Telephone: 772-219-1840  Fax  772-219-1860                                    Address: 10205 SW Pratt & Whitney Rd. Stuart, FL 34997

BULLDOG HORTICULTURE AND SPORTS TURF COMPLEX

South Fork High School and Martin County are extremely proud of the Bulldog Horticulture and Sports Turf Complex; a twenty five acre innovative educational model that is the envy of high schools throughout the nation.  The facility includes a citrus grove, a working plant nursery, a shadehouse, and a propagation house.  Students are responsible for proper care of the plant material that is sold at our Annual Spring Plant Sale, and is utilized for campus projects. Another segment of the complex is a three hole, par three golf course.  This teaching facility includes challenging holes, with twelve tees, a practice range and a practice green. To our knowledge it is the only one of its kind on a high school campus in the United States.

The primary purpose of the Bulldog Horticulture and Sports Turf Complex is to be a true learning laboratory.  Students study the academics and gain the knowledge necessary to develop skills vital to the practices performed in three horticulture areas; ornamental plant nursery operations, landscape operations, and turfgrass management.  Student program of study includes: plant identification, plant propagation, plant care, soil science, landscape design and installation, the agronomics of growing turfgrass, cultural practices, irrigation, fertilizers, and integrated pest management.  Many of our students are currently employed at local golf courses, plant nurseries, and landscape companies.

            Overwhelming support has come from the Treasure Coast Golf Course Superintendent’s Association, plant nurseries, landscape companies, industry professionals and suppliers.  These devoted persons and organizations offer plant material, equipment and supplies whenever possible. Many of these dedicated individuals serve on our advisory committee.  They also share their expertise and wisdom through consultation and as guest speakers.  We would not be able to survive without their unwavering assistance.

            Our students are quite proud of their accomplishments.  In 2004, the United States Department of Education recognized our program as one of twenty model “Programs of Excellence” in Career and Technical Education in the nation.  Golf Digest presented us with their prestigious “Junior Development Award”.  We have received numerous awards from our local Keep Martin Beautiful organization, and have been given many Green School Awards.  Numerous newspaper and horticulture magazine articles have been published about our program.

At the heart of our successful program are the energetic and dedicated students; they truly have pride in their achievements, and what this partnership with industry has created.  We are continually seeking support in any form to build upon and improve an already viable program.  We welcome all to participate and help strengthen this curriculum of excellence of which we can all be proud.

Sincerely,

Keith Krueger

Horticulture Instructor