Our Presenters!

These are some of our last presenters

Brian F Finnigan, M.S.- Grafting workshop

Brian was raised on a 10-acre apple orchard in the 50s and helped his Dad bud and plant a 30-acre Red Delicious orchard near Chelan, Washington.  Attended WSU and graduated with B.S. in Horticulture and M.S. in Entomology.  He became owner/operator of a landscaping business and tree farm in Idaho Falls for four years in the 70s.  He accepted the position of UI Extension Educator in Bingham County in 1980 and retired in 2002.  Major project in Extension was helping several growers establish new small apple orchards.  He now prunes and grafts fruit trees commercially on a limited basis.  He wrote a booklet entitled "Growing Apples for Local Markets in Cold Climates" (UI BUL 820) that was published in 2000.  This is available free online or contact local Extension for $2.50.  Married 50 years, 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren. 

Dr. Stephen Love _ Seed Saving workshop

is a University of Idaho Extension consumer horticulture specialist at the university’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. He earned his bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. in horticulture and plant physiology at Clemson University. 

Dr. Love is leader of the University of Idaho’s Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Team. 

He delivers homeowner education on topics related to landscaping and gardening. 

He is Webmaster of the Idaho Landscapes and Gardens web site

which can be found at (www.extension.uidaho.edu/idahogardens).

Wayne Jones- Season Extending Hoop Houses

Wayne Jones is an extension educator for the University of Idaho in the Idaho Falls area.  He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University.  Mr. Jones specializes in both plant pathology and ornamental horticulture.  His horticulture interests are broad, and he thoroughly studies many topics that he then shares with others.  Some of his most recent areas of interest include hobby greenhouses and cold frames, alternative gardening methods and home plant propagation.  He has a very active Master Gardeners group in Bonneville County, Idaho, that volunteer many hours in their community. 


Mike Egan- Owner Egans Greenhouse 


I've been around the nursery business since about 1970 . My parents owned a nursery in Bedford wyo. went to work for the mart here in Idaho falls in1971 worked there and managed one of there garden shops for a couple of years. Then then through the years worked off and on with my. Parents in there nursery then in 1988 we opened Egan's greenhouse here on the ririe hwy. my wife Luann and have benn the owners for the past 24 years. We started out with one 32x96 ft.greenhouse now we have 7 around 17,600sq. Ft. Of growing area. We grow most all or our plants from seeds. We grow a Huge selection of vegetable plants for our areas & also  a wide selection of bedding plants as well as Hanging baskets, and fertilizers a pest control items for your yard and garden. We also specialize in raising garden fresh vine ripe tomatoes currently we have close to 3000 plants. We start picking them the 1st. Of June each year. Also we grow some European cucumbers seedless and very tasty.


Sam Tower - Herbs
Sam Tower is the Sargeant for the Rigby Police Department, a state certified instructor in arrest techniques and ground fighting and and black belt in Fuakoshi Karate. He is currently working towards his bachelors degree in Holistic Health Sciences and is a Master Herbalist. Sam enjoys canning all sorts of foods, advocating the benefits of babywearing and attachment parenting and home educating his 4 children along with his wife, Kimber. He eagerly awaits every spring when he can plant his garden again and make new plants grow. Sam spends a lot of time wildcrafting herbs for his tinctures and teas. He has spent the last few years assisting others in planting their gardens, finding herbs in their backyard and understanding how herbs can benefit their lives.