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.
