Brian Steel from OneSource talks with Clemson University students during the career fair.The next generation of landscapers looks promising at PLANET’s Student Career Days.
A room full of enthusiastic, cheering college students, industry experts and landscapers filled Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Auburn University’s campus Friday while I visited the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET) green industry career fair.
Nearly 900 students from 71 colleges came together March 7-10 in Auburn, Alabama, for PLANET’s 37th Student Career Days. Horticulture and landscape students networked with landscape companies, equipment manufacturers and other industry businesses — many of which were looking to recruit students for open positions.
It was extremely refreshing to see the next generation of landscapers and green-industry pros so excited about the future and what jobs were out there. Just as impressive was how the manufactures viewed the event. They gave students T-shirts, bags, key chains, sweatshirts, pens, literature and other company swag. The company representatives also talked with students one-on-one, answered their questions and encouraged them to stay in contact.
In the outdoor equipment area, event sponsors like Caterpillar, Stihl, Gravely, New Holland and John Deere did equipment walk-arounds and demonstrations. New Holland and Caterpillar both had wrapped skid steers with Auburn’s blue/orange colors and logo, and New Holland will be donating the machine to Auburn’s horticulture school.
Students take photos wearing Gravely’s pink T-shirts and share them on Facebook to raise money for the Academic Excellence Foundation scholarship.Another company that looked to give back to students was Gravely with its scholarship donation. They got students to wear their pink T-shirts and post them on Facebook and Twitter. For every retweet or “Like,” they company will donate $2 to PLANET’s Academic Excellence Foundation (AEF).
On Saturday, the event continued with students competing in individual and team events including irrigation techniques, equipment operation, business management, plant identification, 3D landscape design and hardscape installation.
To see more photos from the event and read what students have to say about it, stay tuned for our April Field Report.
