ILA Newsleaf SUMMER 2019

Indianapolis Landscape Association
This is why the ILA works hard to raise money to
give the biggest Green Industry Scholarships in
Indiana.
Two years ago, I sat at
the table—dressed up,
nervous, and ready for
an interview with the ILA
scholarship board for the
Frits Loonsten Scholarship.
Now, two years later, I’m
part of Indiana’s green
industry, thanks in part to
the Indianapolis Landscape Association. That
scholarship helped me pay for college, make
connections with professionals in the Indiana
green industry, and ultimately land a job as an
assistant grower at Brehob Nurseries/Utopian
Plants here in Indianapolis.
But my journey didn’t start there. I began
by working at a ramshackle greenhouse and
produce farm in Monon, Indiana as a teenager.
I sweated under the sun and blistered from
using a hoe, but I discovered that the joy of
growing outweighed the pain. As time went
on, further experiences confirmed my interest
in the field, such as studying horticulture at
Purdue, interning at the gardens at Newfields
(formerly the Indianapolis Museum of Art)
and spending a summer at Bailey Nurseries in
Oregon.
At the end of my junior year in college, I
was given the honor of interviewing for and
accepting the Frits Loonsten Scholarship.
The financial help enabled me to spend my
senior year on campus, to get more involved
with hydroponic/aquaponic research, and
to become a student ambassador for the
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
department at Purdue. But even more
importantly, the scholarship gave me an
opportunity to meet many of the green
industry professionals in the area. From the
ILA scholarship board to the people I met
during the ILA golf outing and awards day, these
connections have been invaluable. I have felt the
encouragement, support, and genuine interest
of several ILA members in particular, Chris Rice
of Brehob Nurseries was one of them. Chris saw
some potential in me that day and passed my
name along to their production team—and the
rest is history.
In May of 2018, I graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in horticulture production from Purdue.
I am now enjoying my job as an assistant
grower for Utopian Plants IN (the production
side of Brehob Nurseries), here in Indianapolis.
I spend my days doing everything from
irrigation, pruning and propagation to dabbling
in inventory management—all with plenty of
impromptu Spanish lessons and tacos thrown
in, of course. I am thankful to have chosen a
career that allows me to work outside, grow
plants, and help make our city a more beautiful
place.
I would not be where I am today without the
Frits Loonsten Scholarship. Thank you for
investing in me and in so many others. I am
excited to see what the future holds for all of us
in the Indiana green industry.
Thank you!
Brittany Weerts
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