SkillsUSA Ohio Championship Horticulture Winners

On April 9, 2024, the SkillsUSA Ohio Championship hosted its inaugural event and in partnership with OGIA, introduced the new horticulture competition for the very first time. Drawing participation from across Ohio, six students representing four schools showcased their skills. These students, who had previously excelled in the qualifying events of the OGIA's Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) in 2023, earned their spots in the Skills USA State Championship.

The competition comprised four segments: plant identification, landscape design, cost estimation, and sales presentation. The judging panel included:

Cost Estimating:
Devon Stanley and Matt Plante from Benchmark Landscape Construction, Inc.

Landscape Design:
Molly John, Michael Davie, and Grady Cobb, from M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

Sales Presentation:
Mike Lynch, Josh Chalfant, and Jeff McKnight, from EMI.

Plant Identification:
OGIA with assistance from Millcreek Gardens and The Ohio State University. 

Winners

Gold: Andrea Jutte - Upper Valley Career Center

Silver: Taelynn Ayers - Delaware Area Career Center

Bronze: Cooper Gambrell - Upper Valley Career Center 

Pictured above from left to right: Jackson Hemmert - Upper Valley Career Center, Taelynn Ayers - Delaware Area Career Center,Cooper Gambrell - Upper Valley Career Center, Margel Rockow - Ashtabula County Technical and Career Center, Haley McNaull - Ashland County-West Holmes JVS, Andrea Jutte - Upper Valley Career Center