UF/IFAS Professor Gary Knox was recently named the 2005 Educator of the Year by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA). Knox, who is located at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy (NFREC-Quincy), specializes in ornamental horticulture.

FNGLA defines the Educator of the Year as, “an individual who is actively involved with the teaching of horticulture.” And Knox is just that, he provides horticulture education to growers, Master Gardeners, landscapers, and home owners through presentations, Extension publications, one-on-one interactions, and field days, such as his extremely successful Magnolia Field Day.

“I consider it a great, high honor to be named Educator of the Year,” Knox said. “I’m rather awed by it — that they think enough of my work to nominate me, let alone present me with this award.

“When it comes to ‘educating’, I freely share what I’ve learned but still have a lot yet to learn. I usually think of myself as a ‘broker’ of information–finding and getting information from others to pass along to those who need it.”

For more information on Knox and his programs at NFREC-Quincy, visit http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu.