David Lambe, professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, retires June 30, 2026, after a 40-year career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
While confined to a cubicle calculating tax refunds in the early years of his career, David Lambe decided to leave the stressful environment of public accounting behind in search of a more fulfilling career. Lambe followed his passion for plants and returned to the university to study horticulture at 22 years old with 1-year-old twins at home.
His decision led to a 40-year career at the university where he left a lasting legacy on the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program.
When Lambe graduated with his bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1986, he started teaching floral design as a part-time lecturer at Nebraska.
“[It] was really the joy of my life because it was so fun to be able to be that person who could lead young people into a career path,” Lambe said.
He taught floral design for 25 years. In 2000, Lambe started working at the university full time as an assistant professor of practice within the agronomy and horticulture department. That same year, the faculty in the department decided horticulture students would benefit from business classes, so Lambe started his MBA to prepare himself to teach his students business topics.
He graduated with his MBA in 2004 and started Cutts Floral Distributors, a wholesale floral distributor, so he could be a more credible resource for students. He began teaching entrepreneurship courses soon after, beginning with a business plan writing course. After a few years, he offered a marketing course and a finance course to fill additional knowledge gaps in the program.
In 2010, the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation gifted $20 million to the university to establish an agribusiness-focused student entrepreneurship program, the largest gift the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources had ever received. This donation created the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. Lambe played a key role in developing the curriculum for the program because of his experience as an educator and an entrepreneur. He began teaching classes within the program in 2011.
In 2012, Lambe was promoted to an associate professor of practice in the department and was appointed chief learning officer of the Engler program. He was promoted to professor of practice in 2021.
As a full-time professor of practice at the university, Lambe taught business management for agricultural enterprises, agriculture entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial finance and enterprise development. Lambe has an entrepreneurial spirit and applied what he learned as a business owner to guide his students on their path to business ownership. In addition to Cutts Floral Distributors, which Lambe and his wife sold in 2017, the couple currently owns and operates a real estate investment company.
Sam Wortman, associate professor and environmental horticulturist in the department, witnessed Lambe’s impact on students firsthand.
“Dave is an exceptionally talented teacher and mentor: he has helped countless students take their love of plants and turn it into a successful plant business,” Wortman said. “Heather Byers, owner of Great Plains Nursery in Nebraska, is a great example of this. Heather once shared with me that it was Dave’s class and mentoring that helped jumpstart her successful native tree and shrub business in Nebraska.”
Lambe was also significantly involved in university programs, councils and committees outside of the classroom that allowed him to connect with and support students in a myriad of ways. He was a member of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Teaching and Learning Council, the Departmental Distance Education Committee and the Undergraduate Scholarship Committee.
He also served as a co-advisor for the Engler Entrepreneurship Club, Horticulture Club and the Pi Alpha Xi horticulture honorary society. Lambe was the Pi Alpha Xi co-advisor for 23 years before stepping down from the role in 2023.
During his time at Nebraska, Lambe mentored hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students, leaving a lasting impact on the university and the state of Nebraska through the Engler program. He started the Engler Entrepreneur Camp to mentor community members who have an idea for a business, but have questions about how to get started. Lambe also created CEO School during the COVID-19 pandemic to virtually connect students with more than 100 business owners across Nebraska.
His mentorship within the Engler program over the last 15 years has generated over $145 million in revenue and created about 130 new jobs as Engler students have used their education in the program to start and maintain their businesses and contribute to Nebraska’s lucrative agribusiness industry.
In addition to his mentorship, Lambe supported students by helping to secure grant funding for research, education and extension at the university. He helped write four different grants to secure funding for a winter strawberry production research program, securing a total of $104,511 from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture for the research initiative.
He also contributed to writing a grant that provided $261,000 to fund experiential learning opportunities for agricultural science and natural resources students.
Lambe was recognized often for his commitment to students and his innovative teaching methods. In 2012, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture awarded him an award of merit certificate.
He earned the Dinsdale Family Faculty Award and the Mortar Board’s Professor of the Month Award in 2014, and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Holling Family Sustained Excellence in Teaching and Learning Faculty Award in 2023. Lambe’s students appreciated his investment in their education and recognized his commitment to student success as well.
Pi Alpha Xi awarded Lambe with the President’s citation for Excellence in Horticulture, the Horticulture Club gave Lambe the Favorite Teacher Award and the university’s Teaching Council and Parents Association awarded Lambe a Certificate of Recognition for Contribution to Students eight different times.
The university also recognized Lambe’s contributions to building Nebraska’s entrepreneurial scene with the Faculty and Staff Entrepreneurship Advocacy Award in 2024.
Lambe will also take advantage of his additional free time to help lead and guide his 16 grandchildren and spend quality time with his wife of 45 years.
