Horticultural student proves work and school do mix

By MONETTE TAYLOR | Country World South Central

May 24, 2001 -- The floral manager at a Kroger's in Cypress is Sarah Krause. She works full-time, just finished her second semester at Houston Community College (HCC) carrying 15 semester hours at night with all "A's," and has four employees under her.

Not exceptional, except that she is 18 years old.

When she told her parents that she had been offered the management position, they were surprised.

"They are stunned! When I told them they wanted to make me a manager, they were like, 'you've got so much on your plate already,' and I was like, I know, but I think that I can do it," said Krause.

Krause recently won first place in the State in a Horticulture Quiz Contest at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. The competition was between community college students from all over Texas. Questions ranged from what was the state flower of Texas to identifying a cross between two plants, using scientific names.

"We are very proud of our agriculture and horticulture students who participated in this prestigious contest," said Seth Knight, Agriculture Department Chair at HCC. "HCC is the only college in the greater Houston area that offers agriculture and horticulture classes."

"It's a real nice program. All the people are real close and supportive of each other. Age differences don't matter. We've got people in there who are retired and looking for something as a hobby or just to learn how to take care of the plants in their yards. Then, there's people like me who are just starting and fixing to make it a career," said Krause. "I like the smallness of the program. You can raise your hand and ask and get any answer for any question you may have."

She became interested in plants while helping her dad with his garden and yard. When she was in the ninth grade, her dad told her he thought she would be really good in horticulture.

"I said, what in the world is that," said Krause.

He continued to tell her about landscaping, purchasing and other avenues in the horticulture world and she was hooked. Landscaping and design are a main interest for her.

The students at HCC are in charge of the plants used at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They design and take care of them and at the end of the show, they put the plants up for sale with the proceeds going to a scholarship fund.

Krause has big plans, after she completes HCC. She is looking forward to transfering to Stephen F. Austin State University to complete her upper level courses and receive a degree...or two. After that, she already knows what she wants to do with her degree.

"I want to landscape the Houston Zoo...all the habitats for the animals. I like the tropical plants...I like the colors and textures, and the animals have specific environments they're supposed to have around them," said Krause.

Students at HCC work in their own greenhouse and several of the instructors are nursery owners. Several times a year, plants are produced for public sale with those funds going into the scholarship fund, too, said Krause.

She said her favorite plant is "whatever is in front of her," and although she really doesn't see any down side to a future in horticulture, she feels that people in that career are under paid.

"People don't get paid enough for horticulture, considering that agriculture and horticulture feed the world and put clothes on our backs. That's the kind of thing that's important," said Krause.