It’s not surprising that Lydia Nelson chose a profession where she could work with her hands. However, friends in her hometown of Kenosha might have guessed she would be elbow-deep in technology, not dirt, worms and turf.
“I learned a lot about turf and what it needs, which is really funny because I hated turf when I first came to CVTC. I thought, ‘I’m not going to go into that,’ but now I love it, and I’ve learned so much about it.”
Nelson graduated high school from Lakeview Technology Academy, where she took many engineering and shop classes.
“I had a really great time in high school, and I’ve always loved to be hands-on,” Nelson said.
She graduated in 2020, and her future in technology was waiting – she chose to attend a university for engineering. But she quickly determined that engineering wasn’t quite the right fit.
“The whole time I was thinking about horticulture,” she said. “I ended up not liking engineering, but I loved the area, so I stayed here and looked for a horticulture program.”
Enter Chippewa Valley Technical College and its Landscape, Plant and Turf Management program, and Nelson was in her glory. She began the two-year program in the fall of 2022.
“My mom was a master gardener. I grew up always playing in the garden, and I’d join her for projects around town,” Nelson said. “I would follow her around in the garden and plant things. I love to be outside.”
As she entered the college program, Nelson thought she might work in a greenhouse after receiving her degree. Then, she took a couple more classes and fell in love with trees. Her focus shifted to being an arborist. Then, in her second year at CVTC, she landed an internship with UW-Eau Claire as a groundkeeper.
“You get to do so much every day, and you get to take care of an area and take pride in that area,” she said.
After graduating, she was hired as the sole groundskeeper for The Sonnentag – the largest indoor event venue in northwestern Wisconsin. At nearly 105,000 square feet, the complex has an incredible amount of green space for Nelson to maintain. But she says she is up for the challenge.
“At CVTC, I learned a lot about how to take care of the plants and what a plant needs for growth,” she said. “I learned a lot about turf and what it needs, which is really funny because I hated turf when I first came to CVTC. I thought, ‘I’m not going to go into that,’ but now I love it, and I’ve learned so much about it.”
Nelson gives much credit to Sean VanderWaal, CVTC Landscape, Plant and Turf Management instructor. She said he encouraged her to take the UWEC position, and she is “very glad that he did.”
VanderWaal said students who complete the CVTC program often find a career locally at greenhouses, landscape centers, or in a turf care position.
“Lydia (Nelson) was in our program because she wanted to be a professional in the green industry following her program completion,” VanderWaal said. “Her role at The Sonnentag is a tremendous step and starting point for young professionals in our industry.
“Her example is wonderful because it shows where drive, passion, and focus can lead someone in our industry. She made herself an asset with her education at CVTC and her drive to be successful.”
Although Nelson is soft-spoken, she couldn’t stop talking about her position as groundskeeper and how excited she is to help cultivate the beauty around the new building.
“I’m gifted with this brand-new beautiful landscape, and there’s so much that I have to do, but it’s mine, and I get to keep it beautiful,” she said. “And when I drive by, I say, ‘Hey, that looks great! Those flowers look awesome, or that turf looks great. I did it.’ ”
