Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ken Cochran, program director of Ohio State University’s Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, has been named an honorary member of The Garden Club of America, one of the group’s highest accolades. Cochran was recognized during a presentation at the GCA’s annual meeting earlier this year.
In honoring Cochran, the GCA acknowledged his “lifetime of devotion to furthering landscape and horticultural excellence.” Honorary members of GCA are men and women of distinction in the fields of horticulture or conservation who are not nor have ever been members of a GCA club. Honorary membership is limited to 75 individuals, and a maximum of four are selected each year. The Akron Garden Club, a member of the GCA, nominated Cochran for the recognition.
Cochran has 47 years’ experience in the application of science and technology to landscape horticulture plus 22 years in the teaching field. He became curator and program director of Secrest Arboretum in 1984. Secrest is part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) Secrest’s 120 acres of display gardens showcase landscape solutions that aid visitors in selecting appropriate sustainable plants.
