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Plaster Receives MNLA’s Special Service Award

January 12, 2007

Cassie Larson, Communications Director - cassie@mnla.biz

The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association honored recently retired instructor Ed Plaster of Dakota County Technical College with a Special Service Award. Plaster was recognized during the Minnesota Green Expo that was held January 9-11 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The MNLA Special Service Award honors members or friends of the industry who have, over a long period of time, given of themselves personally and/or professionally to make the nursery and landscape business a better industry.

Plaster has bachelor’s and masters degrees from the University of Minnesota. Before joining DCTC in 1977, he worked at the University’s Horticulture Research Center in Chanhassen. While at DCTC, he has taught numerous green industry courses including greenhouse operations, nursery operations, plant ID, plant science, and soil science. He was the advisor to the student hort club and was also responsible for care of the college’s greenhouses and interior plantings.

Plaster is long-time member of the MNLA Certification Committee and previously served on the Plant Materials Committee where he frequently provided the van and the driving for many Plant Materials Tours. He’s served on the Accreditation Committee for the Professional Landcare Network and the Commissioner’s Advisory Committee on Science and Natural Areas for the DNR. He was the long-time chair for the DCTC Academic Affairs and Standards Council; plus is an MNLA Certified Professional and an ASHS Certified Professional Horticulturist.

According to outgoing MNLA President Tim Power, "Ed’s greatest legacy to Minnesota’s green industry is the students he helped to train - graduates who are among the most sought-after by nursery, garden center, greenhouse and landscape companies. Hundreds of students learned good horticultural skills from Ed - and their knowledge was so good that many, many of them passed the MNLA Certification exam as a capstone to their educational experience."

Power continued, "Just as importantly, Ed’s demonstration of industry service is reflected in his graduates who have volunteered their time to MNLA as well as other green industry and community causes."

Plaster and his wife, Susan, for 38 years, and have two children and two granddaughters.

The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association is the state’s largest green industry trade association with over 1,500 member companies. Members include nurseries, garden centers, landscape contractors, landscape designers, irrigation contractors, commercial flower growers, tree care specialists, professional gardening services, and turf and landscape management professionals.

View the prepared remarks by the out-going President of the MNLA

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