Pictured at the 2021 NJNLA Awards Dinner are, L-R, RCE agents William “Bill” Errickson and Timothy Waller, Interim Dean Laura Lawson, and NJNLA Executive Director Lori Jenssen.
The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) conferred its 2021 “Educator of the Year Award” on William “Bill” Errickson, RCE agent (Monmouth County), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Timothy “Tim” Waller, RCE agent (Cumberland County), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the association’s annual dinner in October. Waller was also recognized with the 2021 Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) at its annual awards dinner in December.
Brian Schilling, director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, extended his congratulations to the RCE agents on their statewide recognition by two vital partners in growing New Jersey agriculture.
“The industry recognitions earned by Tim and Bill are well-earned and stand as testaments to their committed extension work in service of the nursery and landscape sectors. These industries are profoundly important to the agricultural and broader state economies, and contribute to the ecological health and aesthetic beauty of our state. I heartily congratulate both of my colleagues and thank NJNLA and NJLCA for honoring their achievements.”
Errickson, who is responsible for Nursery and Ag. Innovation, shared this with SEBS/NJAES Newsroom.
“NJLCA and NJNLA have both been instrumental in helping me to understand the current needs and future directions of the green industries. Through attending their workshops and events, I have been able to meet with and learn from local and regional nursery and landscape professionals who have graciously shared their knowledge and experience, while identifying areas of need that can be addressed by Rutgers University.
As a contributing author to the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Contractor Magazine, and a co-organizer of the NJLCA Northeast Green Industry Showcase, the Central Jersey Turf and Ornamental Institute, and the Nursery/Ornamental sessions at State Agricultural Convention, I aspire to deliver up to date, science-based educational programming and resources that are timely and relevant to the green industries.
My long-term goals involve supporting the New Jersey nursery and landscape industries in their efforts to promote native plants and sustainable landscaping practices that reduce inputs while increasing the bottom line. These green industries have tremendous potential to not only improve the aesthetics of our landscapes, but also to restore and enhance the biodiversity and ecological functions of the entire state.”
Waller, who is responsible for Nursery Crops and whose acknowledgement of the NJNLA award was captured on YouTube, also shared his thoughts with SEBS/NJAES Newsroom.
“The NJNLA continues to be instrumental in helping me get situated in such turbulent times, as I started this position just weeks before COVID-19 hit the United Sates. The NJNLA, NJLCA, and RCE leadership regularly help me gauge the needs of our green industry communities. Additionally, the generous commercial nursery producers throughout the state have provided great feedback in terms of how best an RCE Agricultural Agent can assist in their day-to-day operations. I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge my friends and family, as they graciously support what it means to be dedicated to an agricultural extension life. I am extremely humbled and honored to recognized by both the NJNLA Distinguished Service Award and the NJLCA Educator of the Year award during my first two years as a Rutgers Cooperative Extension agent.
Ultimately, I look forward to assisting a nursery and ornamental industry that is prosperous, judicious with chemical use via heightened IPM systems, and able to withstand the constantly evolving worlds of consumer preference and legislative demands. In the coming months we will be outlining commercial recommendations through a digital pest and disease database where both hardcopy and digital recommendations will be easily accessed. Bill and I are just getting started!”
Congratulations to Bill and Tim on their recent awards, which recognize their outstanding work as RCE agents and their important contributions to New Jersey agriculture.
