Summary: In this episode, we talk with Susan Yoder about an organization dedicated to our industry that’s working hard to engage our next generations of professionals and inspire them to pursue careers in horticulture. This is a mission we all should share and perhaps a movement we all should support. Susan is the executive director of Seed Your Future, a national initiative to promote horticulture as a vital, viable and exciting career path for the nation’s youth. They envision a world where every U.S. student knows the meaning and importance of horticulture and want the next generation of leaders in this invaluable field poised to fill the wealth of job opportunities available to them. Their stated vision is: We envision a U.S. where: Everyone understands and values the importance of plants and the people who work in the art, science, technology and business of horticulture. I think this is something we can all get behind. In this episode we will learn more about Seed Your Future and the different groups they are impacting already and also some of the background that led to its creation. We detail the Bloom! Program that engages teachers and offer some sobering statistics that underscore the need for this kind of education. Susan and I end the discussion talking about some of the near-term plans and how everyone in the industry can get involved. You’ll want to listen all the way to the end. Seed Your Future Information & Resources: Seed Your Future Website: http://www.seedyourfuture.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedYourFuture/ Bloom! Website: https://www.wearebloom.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBLOOM Resources for Teachers: https://www.wearebloom.org/teachers/ Instagram: @SeedYourFuture & @WeAreBloom HOW TO GET INVOLVED! http://www.seedyourfuture.org/get-involved Contact Links: Email Guest Susan Yoder: syoder@SeedYourFuture.org Phone Seed Your Future: (484) 798-5934 Email Host Bill Calkins: bcalkins@ballhort.com Tweet Host Bill Calkins: @billcalkins Connect with Ball Seed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ball-seed-co/ Follow The Gardens at Ball on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardensAtBall/ See Ball Seed Videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BallSeedVideo
