GGIA Service Day Brings the Wayne Juers Plant Identification Trail to Life — and a Ribbon Cutting Celebration to Remember

On November 5, 2025, GGIA members, volunteers, educators and industry partners gathered at Camp John Hope in Fort Valley, Georgia, for a Service Day unlike any other. Together, they brought to life the Wayne Juers Plant Identification Trail — the first official GGIA Junior Certified Plant Professional (GJCPP) Trail in Georgia.

Just over a week later, on November 13, that hard work came full circle as educators, FFA members, industry leaders and partners from across the state returned to Camp John Hope for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The moment marked a major milestone for horticulture education and celebrated years of vision, planning and collaboration.

A Living Legacy for Georgia’s Green Industry

The trail is designed as a permanent, outdoor classroom, giving students a place to study, explore and prepare for careers in horticulture, landscape management and environmental design. Featuring a wide plant palette pulled from both the FFA Nursery Landscape CDE Identification List and the GJCPP exam list, the trail allows students to practice real-world plant identification skills directly aligned with certification and workforce readiness.

The new trail honors Wayne Juers — an educator, trainer, mentor and leader whose influence has shaped horticulture education in Georgia for more than fifty-five years. His early work with Dr. Teri Hamlin laid the foundation for today’s GJCPP Certification and strengthened plant identification instruction statewide.

“This trail is a living example of partnership in action,” said Lanie Riner, GGIA Executive Director. “Every plant, sign, and donation reflects our industry’s commitment to helping students see themselves in horticulture—and to ensuring they have the skills to thrive in it.”

Service Day: Powered by Volunteers and Industry Support

During Service Day, 56 volunteers worked side by side to install plants, build a pergola, construct an informational kiosk, install educational signage and complete site preparation and mulch installation.

Key partners made the project possible:

• Ruppert Landscaping provided advance site prep.

• Ewing Irrigation and SiteOne Landscape Supply donated irrigation materials.

• Complete Resource Management contributed a full truckload of mulch.

• And nurseries across Georgia — including Evergreen Nursery, Windham Greenhouses, Harp’s Farm Market, Dorsey’s Tree Farm, R.A. Dudley, Buck Jones, Cleveland Tree Farm, Hahira Nursery, Hillside Ornamentals, and Lakeside Trees — donated plants for current and future installations.

This collaboration reflects the unity and strength of Georgia’s horticulture community — each partner pouring time, talent, and resources into a project built for students.

Ribbon Cutting: A Celebration of Legacy, Learning, and Partnership

At the ribbon cutting on November 13, attendees gathered under the pergola and in front of the trail’s new signage for a moving ceremony. The program included remarks from:

• Melissa Riley, GGIA Chairwoman

• Kevin Jump, Camp John Hope Director

·       Remiya Stevens, State FFA President

• Lanie Riner, GGIA Executive Director

• Wayne Juers, honoree

Together, their messages highlighted the trail’s purpose, the workforce pathways it supports, and the decades of leadership and mentorship Wayne has provided to educators and industry professionals across the state.

Wayne’s reflections resonated deeply with educators and students in attendance. Moments later, the ribbon was cut, marking the beginning of a new chapter for horticulture education in Georgia.

A Resource That Will Serve Students for Generations

The Wayne Juers Plant Identification Trail will support:

• Plant identification practice

• End-of-Pathway Assessment preparation

• Hands-on skill building

• Career exploration

• Classroom-to-industry connections

“The Plant ID Trail fulfills a long-standing vision to create a permanent, outdoor classroom where students can study, explore, and prepare for future success in horticulture and the green industry,” said Melissa Riley, Horticulture Area Teacher for Georgia Agricultural Education and GGIA Chairwoman. “This lasting resource will inspire generations of students and educators.”

This trail is more than a project; it’s an investment in the future of Georgia’s green industry, a tribute to a legacy of leadership, and a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when educators and industry come together with a shared purpose.