Virtual Fall Flower & Garden Fest

Dr. Gary Bachman is a horticulturist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Working from the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Bachman hosts and writes Southern Gardening. Through media and many personal appearances, he has shared gardening information with a weekly audience of as many as 2 million people since 2010.

Dr. Shaun Broderick is the ornamental horticultural specialist at Mississippi State University. He has been involved in the horticultural industry for 21 years and has a specialty in plant genetics, breeding, production, and perennials. He runs the annual and perennial trial gardens at the Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs.

Dr. Jim DelPrince is a horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. Learn about his programs here.

Dr. Kathryn “Kiki” Fontenot is an associate professor in the Louisiana State University School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences. She serves as the president of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society and the secretary of the Louisiana Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Kiki also serves as the state Extension vegetable specialist working with a range of people, from commercial growers to pre-K students. If you grow a vegetable, Kiki can help.

Natasha Haynes hosts The Food Factor, a digital media show that delivers Extension’s research-based nutrition and cooking techniques, tricks, and recipes for today’s families. She is also the family and consumer sciences agent for the Mississippi State University Extension Service office in Rankin County. Viewers can enjoy The Food Factor on Facebook Live on Fridays at 3 p.m. CST.

Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard is an assistant professor at Louisiana State University and the AgCenter Statewide Extension Specialist of Consumer Horticulture. She is the host of the Get It Growing program and committee member of the Louisiana Super Plants Program. Her research focuses on consumer home garden needs, the effects of plants on the environment, our health, the economy, and the community.

Qula Madkin is passionate about nutrition and health and using it to help people improve their lives. Qula enjoys public speaking and using education and training to share information and knowledge about nutrition and health. In her spare time, Qula loves spending time with her family and living life to the fullest.

Dr. Allen Owings of Hammond, Louisiana, is a professor emeritus of horticulture with the Louisiana State University AgCenter. He serves as senior horticulturist at Bracy’s Nursery in Amite, Louisiana, and as horticulturist at Clegg’s Nursery in Baton Rouge. His responsibilities include marketing, promotion, social media, outreach, and education. Allen graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, LSU, and Mississippi State University, and he enjoys golf, gardening, and LSU sports.

Ross Overstreet received degrees in both agronomy and business, and he worked as a golf course superintendent before becoming the Mississippi State University Extension agent in Lamar County. During the past 8 years, Ross has provided education to improve residents’ lives. He looks forward to continuing to serve both the residents of Lamar County and his home state of Mississippi.

Dr. David Picha is a professor of horticulture with the Louisiana State University School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences. Along with teaching and Extension duties at LSU, he conducts postharvest fruit and vegetable crop research. Dr Picha's specific research areas include postharvest physiology, product nutritional composition, carbohydrate metabolism, packaging, value-added product development, and marketing horticultural crops.

Dr. Raghuwinder “Raj” Singh is an associate professor at Louisiana State University and the director of the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center. He also serves as an Extension pathologist for horticulture crops. Raj provides training and support in diagnostics and management and increases knowledge of stakeholders by developing and disseminating Extension educational programs about diseases and insect pests of specific commodities.

Dr. Eric T. Stafne is an Extension and research professor at Mississippi State University and the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville. Also the state fruit crop specialist, Dr. Stafne holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Arkansas, and a doctorate in plant science from the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Ron Strahan is an associate professor and the Louisiana expert in turfgrass agronomy and weed management for turfgrass, ornamentals forages, vegetables, rights-of-way, and hemp. Ron focuses his research and Extension programs on weed biology, integrated and sustainable weed management, and chemical and non-chemical weed control and weed ecology.

Dr. Rick Snyder has been a professor and Extension vegetable specialist at the Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, concentrating in greenhouse and field vegetable Extension and research, at Mississippi State University since 1988.  He has coordinated the very popular Fall Flower & Garden Fest in Crystal Springs for 33 years, has been an invited speaker in 23 states and in Mexico, and has been a columnist both Mississippi Gardener Magazine and American Vegetable Grower Magazine. Dr. Snyder first graduated from the University of Connecticut, then completed  a master’s at Ohio State and a doctorate from Cornell University, all in horticulture.

Dr. Christian Stephenson has served as agriculture Extension agent in Hancock County for 9 years. He received master’s degrees in entomology and plant pathology and his doctorate in horticulture from Mississippi State University. Christian’s work in Hancock County is primarily focused on small-scale vegetable production and home horticulture. He also works with adult and youth volunteers in several community gardens around the county.

Dr. Jeff Wilson received his bachelor’s & master’s degrees in horticulture from Auburn University and his doctorate in agricultural information sciences from Mississippi State University. He has worked in horticulture for 39 years in landscape, ornamental production, and turfgrass industries. Jeff, who’s been with MSU Extension since 2003, serves as State Master Gardener Coordinator and State Consumer Horticulture Specialist. Jeff provides practical, applied solutions to horticulture questions.