Let’s go to the Great Lakes Floral Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The top winner has been named in the professional division of the floral arrangement competition. This winner not only has ties to rural Kansas, she is an example of the deep positive influence of a good teacher.
Kaitlyn Harlow is a young woman from rural Illinois. Her family farms in the north central region of the state. Kaitlyn was active in 4-H and FFA. She enrolled in 4-H every year that she could. She decided that she would like a career working with youth through extension. As a high school student, Kaitlyn took various kinds of projects and ag classes including horticulture, although she wasn’t especially interested in horticulture at the time.
Kaitlyn went on to Joliet Junior College. She decided to take an Introduction to Horticulture class which would count as a basic science credit.
“Since the first day that I walked in that classroom, I knew this was where I was meant to be,” Kaitlyn said. Professor Donna Theimer was the instructor, and she became Kaitlyn’s mentor. Kaitlyn received her associate’s degree in Floral Design and Interior Plantscape.
Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Kaitlyn Harlow”
