Person of the Year
Do you know someone in the “Outdoor Living Industry” whose contributions deserve recognition? Gardener News is accepting nominations for its 2025 Person of the Year Award.
Nominee must be from the agricultural, gardening, garden center, landscape or nursery industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the environment and/or outdoor living industry.
The deadline for receiving nominations for 2025 is November 1, 2025.
Gardener News annually bestows our “Person of the Year” Award in our January edition.
2024 Gardener News
Person of the Year:
Senator Bob Smith
Past recipients of the Person of the Year Award include:
- 2008 – Carl Nordstrom, Nursery Association Executive Director
- 2009 – New Jersey Senator Nicholas P. Scutari
- 2010 – Professor Jan-Marie Traynor
- 2011 – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
- 2012 – Jeannie Geremia, The Garden Club of New Jersey
- 2013 – Craig Korb, Executive Chef
- 2014 – New Jersey Senator Christopher ‘Kip” Bateman
- 2015 – New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray
- 2016 – Jeff Morey, Trade Show Promoter
- 2017 – Kathleen Gagan, New Jersey Lady Farmer
- 2018 – Nelson Lee, Landscape Association President
- 2019 – David DeFrange II, Nurseryman
- 2020 – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher
- 2021 – Raj Sinha, New Jersey Farmer
- 2022 – Pat Barckett, Landscape Industry Champion
- 2023 – Jim Vasil, Reporter/Multi-Media Journalist
