US (NC): All-America Selections honors two at AAS Summer Summit

All-America Selections took the show on the road, literally, for this year’s Summer Summit in North Carolina. Attendees met first in Charlotte for the Opening Reception followed the next day by an inspiring North Carolina welcome by industry friend and native North Carolinian, Debbie Hamrick.

At the end of the second day the annual Awards Banquet was at the North Carolina Arboretum. The first award given that evening was the prestigious AAS Medallion of Honor, an award designed to recognize someone with a lifelong dedication to advancement in the field of horticulture.

(Left) Allan Armitage, recipient of the AAS Medallion of Honor award. (Right) AAS President Ron Cramer presenting the AAS Breeder’s Cup award to Ellen Leue

All-America Selections is pleased to announce Dr. Allan Armitage as the recipient of the 2014 AAS Medallion of Honor. Ron Cramer from Sakata Ornamentals, AAS President and long-time friend of Dr. Armitage, presented the story of his long and illustrious career, adding that Allan has been an AAS Flower Judge from 1983 until his retirement from the University of Georgia in 2013. Unfortunately, Allan was unable to attend the banquet but had recorded this acceptance video prior to the event.

The second award of the evening, the AAS Breeders Cup Award, was established in 2004 to recognize a plant breeder who dramatically influenced horticulture by breeding new cultivars that brought significant improvements to those classes.

All-America Selections is very proud to announce that the 2014 Breeder’s Cup Award recipient is Ellen Leue of PanAmerican Seed. Co-worker and banquet Master of Ceremonies, Mark Gross, presented the story of Ellen’s vast breeding contributions and innovations during her impressive career.

Ellen began her breeding work in 1982 breeding seed potatoes then moved on to ornamentals with significant introductions in petunias, impatiens and other crops including AAS Winners petunia Orchid Daddy, impatiens Swirl Monet Mix, diascia Diamonte Coral Rose and most recently, angelonia Serenita Pink. And now her work is coming full circle with a renewed emphasis on edible crops, including recent AAS Regional Winner eggplant Patio Baby.

All-America Selections humbly salutes industry achievers Allan and Ellen for their dedication and passion for everything horticulture, including All-America Selections.

For more information:
All-America Selections
Diane Blazek
dblazek@aas-ngb.org
all-americaselections.org