Ornamental Horticulture: Floriculture
Career Program Area

Goals

The purpose of The Ornamental Horticulture Specialist Program area - Floriculture is to give the participant an overall view of the needed knowledge and problem solving skills necessary to work in a greenhouse operation or floral design business:

The career program area will cover skills, tasks, knowledge and leadership abilities that would be beneficial in a student’s education or employment.

The career program area will pertain to all regions of the country without being partial to any region.

The Ornamental Horticulture Specialist Career Program Area – Floriculture is designed to:

Encourage the development of specialist opportunities in floriculture and greenhouse industries.

Provide incentives to develop and improve curricular and instructional techniques.

Evaluate participant and program efficiency.

Recognize individual accomplishments and educational curriculum in the ornamental horticulture industry.

Encourage cooperation between education and industry.

Strengthen the PAS organization by encouraging active participation.

General Rules

Any participant who achieves 1^st Place as an individual in The Floriculture Specialist program area in Iowa will not be eligible to participate in this program area in the coming years. If the 1^st place individual is also a member of any team (no matter what their final official team position is - i.e. 1^st,2^nd.3^rd,4^th, etc) the 1^st place individual will become ineligible and the other team member may return with a different team member if they so choose.

All career program areas requiring tests will be written by a non-affiliated representative or the test will be administered by certification representatives (if available.) Power to select representatives will be under the direction of the Iowa PAS executive director.

Participants need to provide a NON-programmable calculator, (2)No. 2 pencils and erasers. Please read specific rules for additional materials needed. Calculators will not be provided; it will be the responsibility of participant to be prepared at the event. Cellular phones, Palm Pilots or any other type of programmable device will not be allowed during the Floriculture Specialist event.

Though not required, each team is highly encouraged to write a general unsealed thank you letter to the career program area sponsor of the Horticulture Specialist event area. Thank you letters should be submitted to the Horticulture Specialist coordinators at the beginning of the competition.

If possible, write thank you letters on local or state PAS stationary. Participants will be responsible for their own thank you stationery and their own writing utensils.

Procedures

The objective is to evaluate the proficiency level of Ornamental Horticulture Specialists in the areas of Floriculture in the following ways:

1. General Knowledge Examination – 100 points. This 50 question multiple-choice exam will test the participants’ knowledge and understanding of basic horticultural principles in producing, marketing, using and maintaining floriculture crops. Each question has a value of two points. Participants will be allowed 55 minutes to complete the exam.

2. Identification of Plant Materials – 100 points. Fifty specimens from the floriculture list will be displayed for participants to identify by scientific name. Participants will be given a multiple choice answer sheet containing six possible scientific names for each specimen. Each specimen will be worth 2 points. Specimens will be in the form of slides or photographs.

3. Identification and Correction of Pests and Plant Problems – 100 points. Pest and plant problem items may be presented as intact specimens, photos, preserved specimens or in slide form. There will be a series of multiple-choice questions to answer at each station. A total of 10 questions each worth 10 points will be given. Pests and plant problems can include, but are not limited to insects, fungi, bacteria, virus, weeds, nutrient deficiencies or toxicities, pesticide damage and faulty growing procedures. Participants will be allowed 25 minutes to complete this phase.

4. Greenhouse Growing Problem – 150 points. This practicum is designed to evaluate knowledge of and ability in 1) calculate the cost of materials and supplies needed to produce a greenhouse crop and, 2) evaluate factors that affect the profitability of a greenhouse business. A one-year crop schedule, including at least five crops; a current greenhouse supply catalog; and a plant price list will be included. Participants will need to bring their own calculator and pencils. There will be 15 objective questions about the plan. Participants will be given 40 minutes to complete this phase. Team Problem Solving and Presentation – 150 points

5. Team Case Study and Presentation – 150 points. Each team will be given the same case study. The problem will be of current interest in the floriculture industry. The team members will have 30 minutes to develop a written solution and present it to a judge. The presentation is not to exceed five minutes. The judge will have an additional five minutes to ask the team questions. Participants need to come prepared with visual aid materials such as poster boards and markers. These materials will not be provided. If the team wishes to use a laptop computer, it may do so. Again the team will need to provide their own computer.

Floriculture Specific Rules

1. Each team consists of two members. The participants will compete both individually and as a team.

2. In the event of a tie for individuals we will use three (3) preselected questions from the written exam and continue in the same sequence until a winner emerges. For teams; the 1^st criteria will be the highest team score will win and if still tied; 2^nd criteria we will go to the same three preselected questions used to break individual ties as above.

3. Participants need to provide their own calculator, (2) No. 2 pencils and erasers. Check the specific activities for other equipment and supplies that will be allowed but are not required.

Performance Evaluation

Individual Scoring

· Written General Knowledge 100 points Exam

· Identification of Plant Material 100 points Identification and Correction of 100 points Pest and Disease

· Greenhouse Growing Problem 150 points Total 450 points

Team Scoring

· Team case study presentation 150 points Average of individual scores 450 points Total 600 points