In this engaging summer episode of Hort Culture, the crew welcomes Trevor Terry, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horticulture Council, for a spirited and insightful conversation that blends passion, policy, and plant nerdiness. 

After kicking things off with lighthearted chatter about their favorite warm-weather drinks (kombucha and icy watermelon blends included), Trevor dives into his unconventional journey from humanities grad to horticulture leader — including a Derby weekend epiphany and the entrepreneurial spirit that led him to help launch Kentucky Fresh Harvest, the state’s first high-wire, high-tech tomato facility.

Trevor shares his excitement about the growth of protected agriculture in Kentucky — from 1.4 million sq. ft. in 2017 to nearly 14 million sq. ft. today — and what that means for the future of food production in the Commonwealth. The group also unpacks the impact of shifting federal funding, disease challenges like Neopestalotiopsis in strawberries, and the surprising scale and potential of Kentucky's cut flower industry.

Whether you're into tomatoes, spreadsheets, or just love a good horticulture underdog story, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and a powerful reminder of the resilience and innovation driving Kentucky agriculture forward.

Tune in to hear:

 * Trevor’s origin story and tomato tech breakthroughs 
 * Why controlled environment ag isn’t just hype in Kentucky 
 * Big data meets backyard gardening 
 * The power of unified voices in horticulture advocacy 

Episode-Related Links:

 * Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) [https://kyhortcouncil.org/]
   Learn more about KHC’s mission, grower resources, grants, trainings, and member associations.
 * USDA Census of Agriculture [https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/]
   Data source discussed regarding growth in protected ag and cut flowers.
 * University of Kentucky Horticulture Extension [https://horticulture.ca.uky.edu/]
   Trusted info on fruit, vegetable, and ornamental production in Kentucky.
 * Kentucky Department of Agriculture [https://www.kyagr.com/]
   Programs and support for growers, including Kentucky Proud.
 * Kentucky Center for Ag & Rural Development (KCARD) [https://www.kcard.info/]
   Business development assistance for Kentucky farms and agribusinesses.



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Growing Kentucky: A Conversation with Trevor Terry of the Horticulture Council

In this nostalgic episode, Brett and Ray hold down the fort while their co-hosts are away, turning the podcast into a "man cave" for the day. What starts as a lighthearted check-in on their recent challenge to "sit under a tree" turns into a conversation tracing Ray's agricultural roots in eastern Kentucky.

Ray shares vivid memories of his childhood growing up on a farm in the eastern foothills—years spent with cattle, square bales, vegetables, and tobacco. He reflects on the sights, smells, and experiences that shaped his deep connection to the land and growing things, from running barefoot through hay fields to handpicking truck loads of beans with his siblings.

Listeners get an intimate portrait of life in Appalachian Kentucky during the 1980s and ’90s, the central role of tobacco in rural economies, and Ray’s unexpected return to agriculture via Berea College. With humor, humility, and insight, Ray describes the lessons learned—like knowing what you can and can't control—that have guided his path into Extension work.

This episode is a time capsule of Kentucky’s farming heritage and a tribute to the labor, love, and land that define it.

Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Hands in the Dirt, Head in the Clouds

In this episode of Hort Culture, Alexis, Brett, and Ray dive into a heartfelt and often hilarious conversation about how plants intertwine with memory, grief, celebration, and personal identity. What begins with snack talk and Brett’s possum joke evolves into a rich discussion about the power of plants to mark life’s most meaningful moments—from memorial trees and generational houseplants to the sensory triggers tied to loved ones and childhood.

The crew shares stories of plants passed down through families, the emotion of planting in memory of someone, and the surprising ways a smell, flower, or species can evoke someone’s presence. They explore the symbolism of trees and flowers associated with different people in their lives, including themselves—Alexis as a witch hazel, Ray as a serviceberry or hemlock, and Brett as an atlas blue cedar or beech.

This episode is a tribute to how deeply rooted plants are in who we are and how we remember. If you’ve ever gifted a plant, inherited one, or found comfort in tending to one, this one’s for you.

