Aggie Club, Horticulture class members raise plants for Northwestern campus

Dr. Mindi Clark, assistant professor of agriculture, lectures to students during her horticulture class in the greenhouse located at the University Farm south of Alva. Many of the plants raised in the greenhouse were used to plant around campus during the annual Campus Cleanup Day event. Pictured (left to right) are Scott Batchelder, Orland, Calif., junior; Clark; Jason Miller, Norman senior; Clayton Davison, Guthrie freshman; and Nick Cosby, Strafford junior.

A number of students and employees came together for Campus Cleanup Day at Northwestern Oklahoma State University this year. Some of the plants grown by the university’s horticulture class students can be seen in the foreground of the photo.

Earth Day on April 22 coincided with the annual Campus Cleanup Day sponsored each year by the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Staff Council. Students and employees volunteered to repaint railings, clean up trash and replant the campus flower beds. This year, instead of buying those plants, they were raised at the University Farm.

Aggie Club President Trae Watson came up with the idea of contributing to the campus and presented the idea to Dr. Mindi Clark, assistant professor of agriculture, who agreed to devote the applied section of her horticulture class to the plants.

“I teach the horticulture class every spring, and it seemed like a natural fit to work with the Aggie Club to help contribute plants to the campus for Campus Cleanup Day,” Clark said. “An applied portion of the horticulture class is to grow bedding plants. Students start plants from seed or transplant plugs and rooted cuttings from a supplier. We typically grow plants popular to this area, such as geraniums, sweet potato vine,petunias, vinca, begonias and coleus, which were all represented at Campus Cleanup Day.”

Clark said many of her students devoted their time on weekends and over spring break to care for the plants and make sure the greenhouse was working properly. Aggie Club and horticulture class members also volunteered their time on Campus Cleanup Day to assist in planting the flowers around campus.

“When I was notified that this class wanted to provide plants and flowers for the spring cleanup day, I was thrilled,” Rachel Stewart, special event coordinator and Staff Council chair, said. “The quality and quantity of plants and flowers was unbelievable. What an amazing way for our students to share in this effort and give back to the university. Staff Council and Conserving Our Ranger Environment (CORE) are very appreciative of their contribution to this event.”

For more information on the plants donated by the Aggie Club and the horticulture class, contact Clark at (580) 327-8484 or by email at msclark@nwosu.edu.

For more information on Campus Cleanup Day or the Staff Council, contact Stewart at (580) 327-8178 or by email at rsstewart@nwosu.edu.

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