For the third time, the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) National FFA Organization chapter cultivated top honors at the prestigious Philadelphia Flower Show. In addition to the Blue Ribbon for first place, the program brought home the Rising Star Award, Best of Blues honors and Class Commendation recognition for their backyard entryway display.
Seventeen students in the MCVSD Career Center Horticulture Floral program worked since the beginning of the school year to prepare this year’s award-winning display, but they weren’t the only ones involved. Students from the Center’s Horticulture Landscaping, Building Trades and Building Services programs all contributed to creating the display, according to MCVSD Career Center horticulture teacher Jill Wetzel.
“They all had different roles developing the display,” Wetzel said. “We try to get as many students as we can involved at the school because it’s such a fun project.”
This year’s exhibit class, Good Friends Enter Here, challenged exhibitors to design a backyard entrance using at least one design element constructed out of recycled/repurposed materials. Students went above and beyond, incorporating several recycled objects in their exhibit, including wood from old pallets transformed into a potting bench, corks made into a doormat and a garden trowel turned into a door handle to name a few.
After the first round of judging, the MCVSD display was in second place, but exhibitors are permitted to take the judges’ feedback after the first round to improve their displays. After the second round of judging, the program climbed into first place and secured the Blue Ribbon.
“Gifted execution,” wrote one judge. “Excellent details,” added another. “Stand out exhibit,” proclaimed a third judge in comments about the display.
The Horticulture Floral program started participating in the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2021 and started receiving recognition for their work with their first Blue Ribbon in 2023. The Rising Star Award the program received this year recognizes the consistent excellence of MCVSD’s displays in recent years. Criteria for the award include exhibiting in Competitive Classes for at least two shows, winning a blue ribbon for a past exhibit, and recruiting or inspiring new exhibitors, said horticulture teacher Kristina Guttadora.
“Your dedication, talent, and contributions to the Competitive Classes Community have not gone unnoticed,” the award notification reads. “You truly embody the spirit of a rising star. Your commitment to excellence and passion have set you apart, and we are thrilled to recognize you for this award.”
Guttadora said the honor is particularly impressive because they were the only high school program in New Jersey entered in the event and competed against garden clubs with decades of experience.
“The fact that our students can be named rising stars in an industry setting is amazing,” Guttadora said. “This is part of the industry that they don’t get to see in the classroom. This demonstrates what our students can achieve.”
MCVSD Superintendent Charles R. Ford Jr. praised the achievements of the students and teachers who contributed to the award-winning display.
"We are very proud of the students’ creativity and the hard work of the teachers for providing this opportunity,” Dr. Ford said. “Their accomplishments serve as an excellent example of how the MCVSD continues to provide outstanding educational opportunities for all learners across the county."
MCVSD’s Career Center accepts students on a half-day basis from about 30 Monmouth County High Schools. It provides students with vocational instruction in 10 different career pathways. Those interested in applying to the Career Center program must work with their home school district and check www.mcvsd.org/o/ccs for more information.
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Photo Caption: Students and teachers from the MCVSD Career Center Horticulture program's National FFA Organization chapter pose with their award-winning exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show.