Landscape students attend trade show in Baltimore

A group of Penn College landscape/plant production technology students took in the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, held last week at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

Considered a key resource for anyone seeking a competitive edge in the green industry, MANTS is a hub for networking, professional development and discovering the newest horticulture products and trends.

Guiding the Penn College crew to the exciting event was Justin Shelinski, horticulture instructor, who feels the outing gives students a greater sense of the opportunities awaiting them in their field. 

“As instructors, we try to convey to students the scale of our industry and the level of professionalism that is out there, but it’s often hard to describe, however when they are able to walk through a complex with hundreds of companies from all over the country and some that are international, it really shows students what our industry is about,” Shelinski shared. 

With the theme “MANTS Means Business,” this year’s event welcomed 10,460 attendees and featured 923 exhibitors, including talented growers, innovative suppliers and seasoned industry experts, all eager to connect and collaborate.

Joining their instructor on the field trip were: Kaydence A. Himmelberger, of Pine Grove; Peyton E. James, of Orwigsburg; Lila A. McKeon, of Montoursville; Luis E. Rodriguez, of Danville; Diane Y. Saylor, of Pennsylvania Furnace; Rori K. Walker, of Richfield; and Saudiah Wells, of Williamsport.

For more information on Penn College’s Associate of Applied Science degree in landscape/plant production technology, contact the School of Engineering Technologies at 570-327-4520.