allegheny County Parks for twenty seven years. She supervised growing of approximately 300,000 plants in different greenhouse locations for the county parks system. Those greenhouses produced the majority of the plants for over 12,000 acres of parkland. Denise designed the flower beds that embellished the landscape.

Besides supervising the greenhouses and plantings, Denise is a member of the GardenComm formerly known as GWA, The Association for Garden Communicators and writes monthly columns, is a national speaker and is the author of the book “Eat Your Roses.” Denise joined All-America Selections as a Bedding Plant and Flower Judge in 2014. She was a judge for the Ornamental Seed Trial and is now a judge for the Vegetative Flower Trial.

Jeremy Shafer, University of Illinois

Jeremy Shafer is the coordinator of the horticulture research farms at the University of Illinois, Crop Sciences Department. He has worked as an assistant for the AAS Edible (Vegetable) trial for eight years. He grew and helped maintain various research trials. Jeremy has a BS in forest science and a MS in natural resources and environmental sciences from the University of Illinois. For several years, Jeremy has assisted with the instruction of a vegetable growing class at one of the research farms. He has also been involved with the student sustainable research farm at the University since its inception. Jeremy supervises the management of the eight acre vegetable farm. He is an AAS Edible Trial Judge since 2016.

Melissa Shepherd, Walt Disney World Nursery

Melissa Shepherd graduated from Ohio State University ATI in early 1989. She moved to Florida and accepted a resident gardener’s position at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. Melissa transferred to the WDW Nursery in late 1990 and became a working Foremen specializing in the production of hanging baskets and containers. Today some of Melissa’s responsibilities include specialty crop production as well as managing and maintaining the WDW Bedding Plant Trial Program. She became an All-America Selections judge in 2006 for the Cool Season, Flower and Bedding Plant Trials. Melissa currently judges the Ornamental Seed and Perennial trials.

Lida Sladkova, Metrolina Greenhouses Inc

Lida came to the US 13 years ago through the Ohio Internship Program. She is originally from the Czech Republic, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Forestry Engineering. Her journey started at Selecta One in California, growing plants for spring trials. In 2009 she got the opportunity to work for Fides North America, where she managed a greenhouse focused on Chrysanthemum and Dianthus production as well as internal trials. It was during that time that she started experimenting with bio control. Further down the road she brought her experience and enthusiasm to Metrolina Greenhouses where she currently works in the R&D department. On her leisure time she enjoys traveling, hiking and working in her own garden. She joins AAS as a judge for the Edible Trial.

Jennifer Smock, Missouri Botanical Garden

Jennifer Smock has worked at Missouri Botanical Garden for over 10 years. After receiving an A.A. degree in Horticulture then a B.S degree in Agriculture Education from Northwest Missouri State, she began working at MoBot as the horticulturist in charge of the Victorian District, Herb Garden and elaborate bedding displays. She then moved into the Annual Display Designer position in charge of designing and maintaining over 30,000 annuals. Currently, she is the Supervisor of the Kemper Center for Home Gardening overseeing 5 horticulturists in charge of 23 demonstration gardens (designed to give homeowners ideas) and all of the Garden’s annual displays. Jennifer is a Herbaceous Perennial Trial Judge.