Topics covered:

 * The humor and chaos of recording a podcast about plants
 * Memorial and celebration plants
 * Generational plants and heirloom species
 * Sensory memory and plant associations
 * The hosts’ personal "plant alter egos"

Quote of the Episode:
“We come from snacks and to snacks we shall return.”



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com



Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Plants That Mark Time

In this episode of Hort Culture, the team explores the many facets of scaling horticulture operations—from small market gardens to multi-acre farms—and how those decisions affect production, marketing, labor, and personal lifestyle. They discuss how growers move from hands-on producers to business managers as scale increases, and the importance of aligning farm size with personal goals and family needs. The conversation covers retail versus wholesale sales, labor management, equipment investments, and the risks of burnout when scaling too fast. Drawing on Kentucky’s agricultural history and emerging trends like high-tunnel tomatoes and cut flowers, the hosts offer practical insights on balancing the economics of scale with lifestyle choices, market realities, and the nuances of different distribution channels.

Scaling Up Your Vegetable Farm for Regional Markets [https://attra.ncat.org/publication/scaling-up-for-regional-markets/]

K-Card Beginning Farmer Resources [https://www.kcard.info/beginning-farmer-resources]

UK Department of Ag Economics Publications, Budgets & Decision Aids [https://agecon.ca.uky.edu/extension/publications-budgets-decision-aids]

Center for Crop Diversification Decision Tools [https://ccd.uky.edu/resources/decisiontools]



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Right-Sizing Your Farm: Aligning Scale with Your Goals

In this episode of Hort Culture, the team is joined by Jack Baggett to dive into the world of urban forestry, community engagement, and the impact of the Tree City USA and Tree Campus Higher Education programs in Kentucky.

Jack shares his fascinating career journey — from working with swine operations in Kansas to becoming a certified arborist and leading community forestry efforts. He reflects on his time with Cooperative Extension, running Master Gardener programs, managing farmers markets, and serving as an urban forester in Fairfax County, Virginia.

The conversation highlights:

 * What it takes for a city to achieve Tree City USA designation
 * The benefits for communities — from grant opportunities to civic pride
 * How Tree Campus Higher Education is growing across Kentucky
 * Strategies for expanding urban forestry into underserved regions
 * Fun stories about community tree celebrations, Arbor Day events, and... chickens named Dorothy! 

Jack also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between city officials, Extension agents, and community members to build greener, healthier towns.

Sprinkled throughout is the usual Hort Culture humor — from favorite snack chat to "manifesting horticulture swag."



Arbor Day Foundation [https://www.arborday.org/]

Kentucky Division of Forestry [https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry/Pages/default.aspx]

Kentucky Division of Forestry-Contacts [https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Forestry/about-kdf/Pages/default.aspx]



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]



Growing Tree Cities in Kentucky: A Conversation with Jack Baggett

In this special episode, Brett and Alexis hold down the fort while Ray and Jessica are away, diving into a season of wild weather, emerging garden diseases, and some exciting updates from the Center for Crop Diversification (CCD). They chat about wet spring conditions fueling botrytis and other fungal issues, share a clever DIY tree watering hack, and preview the Kentucky Mechanical Weed Control Field Day happening September 23. Plus, they reflect on recent CCD programs, the launch of a revamped website, and the importance of systems thinking in horticulture. With humor, honesty, and a bit of horticultural chaos, they highlight the wins and weeds of 2025 so far.

Center forCrop Diversification [https://ccd.uky.edu/]



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Spring Reflections, Weedy Challenges & What’s Next

In this thoughtful and laugh-filled episode, Alexis and Brett dive deep into the rhythms of seasonality in horticulture—not just in terms of plant growth, but also the marketing windows and human habits that shape the industry. Fresh off a hectic Mother's Day, they reflect on the exhaustion and triumph that comes with spring’s Super Bowl of floral sales and discuss how local growers plan months (or years!) in advance to hit these narrow seasonal targets.

