Adam Sarmiento has worked in the fields of organic agriculture, landscaping and horticulture since 1998. After some initial apprenticeships and trainings in organic agriculture Adam began applying ecological and organic concepts to landscaping in the late 90s. His design/build firm Eco Landscaping focuses on ecologically beneficial, utilitarian spaces that celebrate the regional character of Oklahoma. The company has been featured in 405 magazine and The Norman Transcript. His writings have been published in Oklahoma Gardener and The Gaillardia. His landscape designs have been awarded Norman’s “Water’s Worth It” award and he has contributed landscape designs to numerous area schools. He regularly gives presentations and workshops on native plants, mini-farming, and ecological gardening. He has served as the vice president of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.

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Mark Howery has worked as a Nongame Wildlife Biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for 31 years and has worked with a wide range of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish during that time. Mark's time is divided between conservation measures that benefit rare and declining wildlife species, and increasing the appreciation for Oklahoma's common native wildlife. Mark is a fourth-generation Oklahoma native raised in Norman and he has a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in Zoology from the University of South Florida.

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Tony Pascall is the Education Coordinator for the Oklahoma Forestry Services.  He has 8 years of classroom experience, and is passionate about making sure that all kids get to have a connection with the outdoors.

Bret Scovill is the Solid Waste Division Manager for the City of Norman, Oklahoma and serves on the Board of Directors for The Oklahoma Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America, and the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Recycle Association. He is the 2022 recipient of the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Pauline Harrison is retired from teaching, and her husband, Justin, retired from the oil and gas field. Although they have had to go back to work part-time since then, they have started a business together. Are they certified in horticulture? No. Are they passionate about flowers and growing their future TOGETHER through gardening? Yes! They can’t wait to share their story with you!

Ryan is an agriculture extension agent in Benton County Arkansas which is in the northwest corner of the state.  He also owns and operates a pick-your-own blueberry and blackberry farm in Rogers, Arkansas.

Blueberry Presentation
Blackberry Presentation

Sam has worked with trees for 20 years and counting, and has held an International Society of Arboriculture Arborist certification for most of that time. Sam's pride comes from the hands-on contact he has with trees, the moments when he makes their world a better place.
Sam likes to think of himself as an international Arborist, being a citizen of three different countries. Having climbed and planted trees in many places, Sam chooses to work in the Cross Timbers region of Oklahoma. What better place to practice his art than Scissortail Park’s 70 acres?! Scissortail is a monstrous undertaking in urban forestry and he's proud to put his fingerprint on it.

Sam's goal is to cast Shade.

Charles has worked for the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program for the past 22 years doing pesticide applicator training, coordinating the Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program, and Worker Protection Standard training. Prior to working in Pesticide Education at OSU he worked for the OSU State Wheat Specialist for five years on wheat variety trials and other wheat research. Charles received a Bachelors Degree in Agronomy from Oklahoma State University in 1994. A native Oklahoman, Charles grew up in Eakly on a peanut, cattle, and wheat farm in Caddo County.

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Casey is the face you see when tuning in to Oklahoma Gardening. Before joining forces with the OKG team, she served as director of horticulture at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City. She also worked for ValleyCrest Landscaping Companies, where she was responsible for the management of the landscape at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Currently, Casey's main responsibility is writing, producing, and hosting the weekly Oklahoma Gardening television show. She also enjoys the opportunity to give horticulture presentations and Master Gardener training throughout the year.  

Susan Turner and her husband Dave started their Beekeeping adventure over a cup of coffee with friends in 2017. Through classes, hands-on, and trial and error, they have learned every phase of Beekeeping including harvesting and processing the honey and wax. By capturing swarms, splitting hives and doing bee removals/rescues, they have increased their number of apiaries from two to over twenty. They use everything the bees give them and have branched out to include making lotions, lip balm, beeswax candles, and flavored honey. The blessing of their bees keeps them amazed and fascinated. Beekeeping has been a wonderful hobby for their retirement years.

Dennis Bilbrey has worked in farming and ranching most of his life. Animal husbandry was a way of life for him. After retirement, he was prepared to continue with a new kind of livestock, honeybees. Honeybees need plants to forage for pollen and nectar so this brings in the farming side of life again. Dennis is working to complete his Master Gardener’s training, and this will allow him the opportunity to help the bees as well as his neighbors.

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Allan Storjohann uses his experiences, background and education as the host of the KRMG Gardening Show. A seasoned radio personality, he has answered gardening questions and promoted hobby and business horticulture in Oklahoma on the air every Saturday since 1984. Now retired, Allan continues his radio broadcast, writes for horticulture publications, assists in statewide horticulture programs and volunteers locally. He can be reached by email, [email protected]. 

Julia Laughlin works for the Oklahoma County Extension Service as the Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator. She enjoys helping people succeed with gardening. She wants to help people enjoy being outdoors,  learn about gardening and encourage them to work in their own garden spaces. Julia has also done this through the roles of OSU-OKC Horticulture Department Head and faculty member, manager of Prairie Earth Gardens, and international garden tour guide. Julia holds a bachelor and master of science degrees in horticulture from Oklahoma State University.

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