Shelby Henning’s workplace is filled with variety. The St. Charles Horticulture Research Center – an 100-acre site at Peck Road and Route 38 – includes research space for Ph.D. students, plots tended to by master gardeners, three acres of wine grapes and a high tunnel – a type of greenhouse – filled with specialty peppers and 22 varieties of heirloom tomatoes.
Come March, Henning doesn’t know what will become of the property, which is part of the Department of Crop Sciences in the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
The St. Charles research center is one of four such sites affected by a reallocation of resources. Henning – who is one of two staff members at the St. Charles site – said he recently received notice his last day will be in mid-March. His colleague is due to wrap up in December, he said.