Harrisburg School District Launches Registered Youth Apprenticeship Program and Greenhouse Facility

greenhouse ribbon cutting at Harrisburg High School

Harrisburg School District Launches Registered Youth Apprenticeship Program and Greenhouse Facility

See the video on this story from Dakota News Now.

In Fall 2022, the team at Harrisburg School District approached the Weller Brothers team about helping them build an on-campus greenhouse for their horticulture students.

Of course, we didn’t hesitate to jump all in on this project.

Not only do we applaud efforts to introduce students to all kinds of career paths, but we’re especially passionate advocates of workforce development in the landscaping industry.

Harrisburg Receives Two Grants

Harrisburg School District (HSD) applied for two different grants related to the green industry:

One that provides funding to build a student greenhouse
A second grant program, the Registered Youth Apprenticeship Program through StartTodaySD, that offers a hands-on landscape apprenticeship program for students

Long story short – the district received both grants! We are honored to be an industry supporter of their efforts, alongside Southeast Technical College, the Harrisburg Economic Development Corporation, and others.

A Day of Green Industry Celebration

On Friday, September 15, HSD and Weller Brothers hosted a full day of hands-on horticulture workshops and activities for horticulture and FFA students from Harrisburg and other local schools, as well as a Chamber of Commerc e ribbon-cutting ceremony open to the public.

Highlights from the day included:

Garden Room workshop with Lisa Nunamaker from Paper Garden Workshop
Interactive, educational stations with the Weller Brothers horticulture team
Plant-based, horticulture-inspired henna from Henna Harvest
Cyanotype art activity
Lunch from local food trucks (Curbside Delights and S ala’s Salsas)
Live music from CommonGround
Coffee and snacks from Harrisburg High School’s ProStart Culinary students

Excited for What's Ahead

We are so excited for the opportunities that Harrisburg students will have to learn more about the landscape and horticulture industry through the greenhouse and the Registered Youth Apprenticeship Program.

We look forward to having students join our team as landscape apprentices in the future, allowing them to jumpstart their career paths!

Thank you to the hardworking team of educators at Harrisburg School District who go above and beyond to make these opportunities available to their students.

Weller Brothers Receives a National Award of Excellence

award-winning pool and patio in rochester mn

Weller Brothers Receives a National Award of Excellence

We are proud to announce we have been awarded an Award of Excellence – Bronze by the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

A Hillside Transformation

The awarded project in Rochester, MN, was designed by Matt Stadel.

For many years, this expansive backyard sported a large, outdated deck and unimpressive landscaping. The homeowners were ready for change, which included a pool and much more.

Given the slope of the yard and the area dedicated to the pool, the Weller Brothers team had a relatively small area to work within. Yet, the team cleverly fit all of the elements into this project that the homeowners were hoping for — a sunken hot tub, outdoor kitchen and pergola, fire pit, and lounging areas.

See before and after photos, as well as a video tour of the project here.

“We met with Weller Brothers, and then three weeks later they came back with a plan. We were blown away. Every one of our items we wished for were on there; the design was incredible. After that initial discussion, we knew that this was the team we wanted to work with.”

Dan Homeowner

About the NALP Excellence Awards

Each year, the National Association Landscape Professionals Awards of Excellence recognizes exceptional commercial and residential lawn care and landscape installation, maintenance, and design projects from around the nation.

This year, 194 awards were bestowed to companies for their outstanding work.

Take a Tour of the Winning Project in Rochester, MN

While you may not be able to jump into the pool or cook a meal on the Evo flat-top stove yourself, you can certainly take a virtual tour of this award-winning backyard in Rochester!

Then, once you’re feeling inspired, reach out to us to begin creating your outdoor living space in Rochester, Sioux Falls, or Des Moines. Who knows – maybe it will win our next award!

Weller Brothers Landscaping Expanding Into Des Moines

Matt and Anna Stadel at Weller Brothers Landscaping

Weller Brothers Landscaping Expanding Into Des Moines

The news is out – we are moving to Des Moines, IA!

After more than two decades in Sioux Falls, SD, and several years in Rochester, MN, we are bringing our talents to Iowa.

“We are so excited to bring our high-end landscape architecture, construction, and maintenance services to the greater Des Moines area through this expansion,” says Cole Weller, President and CEO of Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals.

The team we have moving to start the branch location are two of our best – Matt and Anna Stadel – and we know they are going to excel in Des Moines.

The Timeline and Process

We will begin scheduling consultations for high-quality landscape design in Des Moines in August 2023, with plans to break ground on your new outdoor living project in early Spring 2024.

Our design offerings in the Des Moines area include:

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces
Pools
Patios – paver, natural stone, and concrete
Pergolas
Retaining walls
Landscape lighting
Outdoor kitchens and custom masonry
Water features
High-quality outdoor furniture

You can see our entire landscape design process from idea to final walkthrough –as well as our design galleries – here.

Let's Get Started, Des Moines!

Iowa, you no longer have to look with envy at your neighbors in South Dakota and Minnesota who have access to award-winning landscape design.

Now you, too, can create the outdoor living space you’ve always dreamed about. Matt and Anna can’t wait to dream – and create – with you.

Sioux Falls SD

Rochester MN

Des Moines IA