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Andra Johnson: Liz Felter Honored for Wide-Ranging Career Helping Florida’s Nursery Growers | Guest Column

October 7, 2024

The 29th Annual Gene A. Batson Award Luncheon on September 10, 2024 was a high-level affair. It’s the FNGLA Action Chapter’s most prestigious honor for contributions to the horticulture industry. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson was there; so was Mr. Batson, himself, as well as leaders from FNGLA, Farm Credit, movers and shakers in Florida’s horticulture industry, and researchers and Extension agents from the University of Florida IFAS.

But for Liz Felter, Ph.D., who received the Batson Award that day, it felt more like an extended family reunion, a get-together with friends and colleagues she’s known, worked with and mentored for over 30 years.

As a UF/IFAS regional specialized extension agent, Felter works daily with researchers and growers to teach horticultural, environmental and food systems topics for industry business owners. Among central Florida’s plant industry, she’s a legend, a pioneer who has led a wide-ranging and barrier-breaking career as a horticulturist, researcher and educator. 

In her awards introduction, Kathrein Markle, owner of Wekiwa Gardens, talked about Felter’s early years as one of only nine female horticulture students at The State University of New York (SUNY). “The professors didn’t know if they even should teach women how to drive a front-end loader or use a chain saw,” she said. “Yes, she can use a chain saw and drive a front-end loader! Being Liz, she was determined to succeed. There goes another glass ceiling!”

Linda Reindl, FNGLA director of education, remembers seeing Felter at meetings of the FNGLA Foliage Committee in the 1990s. “I started in my 20s as one of the few females on the committees,” she said. “Liz was there, and her outspokenness, her willingness to tell industry leaders what she knew and what she thought, was an inspiration for me and many other women in the industry.”

Felter has a deep understanding of both the science and the business of horticulture because that’s where she started, first as a floral designer  at Walt Disney World, then as director of grounds for the World Center Marriott in Orlando, overseeing a staff of 30 who cared for 6,000 plants of 75 varieties. It was there that she started working with UF/IFAS scientists Richard Henley, Ph.D., and Lance Osborne, Ph.D., on solving the problem of scale insects infecting the Marriott’s interiorscape gardens. With Henley she researched new varieties of foliage for indoor use, and with Osborne she was on the forefront of integrated pest management, or, as she explains, “using good bugs to eat bad bugs.” The IPM Nursery Scout Training class they developed has run for 28 straight years and won several national awards.

She stepped away from business to raise a family, which ultimately lead to her position with Extension. It was around this time that Randy Strode met her with her twin toddler girls. She helped Strode apply for grants to conserve water on his innovative nursery business, Agri-Starts. Years later, her daughters would do their college internships at Strode’s company.

He describes Felter as enthusiastic, innovative, and outspoken. “She’s a bit unfiltered,” he says. “Quite frankly, that’s what I like about her. You know where she’s coming from. She’ll give you a straight answer whether you’re going to like the answer or not.”

“Randy’s a risk taker,” Felter says, “I’m a risk taker, too. That’s what we like about each other.”

She took the risk of going back to get her Ph.D. at age 47, studying social marketing techniques to increase water conservation among homeowners. It’s a move she’s proud of in a career full of unexpected twists and turns. She’s been involved in everything from serving on the FNGLA Foliage Committee to running the plant diagnostic clinic at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center and establishing the Exploration Gardens at the Orange County Extension office. Currently, she’s working on a Spanish-language introduction to working in horticulture. She’s even helped growers prepare for their close-ups in the media.

All of which leads to her receiving the prestigious Gene A. Batson Award. Just an intimate afternoon among friends.

“Who would’ve thought?” she asks.

As a mentor to many people just starting their careers in horticulture, Felter reminds them to always keep an open mind.

“Don’t worry that it zigs and zags a bit. You never know what’s going to enhance your life and your career.”

Her favorite quote comes from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”

Andra Johnson, Ph.D., is the Dean for UF/IFAS Extension and the Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.