I’d like to pose this question what is a horticulturist? A horticulturist is an agricultural professional who helps grow plants. These specialized professionals apply an integrative approach involving botany, biology, and environmental science to improve cultivation techniques. For instance, a horticulturist might alter farming conditions to increase plant yields or help a plant develop resistance to diseases.
I have been in this industry since 1989 when I began my own part-time business that later turned into a bigger business which included design work, irrigation, and general maintenance that I eventually sold in 2013. In 2013 I went back to school and got my associate in science in horticulture and graduated in 2016 from Trident Technical College while maintaining the dean’s list every semester. I took a year off then in 2017 I got my bachelor’s in science on -line in agricultural education with an emphasis in professional services and graduated with a 3.88 GPA from North Carolina A & T State University in 2019. While at North Carolina A&T State University I was a member of the honor society. I got my degree while working full time and going to school full time for the South Carolina State Parks system as a building and grounds supervisor. After leaving the parks system I went to work for The Citadel as the assistant grounds supervisor where I oversaw maintaining the parade field from mowing, fertilizing, aerating, weed management and Irrigation. I also helped manage the crews in the department while doing flower designs and graduation plant setups. While I was doing all that I began getting my master’s in science in leadership at The Citadel and graduated in 2022 with a GPA of 4.0.
During my career I have obtained and maintained non-commercial pesticide license for turf and ornamentals. In order maintain my pesticide license I continue to take classes either in person or online to keep myself up to date on new and improving technology and techniques. I am also a professional certified landscaper through Clemson. My degree in horticultural allowed me to obtain an athletic fields maintenance certificate, a sustainable landscape certificate, landscape maintenance certificate and several irrigation certificates.
My degree in leadership has allowed me to be able to problem solve with employees and become a better manager and mentor. It also has allowed me to be able to identify different problems associated in the horticultural and landscape industry. With this master’s degree in horticultural science from your institution will allow me to understand different aspects of the horticultural industry that I have not already learned from my previous degrees or on the job experiences.
I look forward to hearing back from the admission committee and hope this statement reflects my experiences and allow me to get in your program. I want to leave you with this final quote.
“Landscape consists in the multiple, overlapping intricacies and forms that exist in a given space at a moment in time”.
Annie Dillard
Sincerely yours,
Timothy Warren Farmer
MS. Leadership
Education
The Citadel
August 2020-2023
Master Science in Leadership
North Carolina A &T State University
January 2017- May 2019
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education Concentration in Professional Services
Minor in Horticulture
Trident Technical College
January 2013- December 2016
Associate Degree Horticulture
Trident Technical Certificates
Landscape Maintenance
Athletic Field Maintenance
Sustainability
Pesticide License- Clemson
Certificate
Clemson-present
South Carolina Professional Landscaper
April 2020- May 2020
MUSC
January 2006
Rain Bird
Introduction to Irrigation and Installation
Landscape Drip/Xerigation
Intermediate Irrigation Design
Advance Irrigation Design
Landscape Drip/Xerigation Design
Advance Irrigation Design
Work History
Work history
Department of Disabilities and Special Needs January 2024-present
At the Coastal Center
Grounds Manager
· Assist grew in maintain campus
· Oversee all aspects of applying pesticides
The Citadel March 2018-August 2023
Assistant Grounds Superintendent and Turf Manager
· Supervise three crew
· Maintains Parade field turf
· Manage fertilizers and herbicides
· Manages grounds project renovations
· Make spring and fall flower designs and purchase
Trident Technical College April 2018 - present
Adjunct Continuing Education Teacher
· Landscaping for Beginners To the Lowcountry
Edisto Beach State Park May 2016 –March 2018
Buildings and Ground Supervisor
· Supervise crew
· Clean Cottages
· Cut Grounds
· Input time on employees
Dorchester District Two School’s June 2011- April 2016
Landscaper at DMS and WRES
• Maintain the grounds
• Ball fields of the middle school
• Design flower beds
• Irrigation repair
T&B Landscaping June 1988- August 2015
Owner
• Mowing, estimating,
• designing yards and bed
Medical University of South Carolina January 2002- May 2005
Grounds Assistant Supervisor
• Supervise crew in landscape maintenance
• Broadcast fertilizers,
• Pre-emergent, sprayed insecticide and herbicide
• Ordered parts and supplies, imputed time on employee’s
• Worked on budgets, designed, and repaired irrigation systems.
Town of Summerville April 1996-April 2001
Grounds Crew Leader, Athletic Field supervisor
• Supervise crews on maintaining town property in ground maintenance
• Supervise crews on preparing ball fields by mowing, dragging the field
• Maintaining irrigation systems
Date Available