They explore key calendar touchpoints like Valentine’s Day, July 4th, and fall agritourism season, showing how consumer expectations align with bloom cycles, harvests, and farm labor. With stories of sprouting potatoes, sleepy kittens, and missing appendixes, the episode blends real-life farming humor with insight into the planning behind peonies, pumpkins, and produce.

Listeners are invited to consider the deeper labor and lead time behind seasonal products—and why diversification might be exciting but exhausting. Whether it’s bouquets or jam jars, Brett and Alexis remind us that timing is everything... and sometimes, just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s sustainable.

Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

In this episode, the Hort Culture team welcomes Matt Dixon, senior agricultural meteorologist at the UK Ag Weather Center, for a deep dive into Kentucky’s unpredictable weather patterns and their impact on farming. Matt shares how his love for both meteorology and agriculture—rooted in his watermelon-tossing youth—led to a career helping farmers interpret and respond to volatile weather conditions. The conversation covers climate trends, how the Kentucky Weather Alert app supports growers statewide, and why Mesonet stations are vital for hyper-local forecasting. Matt also reflects on memorable weather events, explains what makes Kentucky’s weather so wild, and previews future updates to his app designed specifically for agriculture. A must-listen for anyone who starts their day by checking the radar.

UK Ag Weather Center [https://weather.uky.edu/]

Weather Alert App [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weather-alert-app/id6470309148]

Kentucky Mesonet at WKU [https://www.kymesonet.org/]

National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) [https://ncdp.columbia.edu/]



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]



Forecasting for Farmers: Weather Wisdom with Matt Dixon

In this episode of Hort Culture, we explore the topic of branding for farms and businesses. After chatting about spring rains, gardening chores, and Kentucky’s unpredictable late frosts, we shift to a lively discussion with Brett from the Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) about their "Marketing for All" project. We emphasize that marketing—especially branding—is essential for selling crops and not just growing them. Branding involves defining the core message and values of a business, guiding all marketing activities. The CCD team offers a brand builder worksheet to help farmers clarify their identity across several spectrums (e.g., personable vs. professional, modern vs. classic). We also discuss differences between price-driven and credence markets, customer behavior at markets, and how different types of farms might approach marketing. Key tips include using consistent imagery, breaking tasks into simple steps, and leveraging email as a powerful, underused tool. Listeners are encouraged to check out CCD resources and reach out with questions.

Marketing for All [https://ccd.uky.edu/training]

Center for Crop Diversification [https://ccd.uky.edu/]



Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]





Marketing for Growers: Why Branding Matters

In this episode of Hort Culture, we dive into the challenges of late spring frosts and freezes. We talk about how to tell if a freeze has hit, why it’s important to cover vulnerable plants (and why plastic is not your friend), and the best materials to use for protection. We also share why it’s so important to wait before reacting to frost damage, giving plants time to show how they've been affected. You'll hear us describe signs like "melted" herbaceous plants, "bud blast" in peonies, and frost rings on apples. We get into how different plant stages—like swollen buds and early color—can mean different levels of vulnerability, especially for fruit trees. Outside of the garden, we also share some of our favorite non-plant springtime activities, from watching basketball tournaments to grilling and fishing. For more on frost protection, we point you back to Season 2, Episode 13 and resources from the Center for Crop Diversification.

How to Protect Plants from Frost and Freeze [https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-protect-plants-frost-and-freeze]

Protect landscape plants, vegetable seedlings from frost [https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/4043/protect-plants-from-frost.html]

Protecting From Spring Freezes [https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/gardening-lawn-care/documents/Protecting%20Plants%20From%20Spring%20Freeze%204-10-2020.pdf]

Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Cold Snaps and Garden Comebacks

Welcome to Hort Culture, where a group of Extension professionals and plant people talk about the business, production and joy of farming. So, join us for a chat on the culture of horticulture.

Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.edu

Check us out on Instagram! [https://www.instagram.com/hortculturepodcast/]

Plant People

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