NYSNLA at the Great New York State Fair - August 2023
Scenes from Our Court of Honor Ceremony & Summer Celebration  

A GREAT DAY FOR OUR 2023 HONOREES, NYSNLA, AND OUR PROFESSION!  The Great New York State Fair opened on August 23 and we held our Court of Honor in the Courtyard of the Horticulture Building. Throughout the Fair's run, NYSNLA continues to be present in our maintenance of the Courtyard and promoting New York State's incredible nursery and landscape professionals through our interpretive signage with QR codes that bring viewers to informative pages on NYSNLA's website.

Scenes from the 2023 Court of Honor

It was a beautiful, sunny day in Syracuse as NYSNLA members, supporters, Honorees' families, friends and colleagues, and members of the general public came together for our annual marquee event.

Click here to view/download our Court of Honor Program.
Please check out our advertisers and all those who made our event possible!

The CNLP of the Year and Dr. George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Award Listings
displayed on the wall of the Courtyard.  

The Hall of Fame Award Listing displayed on the wall of the Courtyard. 

Some of NYSNLA's signage and materials found in the Courtyard
that promote our association, CNLPs and profession.

A group photo of Court of Honor attendees--right before the start of the Ceremony. 

NYSNLA President Melissa Caggiano, CNLP, welcomes everyone to the Court of Honor Ceremony.

Our 2023 Honorees on the red carpet. From l to r: Hall of Fame Inductee Gary G. Gasparini, Lifetime CNLP; Dr. George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Recipient Jerry R. Parmenter, Senior CNLP; CNLP of the Year David R. Clark, CNLP; and David Reeves,
accepting the Hall of Fame Induction on behalf of his late wife, Sharlene L. Reeves, Lifetime CNLP. 

CNLP of the Year David R. Clark, CNLP with NYSNLA President Melissa Caggiano, CNLP, and Steven S. Sypniewski, Lifetime CNLP, President of PlanyWNY-Region 6, who presented the award to David.

Hall of Fame Inductee Gary G. Gasparini, Lifetime CNLP, with President Caggiano, and long-time fellow
PlantCNY-Region 4 Member James Sollecito, Senior Lifetime CNLP, who nominated and introduced Gary.

For the posthumous induction of Sharlene L. Reeves, Lifetime CNLP, the honor was accepted by Sharlene's sister, Darlene Baum and husband, David Reeves. They are seen here with President Caggiano and PlantGFLX-Region 5 Secretary-Treasurer and
NYSNLA Immediate Past President Karl Naegler, CNLP, who presented the award.

Dr. George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Recipient Jerry R. Parmenter, Senior CNLP, seen here with President Caggiano,
Donna W. Moramarco, CNLP, who nominated and introduced Jerry, as well as with Dr. Good's wife, Carolyn,
daughter Jennifer, and granddaughters Katie and Madeline.   

CNLP of the Year David R. Clark, CNLP, being congratulated by his guests and fellow PlantWNY-Region 6 colleagues.

Hall of Fame Inductee Gary G. Gasparini, Lifetime CNLP, being congratulated by his family
and members of the Gasparini Landscaping Company Team.  

Darlene Baum and David Reeves, honoring the memory Sharlene L. Reeves,
along with PlantGFLX-Region 5 leaders and members. 

Dr. George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Recipient Jerry R. Parmenter, Senior CNLP, being congratulated
by his parents, daughters, wife, and members of the Elemental Landscapes Team.

NYSNLA's current and past leaders gather for a group shot representing hundreds of years of service
to the association and Green Industry!

NYSNLA Treasurer Beth Fry, Lifetime CNLP; President Melissa Caggiano, CNLP; Vice President Liz Snyder, Senior CNLP;
and Immediate Past President Karl Naegler, CNLP, gather by the waterfall in the Courtyard.

The evening before the Court of Honor, NYSNLA held its Summer Celebration, where the Board of Directors, members and supporters came together to meet our Honorees, get caught-up and enjoy good food and company... 

President Melissa Caggiano welcomes everyone to the Summer Celebration.

Honorees Gary Gasparini, Jerry Parmenter, President Caggiano, and David Clark.

NYSNLA's current President and Past Presidents enjoying the Summer Celebration.

Guest enjoying their time together.

A good time was had by all! 

NYSNLA Board Member & Region 7 Director Mark Masseo and Administrator Lauren Vink, once again, ran an entertaining Prize Raffle and 50/50 drawing, with the winner taking home a $310.00 prize! Thank you to all the Regions and supporters who donated prizes!  

Thank You to All Who Made This Possible!

Click here to view the many hard-working volunteers and incredible supporters who make NYSNLA's presence at the Great New York State Fair and our Court of Honor a reality. We thank them all!      

The 2023 Court of Honor

NYSNLA is proud to present to our membership, supporters, professional community, and the public, the distinguished colleagues who were celebrated at our 2023 Court of Honor at the Great New York State Fair on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. 

2023 CNLP of the Year	2023 Hall of Fame Inductee	2023 Hall of Fame Inductee Posthumously Awarded	2023 Dr. George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture
David R. Clark, CNLP	Gary Gasparini, Lifetime CNLP	Sharlene Reeves, Lifetime CNLP - RIP -	Jerry Parmenter, Senior CNLP
From Region 6 / PlantWNY	From Region 4 / PlantCNY	From Region 5 / PlantGFLX	From Region 3

Our 2023 Courtyard Design Focus: A Sensory Garden

NYSNLA has, once again, transformed the Courtyard of the Horticulture Building into a Sensory Garden, where the public can enjoy experiencing and learning about this type of garden as they take in the Fairgrounds. 

What is a Sensory Garden? A sensory garden is a garden that has a collection of plants and other elements that are appealing to move or more of the five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. Sensory gardens should be accessible for all people to enjoyed--disabled and non-disabled.  

Learn More About Sensory Gardens  

If you have any questions about our State Fair activities or the Court of Honor,
please contact the NYSNLA Office at:
518-580-4063 or [email protected]