MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Career Center’s Landscape & Ag Technology program won first place at the 11th annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics.
The Ohio Green Industry Association’s competition was held at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster.
KCCC’s Landscape Olympics is coming off a 2025 third-place finish in the OHLO after
earning back-to-back first-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.
OHLO tests students’ skills through hands-on competitive events designed by
industry professionals. OHLO broadens the high school educational experience and introduces students to the many opportunities available in the green industry.
KCCC’s students competed in 20 events against 15 other schools with 169 competitors. They medaled in 12 of the 20 events. Three career center students finished in the top five as OHLO Top Individuals.
Weston Bostic, senior, finished in first place, followed by senior Ethan Hurlow in second place. Junior AJ Salmons finished fourth.
OHLO is open to all Ohio high schools and career centers with horticulture programs.
Single teams from all participating schools may compete in all events.
Competitive events test the students’ abilities to interact in a hands-on environment. Events are planned, implemented, and scored by industry sponsors using guidelines generated by OGIA.
“I am extremely proud of our students. They were meticulous in their approach and did a great job competing throughout the day at the Landscape Olympics,” John Campbell,
KCCC’s Landscape & Ag Technology instructor, said.
“I would like to thank all of the industry professionals for taking the time to judge each event and meet with students. OHLO is judged and put on entirely by businesses in the industry, and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Results
The top 10 finishers from the career center are:
CHAINSAW – 5th place – AJ Salmons
COMPACT EXCAVATOR – 1st place – Weston Bostic
COST ESTIMATING – 4th place – Landon Boyd & Bella Gullett
HARDSCAPE INSTALLATION – 5th place – Weston Bostic & Landon Boyd
HERBACEOUS PLANT ID – 1st place – Wyatt Payne
IRRIGATION – 1st place – Ethan Hurlow & Trey Stuntz
LANDSCAPE DESIGN – 4th place – Bella Gullett
LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING – 3rd place – Landon Hoover-Knuckles
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS – 2nd place – Ethan Hurlow & Jaxon Plumly
MINI TRACK LOADER – 2nd place – Landon Boyd
PLANT INSTALLATION – 2nd place – Nealie Oliver, AJ Salmons, and Alexia Wine
LANDSCAPE QUALITY AUDIT – 3rd place – AJ Salmons & Nealie Oliver
SALES PRESENTATION – 5th place – Alexia Wine
SKID STEER – 1st place – Weston Bostic
TOOL ID – 5th place – Madisyn Frost & AJ Salmons
SOD INSTALLATION – 1st place – Weston Bostic & Ethan Hurlow
TREE CLIMBING – 3rd place – Mason Bennett & Colton Churchheus
TRUCK & TRAILER – 2nd place – Ethan Hurlow & Jaxon Plumly
WOODY PLANT ID – 10th place – Trey Stuntz