EVENTS | BOBBI CUP

Bobbi Cup
Floral design competition honor an icon
for the sixth consecutive year.
By Fatima Oubaid

T
he sixth annual Bobbi Cup Design Competition was
held in conjunction with the 2017 Chicago Flower &
Garden Show March 18. The competition honors the
late Bobbi Ecker-Blatchford, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, and her contri-
butions to the floral industry. This years live competition showcased
six competitors creating floral design pieces to fit the theme, which
was a dedication to Bobbi.
The competition is open to any member of the North Central Good things are happening, a quote Bobbi was recognized for was engraved in
Bobbis handwriting into a steel plate as a gift to Bobbis family and was showcased at
Chapter of AIFD, the organization that founded the competition. the Bobbi Cup. Copies are available for purchase, and all proceeds go to the recently
This years contestants were: established Bobbi Ecker Blatchford AIFD Endowed Fund at The AIFD Foundation.
Jody Brown-Spivey, AIFD, CF; Gahanna, Ohio.
Stacey Carlton, AIFD; Riverside, Ill.
Casey Murdough, AIFD; St. Charles, Ill.
Patience Pickner, AIFD, PFCI; Chamberlain, S.D.
Toni Piccolo, AIFD; Burlington, Wis.
John Windisch, AIFD; Aurora, Ill.
The contestants were given the same materials and had 30
minutes to complete their designs. During the last 10 minutes,
contestants were provided a surprise element to incorporate.
This years surprise element was a can of glitter spray to recognize
Bobbis love for glitter. Contestants and commentators (Loann
Burke, AIFD, AAF, PFCI; Alice Waterous, AIFD, CF, PFCI;
and Sandy Schroeck, AIFD, PFCI) each wore one of Bobbis
signature hats throughout the competition, and fond memories of
Bobbi were shared.
The competition was judged by Pete Samek, AIFD; Carolyn
Minutillo, AIFD, EMC; and Laurel Hollopeter, AIFD, who
collectively selected Stacey Carlton, AIFD, as the winner. Casey
Murdough, AIFD, was awarded second place, and Jody Brown-
Spivey, AIFD, CF, took home third-place honors.
Sponsors for this years Bobbi Cup were Design Master
Color Tool, FernTrust, Kennicott Brothers Company,
Smithers-Oasis North America, UCI (Unlimited Containers
Inc.), VaseSource and the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. n

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EVENTS | JIM JOHNSON CUP

Jim Johnson Cup

Inaugural design competition honors an
esteemed floral industry educator.
By Fatima Oubaid

T
he premiere Jim Johnson Cup commenced March 7 to honor
an outstanding floral instructor, Jim Johnson, AIFD, AAF,
TMF. The competition took place at Pikes Peak of Houston
Wholesale Florist, and was open to all floral designers who wished
to enter. More than 167 florists attended the event, and 20 competi-
tors from seven states participated in the competition. Judges J. Keith
White, AIFD; Donna Senter, AIFD; and Ted Bruehl, AIFD, chose
Alan Masters, AIFD, as the victor, winning the grand prize of $1,000.
Stacey Carlton, AIFD, took second place, and Tricia Upshaw, AIFD,
won third place.

the illustrious jim johnson

Jim owned and operated his own flower shop and greenhouse in
Huntington, Ind., for 14 years before becoming a faculty member in the
Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. At
A&M, Jim also was the director of the Benz School of Floral Design
and the Benz Gallery of Floral Art and the advisor of the universitys
SAIFD Forsythe Chapter.
Jim has taught classes and given keynote design presentations na-
tionwide and abroad and has received many awards including the Texas
State Florists Association Distinguished Achievement Award and
the American Institute of Floral Designers Award of Distinguished
Service to the Floral Industry. He has written and published 15 books
and booklets in the field of floral design.

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(This page)
Above;1st place winner Alan Masters, AIFD.
Left; 2nd place winner Stacy Carlton, AIFD.
Bottom left; 3rd place winner Tricia Upshaw, AIFD.
Bottom right; AIFD members in attendance.
(Opposite page, from left)
Jim Johnson, AIFD.
Fabulous 7 foot tall arrangement designed by
Donna Senter, AIFD and Liz Utterback.
2017 Jim Johnson Cup Competitors
Alan Masters, AIFD; La Porte, Texas (winner)
Stacey Carlton, AIFD; Riverside, Ill. (2nd place)
Tricia Upshaw, AIFD, AMF; Rogers, Ark. (3rd place)
Cindy Anderson, AIFD; Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ace Berry, AIFD; Houston, Texas
Bitsy Carter AIFD, AAF; Hope, Ark.
Trish Gomez, AIFD; Deer Park, Texas
Scott Hasty, AIFD; Orange, Texas
Connie LeBlanc, AIFD, LMF; Houma, La.
Lorrie Lopez; Austin, Texas
Michael McCarthy, AIFD; The Woodlands, Texas
Coby Neal, AIFD, PFCI; Austin, Texas
Beth OReilly, AIFD, TMF; Austin, Texas
Nicola Parker, AIFD, TMFA; Spring, Texas
Samantha Rexwinkle Bates, AIFD; Ponchatoula, La.
Fabian Salcedo; Austin, Texas
Gail Terrill, AIFD; Houston, Texas
Alex Torres, AIFD, TMF; Houston, Texas
Rodrigo Varito Vasquez, CFD, FSMD, FPCF; Fort Pierce, Fla.
Jan Wilder, AIFD, TMF; Costa Mesa, Calif. n
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