Story in Brief
Experts from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension teach educational sessions at two major annual green industry trade shows. These sessions provide timely education to green industry and landscape management professionals in Georgia. Issues include pruning, pest management, landscape health, marketing, and landscape management. A survey instrument was developed as a collaboration of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, UGA Extension, and the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture. The surveys were distributed and collected at two major industry events: The Georgia Green Industry Association Wintergreen Horticulture Trade Show and Conference and the Georgia Urban Ag Council Landscape Pro University. A total of 564 surveys were collected, providing valuable data on the effectiveness of training, behavior change, and economic impacts of training. On average, participants at the Wintergreen Trade Show and Conference reported they would save or gain $23.44 per client/customer as a result of implementing changes related to the information provided from the conference sessions. The total self-reported value of the information presented by UGA Extension was $680,952. At the Landscape Pro University; 95 percent of the respondents reported they would definitely or probably use the information provided. On average, participants in attendance reported they would save or gain $20.93 per client/customer as a result of implementing changes related to the information provided from the conference sessions. The total self-reported value of the information presented by UGA Extension was $157,154. The study informs future program planning and provides a better understanding of green industry training and impacts.