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Published on 10/02/03

Landry to lead UGA's Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture

By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia

University of Georgia Professor Gil Landry has been named coordinator of the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture.

Located on the UGA campus in Griffin, Ga., the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture addresses issues related to agriculture in urban settings. Part of UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Center's work also focuses on projects dealing with the relationships between environmental quality and natural resource management.

Wealth of experience

"Dr. Landry brings a wealth of experience and contacts working with the urban agriculture industry associations to the position of Center coordinator," said Gerald Arkin, assistant dean of the UGA Griffin Campus. "He has earned the trust and respect of many agribusiness leaders and I am confident he will provide strong coordinative leadership to this important college Center."

Landry has served as a faculty member in the UGA CAES Department of Crop and Soil Sciences with turf extension responsibilities for the past 24 years. In that time he has authored or co-authored more than 300 articles for popular and scientific publications and made more than 250 presentations locally, nationally and internationally. His publications have received national recognition including the American Society of Horticultural Science Southern Region Extension Publication Award.

He has also organized area and statewide short courses, conferences, seminars and clinics, including the UGA Turfgrass Field Day which typically draws more than 1,000 participants and the annual Georgia Turfgrass Conference that has drawn more than 2,000 participants.

Recognized by numerous associations

Landry has been recognized with many turf industry awards including the coveted Harry C. Gill Award, the Sports Turf Managers Association's (STMA) award. The most prestigious honor issued by STMA, the Gill Award denotes an individual's long-time service and commitment to the association and its goals and standards. Landry is a member of STMA and has served on its board, as president and as past-president. In selecting Landry, the association noted his commitment and guidance of the association's growth and development.

He has received distinguished service awards and achievement awards from both the Georgia and the National Associations of County Agriculture Agents, served two terms as president of the Sports Turf Managers Association and was named Outstanding Liaison by the Georgia Turfgrass Foundation Trust.

Since 1979, Landry has been responsible for the development and implementation of Extension Turfgrass Management educational programming for UGA. He helped organize two professional associations, the Georgia Turfgrass Association and the Georgia Sod Producers Association, and now serves as ex-officio to both.

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.