Skip to Main Content

HLA professor awarded distinguished fellowship

Aaron Patton, professor and associate head of horticulture and landscape architecture (HLA), was recently awarded a fellowship by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Fellow is the highest honor conferred by the ASA and recognizes Patton’s contributions in agronomy through Extension and research.

Patton develops and delivers educational material for the turf grass industry throughout the Midwest. His involvement in cutting-edge turf grass science allows Patton to deliver the most up-to-date materials to industry partners.

“Aaron is actively engaged in the turf grass science and the turf weed science communities. He has established a research program that focuses on the challenging and necessary issues of reducing inputs and environmental risks while improving turf quality and health,” Linda Prokopy, HLA professor and department head, said. “The research he conducts is relevant, novel, needed and beneficial to his large Extension audience. Our department and turf grass professionals in Indiana are very fortunate to benefit from his expertise.”

Patton also serves as executive director of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF), which he runs in conjunction with his colleague and HLA professor Cale Bigelow. Together, they oversee MRTF and fulfill its mission to support turf grass research and education through a variety of outlets at Purdue.

Currently, Patton’s research program has three main facets: weed ecology and control, how turf grass management impacts soil and plant health and adapting novel zoysiagrass germplasm for use in the Midwest.

The theme connecting these three areas is a commitment to reducing environmental inputs without sacrificing turf grass quality. Patton’s contributions in these areas have benefited the turf grass industry while also helping mold the next generation of turf scientists.

Featured Stories

a male smiling
Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Kent Hamstra

Kent Hamstra, a Purdue junior, pursues dairy nutrition with hands-on research, internships and...

Read More
Gateway Arch at Purdue University
Purdue, Kearney announce partnership to enhance agribusiness education and innovation

Kearney’s agriculture and food team and Purdue University’s Center for Food and...

Read More
Male researcher water collecting data from water tank
Working together to mitigate forever: Managing persistent PFAS in our environment

When Linda Lee received a sample of shellfish from an Alaskan reservation in 2005, she was...

Read More
a girl looking into a microscope
Junior Pork Day educates 4-H’ers and parents on swine industry

Junior Pork Day offers hands-on learning for 4-H’ers and parents on swine industry skills...

Read More
Cattle in a field
DIAL Ventures Agrifood Economy Index posts 8-point increase since August

The overall Agrifood Economy Index rose to 94 in December, recovering from August’s low of...

Read More
Ag-Lead-Pro-Mobile
Purdue Agriculture launches new leadership certificate for students

The College of Agriculture has introduced a new undergraduate leadership certificate program,...

Read More
To Top