Source: www.TurfMagazine.com
Dr. Louis Berninger was inducted into the Wisconsin Green Industry Hall of Fame during the October 12th Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin Fall Greenhouse Conference. A plaque was presented to Lou by WGIF board member and CFGW Vice President George Radtke. Presenting the award at that meeting was fitting since Lou started this educational program thirty years ago.
Dr. Berninger came to the University of Wisconsin in 1954 and retired in 1984. He worked extensively in marketing and crop production with Wisconsin greenhouses and Horticulture industry, established a weekly television program broadcast throughout the Midwest and taught marketing of ornamental crops in the UW Horticulture Department. Lou received many awards for his innovation and teaching and saw many changes in the industry during his many years at the University of Wisconsin.
At the presentation, Dr. Berninger thanked the Wisconsin Green Industry Federation for the award and said that we must adapt or we won’t survive. He spoke from experience since he saw a great deal of transition in greenhouse production while at the University of Wisconsin. Cut flowers were the king of greenhouse crops when he started at UW with carnations, roses, snapdragons, and chrysanthemums being the major crops produced, but that transitioned to pot plants and finally into bedding plants in 1984. The industry continues to change and so must those working in it.
Congratulations, Dr. Berninger and thank you for your efforts and your insight.