Please join us in celebrating two outstanding horticulture professionals who have made meaningful contributions to our industry and the IPPS community!
Sidney B. Meadows Award of Merit: Doug Torn, owner of Buds and Blooms Nursery
This prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by IPPS Southern Region. It recognizes exceptional contributions to the nursery industry, plant propagation and production, and dedication to the society’s mission to “Seek and Share Plant Production Knowledge Globally.”
Doug Torn is the founder and owner of Buds & Blooms Nursery in Brown Summit, North Carolina, a wholesale nursery established in 1983. Specializing in container-grown azaleas, rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and other ornamental shrubs, Doug has built a respected business serving customers across a broad region of the eastern United States. His contributions to the nursery industry have been recognized by the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, which named him Grower of the Year in 2004. Doug is a long-time IPPS Southern Region member, past president, and fellow. We are thrilled to honor him with the prestigious Sidney B. Meadows Award of Merit for his contributions to horticulture and the industry.
IPPS Southern Region Fellow: Dr. Cheryl Boyer, Kansas State University
Election as an IPPS Fellow is a distinguished honor recognizing significant contributions to the nursery industry, plant propagation and production throughout the Southern Region. Fellows represent a legacy of service, leadership, and commitment to advancing horticultural knowledge and strengthening our professional community.
Dr. Cheryl Boyer is a Professor and Extension Specialist in Nursery Crop Production and Marketing at Kansas State University, where she combines applied research, Extension education, and industry outreach to support the nursery and horticulture industries. Her work focuses on improving nursery crop production and helping green industry businesses adopt effective marketing strategies and digital tools. A dedicated leader within the International Plant Production Society (IPPS) Southern Region, Cheryl served as regional president, helped lead the successful 2020 North American Virtual Summit, and recently played an important role in guiding the region’s strategic planning process. Her commitment to education, collaboration, and advancing the nursery industry was recognized with the IPPS Southern Region Fellow Award.
Congratulations to Doug and Cheryl on these well-deserved honors! Thank you both for your contributions to horticulture and for helping advance the mission of IPPS. We are proud to celebrate your achievements!
