The Legacy and Future of the National Collegiate Landscape Competition

What began in 1977 as a friendly challenge between college programs to see which landscape students had the strongest skills has now evolved into the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, which features 55+ colleges and more than 750 students competing in events and networking with industry professionals.

At this first event, nearly 200 individuals from five colleges attended and 18 industry members came at their own expense to judge, establishing a partnership between the industry and students that continues today.

Formerly known as the ALCA Field Days and Student Career Days, the event was rebranded as NCLC in 2015.

While the event’s name has changed over the past five decades, the influence of NCLC has stayed the same, shaping numerous students’ careers and providing the industry with top-notch hires.

“NCLC played an important role in my career by reinforcing my confidence in the industry, and reaching 50 years is a true testament to the value of the program and the impact it continues to have on the industry,” says Amayrani Castillo, a landscape consultant with Lawn Management Company, LLC, based in Houston, Texas.

What The Industry Gains

Oftentimes, NCLC is the first time students truly understand the breadth of opportunities the landscape industry offers by attending the career fair at the event.

“This event is truly life changing, and the industry plays a powerful role in helping students understand what their future can be and being the ones to help them step into it,” says Jenn Myers, senior director of workforce development for NALP. “It’s quite an important and powerful role that industry has at this event.” 

Myers says when she competed in 1999, NCLC helped her realize the sky’s the limit with all the different types of companies and service lines available.

NCLC also fosters an environment of camaraderie and passion that resonates with students and reaffirms they’ve chosen the right path.

“It builds credibility, confidence, and invests in the future workforce of our industry,” says Kohler Brafford, principal of White Pearl Management, based in Leesburg, Virginia. “Students make up their minds early about what they want to do with their lives after college, so the earlier we can get their attention, the better.”

Castillo adds that when the industry supports young professionals who may be unsure about their career path, it helps them gain clarity and stay within the industry.

“Competing in real-world scenarios, working alongside industry professionals, and witnessing how passionate companies were about developing the next generation of leaders confirmed that this was the right industry for me,” says McKenna Rowles, irrigation manager with Ruppert Landscape, based in Laytonsville, Maryland.

Participants in NCLC also frequently end up establishing connections that they carry with them for the rest of their careers.

“I still maintain relationships with former students from other schools, participating companies, scorers, judges, and professors,” Rowles says. “NCLC creates connections that truly last well beyond the competition.”

Likewise, Brafford says during his four years of competing, he had exposure to the faces of the industry and was able to cultivate relationships as a student that still exist today as a landscape professional. He says these connections continue to grow and flourish with age.

Macey Robinson, market vice president of North Texas and Oklahoma for LandCare, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, highly recommends lawn and landscape companies participate in the career fair as a way to recruit.

“When we go to a career fair, if you find one student that you feel like would be great on your team, the event has paid for itself because it’s so hard to staff,” Robinson says.

Participating in the career fair also allows companies to strengthen their brand recognition and network with faculty members who will return to the event year after year.

“In many ways, it’s the same thing that the students are gaining, connections,” says Daniel Greenwell, an arborist representative with Bartlett Tree Experts, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. “You are connecting with the future leaders of the industry. If you have recruitment needs, what better place to connect with up-and-coming talent? You are connecting with other industry partners. You are connecting with powerhouse staff within the NALP organization. It’s the age-old saying, ‘It’s not about what you know; it’s who you know…or more importantly, who knows you.’”

How to Sustain NCLC

Throughout the years, NCLC has continually adapted to prepare students for real-world careers. Even the COVID-19 pandemic did not stop NCLC from being held, as the event was hosted virtually in 2020 and 2021 to ensure its continuity.

The best way the industry can ensure this event remains relevant and impactful is to get involved and pour into students.

“Support goes beyond providing equipment, gear, or sponsorships — it’s about meaningful interaction with students through mentorship, encouragement, and hands-on involvement,” Rowles says. “When professionals take time to coach, judge, and talk with participants about their experiences and career paths, it creates a lasting impact. That kind of genuine engagement is what keeps NCLC valuable and ensures it continues shaping the next generation of leaders.”

Castillo stresses that investing in people is just as important as the bottom line.

“Continued support comes from helping companies see that NCLC isn’t only about recruiting — it’s about developing and retaining talent early, which brings long-term value to the industry as a whole,” Castillo says.

Greenwell encourages companies not currently involved to attend and see what NCLC is all about.

“As a former student competitor myself and professor bringing my own students, I can’t emphasize enough just how impactful this event is to the personal and professional growth of students,” Greenwell says. “Reach out to the Workforce Development team at NALP and ask them how you as a company can maximize your involvement with NCLC.”

Myers says beyond exhibiting at the career fair, sharing personal stories of employees who have been in the shoes of a student studying horticulture or landscape contracting is incredibly powerful.

Many former competitors often return to help staff their company’s career fair booth. Robinson says she has been able to attend multiple times as LandCare exhibits every year and sends 8 to 12 team members.

Rowles says Ruppert is also heavily involved in NCLC by sending team members to support events, interact with students, and share insights about career opportunities.

“Over the years, our participation has helped build relationships with schools and students, reinforced our commitment to workforce development, and confirmed that NCLC is a worthwhile and impactful way to engage the next generation of industry professionals,” Rowles says.

Greenwell says Bartlett supports the event not only by participating in the career fair but also by sponsoring the hands-on arboriculture workshop prior to the competitive events and sponsoring the plant problem diagnosis competitive event.

“Fifty years of NCLC and the various other names it has gone by is an emphatic statement that this is a sustainable and in-demand event, providing a high return on investment for both industry and students,” Greenwell says. “It is a testament to the high level of commitment from the NALP staff and industry partners to orchestrate this event year after year.”

NCLC may only last four days each spring, but the talent pipeline it builds helps shape the industry for decades.