Past Features
Featuring: Luke Dant
M.S. Horticulture - 2005
Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. - Greensboro, NC
Technical Sales Support
It is interesting how as kids and young adults we have our lives and careers planned out to the last detail but, rarely do these plans and dreams come true. Coming out of high school, my career plan was to attend Iowa State University for four years and obtain an undergraduate degree in Horticulture with the goal of working in the field of landscape installation and maintenance. Fortunately for myself, not a whole lot of those childhood dreams and aspirations have come true.
In high school, my brother and I started a lawn and landscape maintenance company to earn extra money during the summer months. During this period of time, I was convinced that I wanted to expand my knowledge of the landscape industry and start a career in landscape installation. I started at Iowa State in the fall of 1999 in Horticulture specializing in landscape design and installation. After completing a summer internship with a landscape installation company, I questioned whether I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
During the next semester I enrolled in Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance (Hort 351) and upon completing this course, knew that I had found my true interest. During the rest of my undergraduate career I completed internships and also had the opportunity to work as a Research Technician at the Iowa State University Turfgrass Research Facility in Gilbert, IA.
Dr. Nick Christians recommended that I begin a research project that could be used as part of a Masters project while I was finishing the last year of my undergraduate degree. I was hesitant to commit to another two years of college, but agreed to do the research project. With the help of Dr. Christians and the friendship of graduate colleagues, I completed my master project (Establishment of Glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass) in June 2005 and graduated in August of that same year.
I started working with Syngenta Crop Protection in August, 2005 as a Field Consultant in the states of Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. As a consultant I meet with golf course superintendents to maximize the performance of plant-protectants by improving application practices. In March of 2006, I moved to North Carolina (Syngenta North American Headquarters) to work in technical support for our field sales representative and customers. I enjoy my daily work, have the opportunity to travel on average one week per month around the country and it has been fun living in a different part of the country, only 1,105 miles from the place I grew up (Forest City, Iowa).
To this day, I am amazed (or maybe I should not be) at the capital in the Iowa State University name specifically the Horticulture department. Our Professors are known by name in their specialty areas nation-wide! Other than the occasional "boo" from our one of our Big 12 competitors, all references to Iowa State are positive. I, in addition, can honestly and confidently say that my experience at Iowa State was positive and I am glad that I can carry the confidence in Iowa State's education with me!
Cheers,
Luke
