October 2025
Dear IPPS-SR Members,
As I write this final note to you as President of the International Plant Production Society Southern Region, my heart is full of gratitude. It is hard to believe we are only a month away from gathering in Orlando, Florida, for our Annual Meeting and the Southern Region’s 50th anniversary. The program is full of outstanding speakers, research updates, and opportunities to connect with colleagues and friends who share our passion for advancing plant production. What a perfect way to close this chapter—with both a celebration of our history and a time to look forward with fresh energy!
This past year has reminded me of what makes this society so special. It is not just the research we share or the professional connections we make—it is the friendships, the encouragement, and the collective spirit that keeps us moving forward together. I have been continually inspired by your generosity in sharing knowledge, your dedication to advancing our field, and your willingness to support one another.
With each passing year we all have the benefit of another year of gained experience and perspective. The true value of experience emerges through consistent growth and accumulation over many years. Charles Walters said: “Unfortunately, there are many growers that do not have forty years of experience; they have one year of experience forty times”. But, when we can reflect on the things that we have learned before, and the experiences that we have had, that is where cumulative experience becomes wisdom. The IPPS-SR annual meetings have become the platform where everyone in attendance can circumvent the “one year of experience forty times” and instead can genuinely stack years of cumulative experience, from multiple sources, that translates into gained wisdom.
Serving as your president has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Thank you for trusting me with this role, for your support, and for the countless ways you contribute to the strength of this society.
I cannot wait to see many of you in Orlando as we gather to honor our past and build the next 50 years together.
Warm regards,
Michael Roe