We’re proud to share some exciting news: Andy Ernst, Vice President of Ernst Conservation Seeds, has been named the 2025 Hall of Fame Award recipient by the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA).
The Hall of Fame Award is among the highest honors in Pennsylvania’s horticulture community. It recognizes individuals whose contributions have strengthened the industry not just for today but for the future. For Ernst, this recognition is more than a personal achievement—it’s a moment that reflects the values, dedication, and long-standing mission that guide our work at Ernst Seeds.
We want to congratulate Andy, and also celebrate everyone at Ernst who has shaped and supported our conservation-first approach over the years—from our family of employees to our customers, partners, and peers in the field.
What is the PLNA Hall of Fame Award?
Founded over a century ago, the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association has long served as a hub for horticulture professionals nationwide. Through education, advocacy, and industry support, PLNA helps shape the future of landscaping, nursery operations, and sustainable land management in Pennsylvania and beyond.
The PLNA Hall of Fame Award isn’t handed out lightly. Reserved for professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the field at both the state and local levels, it highlights those who go beyond the demands of their day jobs to elevate the industry as a whole.
Reflections on the 2025 PLNA Annual Conference
This year’s PLNA Annual Conference in Lancaster, PA, brought together professionals from across the horticulture, landscape, and nursery sectors—despite winter weather. The event was a lively mix of learning, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussion, from keynote talks on naturalistic landscapes to breakout sessions on native plant use and invasive species management.
For us, the highlight was the Awards Luncheon, where Andy Ernst was formally inducted into the PLNA Hall of Fame. Standing alongside other accomplished leaders in the field, Andy’s recognition felt less like a personal victory and more like a celebration of shared purpose. It was also a reminder: this is a community that thrives when ideas, expertise, and values are exchanged freely.
The conference reaffirmed what we’ve long believed—that building a more sustainable, resilient landscape depends on strong partnerships, open dialogue, and a shared commitment to the land.
Why Andy Ernst—and Why Ernst Seeds?
Andy Ernst’s recognition by PLNA is certainly personal, but it’s also deeply representative. His resume tells part of the story: Vice President of Ernst Conservation Seeds, nine years on PLNA’s Board of Directors (including two as Chair), a long-time member of the Government Relations Committee, and a representative voice on state-level agricultural councils and conservation committees.
But Andy’s real contribution can’t be captured just in titles. It’s in how he’s carried forward a legacy that began long before him.
The Ernst story started in the 1960s, when Andy’s father, Calvin Ernst, took an unconventional leap into the seed business by growing crownvetch for erosion control–a crop most people weren’t willing try producing. That early move, born of curiosity and persistence, eventually transformed into a full-fledged conservation seed enterprise. Andy, along with his siblings, was there through it all: helping in the fields, riding tractors, and learning firsthand that conservation isn’t just theory but practice.
Today, Andy leads with that same ethos. Whether advocating for better seed standards or collaborating on native species policy, his focus remains consistent: protect ecosystems, support stewards of the land, and help clients make sound, sustainable choices.
In that way, this award recognizes not just an individual career but the steady expansion of a mission grounded in restoration, ecology, and service.
A Legacy of Conservation at Ernst Seeds
When Calvin Ernst founded the company that would become Ernst Conservation Seeds, he wasn’t following a trend—he was anticipating one. Back then, native plants weren’t widely used. Crownvetch, a non-native legume, was among the few options for large-scale erosion control. But Calvin saw the limitations early and began experimenting with other species, often sourcing and cultivating plants no one else was growing at a commercial scale.
By the 1990s, that vision had evolved. Ernst began shifting away from non-natives and toward native ecotypes. At the time, this was a bold move. Government agencies were only starting to rethink their approach to revegetation and restoration. But Calvin, along with his family and team, saw where the science and stewardship were heading.
That decision laid the groundwork for what Ernst Seeds is today: a leading producer of native and naturalized seeds for conservation, ecological restoration, wildlife habitat, and sustainable landscaping.
With over 10,000 acres in production, a dedicated team of 80+ full-time employees, and decades of applied research and fieldwork, Ernst has built something rare in this industry: a vertically integrated, mission-driven company that supports clients at every step, from seed selection to site success.
Through it all, the Ernst family has kept the business rooted, literally and figuratively, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Their long-standing presence in the region has allowed them to form enduring relationships with local farmers, government agencies, universities, and restoration professionals. That kind of consistency is part of what this award celebrates.
Looking Ahead: The Mission Continues
Awards are a chance to reflect, but at Ernst Conservation Seeds, they also reinforce the responsibility that comes with recognition. The challenges facing our landscapes—erosion, biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation—are complex, and they won’t be solved by short-term fixes.
That’s why we remain committed to the long game: growing native seed crops that restore ecological function, working with partners who share our values, and helping customers find native seeds and succeed in real-world restoration projects. From our home in Meadville to job sites across the country, we see every project as part of a bigger ecological story.
The Hall of Fame recognition is an honor, but it doesn’t mark the finish line. It marks a moment. And we’re ready for what comes next.
Proud to Be Recognized—Driven to Keep Going
We’re proud of Andy. We’re proud of the team that has enabled him to contribute to the green industry And we’re honored to be part of a community that values ecological integrity.
If you’re looking for award-winning expertise in landscape management—or just need advice on what seed mix will work best in your meadow—contact the experts at Ernst Conservation Seeds. We’re here to help.
