At UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, we work closely with residents, volunteers, and professionals on a wide range of topics in horticulture, with a focus on promoting plant health through best management practices (BMPs) in the landscape and beyond. We also support professionals through technical assistance, trainings, and educational programs that help strengthen our local green industry while protecting our local natural resources. We are excited to continue growing these opportunities with the help of our new Commercial Horticulture Program Specialist, Tracy Calla.
We are pleased to welcome Tracy in her new role, where she will work closely with commercial horticulture stakeholders across Sarasota County, such as landscape and tree care professionals, to address their needs by providing relevant educational programs and resources, along with technical support through site visits and plant diagnostic help.
Tracy brings a strong combination of horticultural knowledge, educational leadership, and community engagement to this position. She most recently served as Director of Education at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, where she developed and led mission-based educational programming across both campuses. She has also previously served as the Community Outreach Specialist at our office, where she provided administrative support to several horticulture-related programs. Her professional background also includes landscape horticulture, nurseries and garden centers, greenhouse management, plant diagnostics, and educational program development.
Tracy holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre Studies (which makes her quite the entertainer), along with an Associate of Science in Landscape and Horticulture Management from Palm Beach State College. She has also recently completed a Master of Education in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Adult and Continuing Education. Her graduate work explored how hands-on gardening activities shape adult environmental learning, reflecting her deep interest in how people learn through direct experience with plants. She is also a Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) Certified Instructor, a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Certified Professional (FFLCP), and holds credentials in Worker Protection Standards (WPS) training, horticultural therapy, and environmental interpretation.
Tracy is a dynamic educator and horticulturist with a passion for connecting people and plants. Her background in public gardens, education, horticulture, and interpretation makes her especially well-suited to help expand Extension’s support for commercial horticulture professionals and the broader community. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to the knowledge, creativity, and energy she will bring to this role.
You can reach Tracy Calla with your commercial horticulture questions, training needs, or to learn more about the program by emailing tracy.calla@ufl.edu or calling (941) 415-0021. If you’d like to sign up to join the Field Notes e-newsletter list to be notified of future programs, helpful information, and relevant resources, you can do so by going to https://tiny.cc/ufsaraext_news.
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