Robert “ Robbie ” Eselby ’ 25 ( CAHNR ) has spent his summer doing one of his best-loved things : sour with plants .
Eselby is a sustainable plant and soil systems major specialize in environmental horticulture in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture .
One of Eselby ’s Book of Job this summer is working in the UConn Floriculture Greenhouses in Storrs , a continuation of the work he does during the school year .

Eselby helps keep the greenhouses over the summer to ensure they are in good consideration for the start of the semester . He work on the maintenance of the physical glasshouse anatomical structure as well as the plant themselves .
Plant care involves repotting plants , removing pests , and anything else needed to keep them in good wellness .
“ It ’s really whatever is require to make certain our plants are successful , and they ’re quick for when the students come in the descent , ” Eselby says .
Eselby also process with Steve ’s Tree Service , base in Winsted , CT , this summertime . Eselby worked with the gang to off , prune , and provide other care for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout northwestern Connecticut .
Eselby say he has been removing a lot of ash trees , in particular since they have been impacted by the invasive emerald ash borer .
Taking down sick or idle trees is important as they can hang , damage their environs and potentially ache someone .
Eselby read his summer work experiences have been rewarding , as they allowed him to work alongside other people who love and wish about plant as much as he does .
“ The hoi polloi I make for with are every bit as passionate about works skill , and they ’re evenly as passionate about what they do , ” Eselby says . “ And it makes me more excited to come to work because there are more the great unwashed like me who are crazy flora people who just need to help everything flourish in the greenhouse . ”
Eselby has been a womb-to-tomb plant - lover , bound from a childhood spent garden with his female parent .
As a student at Northwest Regional High School , an agrarian schooling in Winsted , Eselby ’s pursuit in plant skill deepened .
“ The science behind it , raising the plant , getting the reward at the conclusion of either sell that plant or take care of that plant and watching it flourish , that ’s what keeps me here , ” Eselby says .
Eselby just strike out as the Connecticut State FFA President . Eselby had been involved with FFA since his sentence at Northwestern Regional High School . As president , Eselby traveled within and beyond the commonwealth , running leading shop for other member focused on building their advocacy and leading power in USDA .
“ FFA encompass the leadership side of agriculture and has helped me build up into who I am today , ” Eselby says .
Eselby plans to eventually pursue a PhD in flora scientific discipline . work in the greenhouses this summertime expose him to many of the plant scientific discipline research undertaking happening at UConn as he helped researchers prepare plants or grime for experiment .
“ produce to expand my interest group areas through seeing what other researchers are doing has been incredibly worthful , ” Eselby say .
Eselby say he enjoy the diversity within the flora science field .
“ Plant science is such a wide field with so many little specialties throughout it – whether you ’re focusing on tropical works , whether you ’re sharpen on bugology or craw science – there ’s fairly much a plant or interest area for everyone , ” Eselby says .
Source : uconn.edu