Feb 22, 2024

All-America Selections welcomes new judges for 2024 trials

All-America Selections (AAS), has announced 23 new AAS judges. AAS now has seven different trial types and with a need for at least 24 judges for each trial, the number of trialing professionals has recently grown. In addition, as industry icons earn their well-deserved retirement, the next generation of trial experts are willingly stepping into their roles as an AAS trial judge.  

The seven AAS trials are:

1. Seed ornamentals, in-ground
2. Seed ornamentals, container
3. Non-seed ornamentals, in-ground
4. Non-seed ornamentals, container
5. Edibles, in-ground
6. Edibles, container
7. Perennials, in-ground

The following judges have joined the AAS program as a volunteer judge in the past year:

• Abby Makowski, MSU Horticulture Gardens, East Lansing, Michigan
• Adam Thompson, Moss Greenhouses, Jerome, Idaho
• Amy Gonzalez, Syngenta Flowers, Gilroy, California
• Chad Miller, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado
• Daniel Livingston, Moore Farms Botanical Garden, Lake City, South Carolina
• Dana Freeman, Nebraska Extension, Omaha, Nebraska
• Ella Van Kampen, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota
• Emily Rakela, Costa Farms, Miami, Florida
• Farren Johns Mathis, Territorial Seeds, Cottage Grove, OR
• James Langley, Lee College, Huntsville, Texas
• Jana Uy, Costa Layman, Trenton, South Carolina
• Jenna Monnin Bonnoront, Growfully, Fort Loramie, Ohio
• Jennifer Moro, Bayer, Woodland, California
• Jennifer Northam, Univ. of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville, Tennessee 
• Jesus Benitez, Ball Horticultural, West Chicago, Illinois
• Karen Daubman, Massachusetts Horticulture Society, Wellesley, Massachusetts
• Melissa Winchester, Mast Young Plants, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Miya Sohoza, Harris Seeds, Rochester, New York
• Nadine Dam, William Dam Seeds, Dundas, Ontario
• Patrick Hogan, Ball Horticultural, West Chicago, Illinois
• Paul Stratton, City of Tulsa Parks & Rec, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Rhonda Helsley, Moss Greenhouses, Jerome, Idaho
• Stephanie Buchwitz, PanAmerican Seed, Santa Paula, California

To find out more about All-America Selections, visit their website or contact Diane Blazek.