By Blake Jackson
Around 130 participants gathered at Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) on November 13, 2024, for the annual Grow Native! Professional Member Conference, organized by the Missouri Prairie Foundation through its Grow Native! program.
The event highlighted the critical role of native plants in conservation and education, addressing ecological and agricultural challenges while promoting resilient landscapes.
“Hosting this conference at Lincoln University is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase how our Specialty Crops Program (SCP) is making a difference in promoting native plants,” said SCP State Extension Specialist Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, Ph.D.
The Grow Native! program, which encourages the use of native plants in urban, suburban, and rural settings, aligns with LU’s Specialty Crops Program, which integrates native plants into sustainable agriculture. This partnership set the stage for a conference focused on innovative research and collaboration in native plant conservation.
“We are purposeful in recruiting speakers on a diverse mix of topics to best serve the wide range of professionals represented in the Grow Native! program, which includes retail garden center managers, landscape architects, seed producers, educators, native landscape stewards and other related professionals," said Missouri Prairie Foundation Executive Director Carol Davit.
"Our goal is for professional members to leave the conference equipped with both inspirational and practical information to help their businesses and organizations continue to thrive.”
Presenters at the conference included experts such as keynote speaker Rusty Schmidt, Landscape Ecologist at Nelson Pope Voorhis, who spoke on stormwater green infrastructure projects.
Other topics ranged from soil health and native plant relationships to sustainable landscape design, with sessions led by professionals like Sam Lord, Pamela Conrad, and Kara Tvedt.
Navarrete-Tindall’s presentation focused on engaging youth with native plants through hands-on projects like pollinator gardens.
Navarrete-Tindall also introduced the Urban Ag Learning Hub, funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which trains individuals in sustainable agriculture and native plant conservation.
“Lincoln University was an ideal location for the conference because it is a leader not only in the state but also the country when it comes to a university campus that is committed to native plants and recognizes their many benefits,” Davit said
Photo Credit: pexels-kristen-munk
Categories: Missouri, Education