College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

Every year, the MSU Student Horticulture Association participates in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC) organized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). This event was formerly called the PLANET SCD.

2024's event was held at Brigham Young University from March 13th to March 16th.

In 2023 at Mississippi State University, our team won 5th nationally out of the 46 participating colleges.  

Congratulations to all of our members who competed in 2023 NCLC and placed in the top 15! 

3D Exterior Landscape Design - Sydney Bess (10th)

Annual/Perennial ID - Seth Benjamin (6th), Wesley Walters (13th)

Arboriculture Techniques - Ian Holcomb, Emma Brinks (12th)

Business Management - Kelley Chase (3rd), Emma Brinks (4th)

Computer Aided Landscape Design - Sydney Bess (10th)

Compact Track/Skid Steer - Joey Vredevoogd (4th)

Employee Development - Emma Brinks, Anna Baker (6th)

Exterior Landscape Design - Nate Higley (2nd)

Hardscape Installation - Parker Stephenson, Joey Vredevoogd (5th)

Interior Landscape Design - Dan Onofrio (7th)

Interior Plant ID - Lily Arriaga (14th)

Irrigation Design - Anna Baker (4th)

Irrigation Troubleshooting - Isaac McKay, Steven Peterson (2nd)

Landscape Lighting - Ian Holcomb (8th)

Landscape Maintenance Ops - Drew Jepson, Parker Stephenson (14th)

Maintenance Cost Estimating - Drew Jepson (5th), Cailyn Kerner (12th)

Mini Track Loader Operation - Drew Jepson (9th)

Plant Problem Diagnosis - Ila Tuller (9th)

Robotics & Tech in Landscape - Ian Holcomb (11th)

Safety First - Chandler Deering, Katie Fulkerson (3rd)

Tractor Loader Backhoe Operation - Joey Vredevoogd (13th)

Truck & Trailer Operation - Parker Stephenson, Joey Vredevoogd (8th)

Turf & Weed ID - Joe Reamsnyder (2nd), Brandon Scott (4th)

Our MSU Coach: 

Marcus Duck

Marcus Duck became the coach for MSU’s NCLC Team in fall 2003, and has attended every event since (except for 2009 when his twins were born).  He is passionate about this event, and the positive (and sometimes life-changing) impact it can have on a student's future.  Marcus knows this firsthand; he competed in 1995 at Cal-Poly SLO and in 1996 at Richland College (TX) while he was an undergrad at Auburn University.