by Andrew Pelkey
June 2025

By now, the season is fully underway – job sites are busy, crews are dialed in, and the pace of the workday leaves little room to spare. I hope you’re finding a rhythm and that your spring efforts are carrying strong momentum into the summer.

This month, I want to emphasize the value of continuing education and crew development. NHLA has a number of summer training opportunities coming up, including NH Certified Landscape Professional workshops and hands-on field sessions. Whether you’re working toward certification or helping a team member build new skills, these resources are designed to support growth across every level of your business. Visit nhlaonline.org to view upcoming schedules and get involved.

In that same spirit of development, I’d like to spotlight an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of Green Industry professionals. This fall, the CBNA FFA Much-To-Do Chapter will be sending a team of four students to compete in the National FFA Nursery Landscape Career Development Event at the 98th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Their team earned this honor after placing first in New Hampshire at the Granite State FFA’s Spring Interscholastics.

They’re now seeking support from our industry – whether through mentorship by licensed landscapers or financial contributions – to help prepare and fund their trip. If you’re interested in helping these students represent New Hampshire on a national stage, please reach out to their advisor, Mrs. Sarah Ward, at sward@coebrown.org.

Lastly, I’m pleased to share that our first digital edition of Granite & Green was a great success. Thank you to everyone who read and shared it. We’re now working to grow our distribution list – and that includes adding your team members from the field and office. Members can quickly and easily submit additional emails so more of your company can access NHLA updates, education, and industry news. You can do that directly here:

E-Newsletter – New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) If you missed the email with the Spring issue, here is a link to it.

Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence, education, and leadership in the New Hampshire landscape industry.

Andrew Pelkey
President, New Hampshire Landscape Association