The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum presents awards to individuals, organizations and communities each year to acknowledge and honor their work in the areas of tree planting, sustainable landscaping and environmental education.
The 2024 awards reception was held Nov. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. at First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln. This year, the NSA presented awards in nine categories. The group honored three CASNR Department of Agronomy and Horticulture alumni, Richard Gilbert, Heather Byers and Terri James.
Gilbert of Halsey, Nebraska, received the President’s Citation. This award recognizes outstanding contributions toward the NSA’s mission. The award is nominated by and given at the discretion of the president of the NSA Board.
Gilbert is a Nebraska horticulture alumnus and manages the Charles E. Bessey Nursery. He oversees the production of 2.7 million container and bare-root seedlings each year, used in reforestation, restoration and conservation plantings in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Kansas. Gilbert also manages the nursery’s seed bank, which houses 14,000 pounds of seed that serves as a critical storehouse in case of a catastrophic event such as wildfire or insect infestation. Before his 19 years at Bessey Nursery, he owned his landscaping business and worked for Bluebird Nursery.
Heather and Brian Byers, owners of Great Plains Nursery near Weston, Nebraska, were presented with the Jim Kluck Honor Award. In memory of Jim Kluck, a longtime NSA supporter, board member and curator, this award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the NSA or an affiliate site of the NSA.
The Byers are leaders in developing nursery production methods favoring root quality, including using grow bags that help prevent circling and stem-girdling roots. Great Plains Nursery is also the only Nebraska nursery focused on native and locally collected seeds for the production of trees and shrubs, which has improved the availability of native and hardy-proven plants in the state. Heather Byers is a Nebraska horticulture alumna.
The NSA Educator Award recognizes educators who have made an outstanding contribution toward advancing the knowledge and appreciation of plants among their students. James received one of two Educator Awards given this year.
James is an associate extension educator with Nebraska Extension in agronomy and horticulture, state coordinator for the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program, co-supervisor of the Backyard Farmer garden on East Campus, co-adviser for the Horticulture Club, and coordinator of the Extension Master Gardener’s contribution to the Growing Together Nebraska program. She is also a Nebraska horticulture alumna. James is passionate about increasing food security and promoting access to healthy food. In collaboration with the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Campus program, she and her team raise, harvest and donate nearly 1,000 pounds of produce annually to local food banks.
Read the full story at NSA Awards.
