Ariana Feist

Ariana Feist has worked in the horticulture industry since 2016. Ariana began their career at Fort Collins Nursery as a Greenhouse Assistant, where they were responsible for watering, fertilizing, transplanting, propagating, cleaning, and other general greenhouse duties. Ariana also assisted with retail sales by helping customers find plants that would perform well in their gardens.

In 2017, Ariana began working at Colorado State University as the Plant Select Demonstration Garden Coordinator and a Perennial Trial Garden Assistant Coordinator. In these roles, they were responsible for general garden upkeep such as weeding, deadheading, cutting plants back, raking debris, and transplanting newly introduced plants from Plant Select. Ariana also tracked observations of Plant Select varieties and data throughout the growing season using Excel and created plot plans for the garden on AutoCAD.

In 2019, Ariana began working at Welby Gardens as a Pack Grower, where they were responsible for plant care and all growing duties for two acres in a commercial greenhouse focusing on ornamental plant production. Ariana also oversaw irrigation and the installation and management of irrigation systems including drip lines and overheads, as well as fertilization practices based on soil tests and nutrient deficiency diagnostics.

Additionally, Ariana began working at Front Range Biosciences in 2019 as a Lead Grower and Grower. In these roles, they executed production plans created by Senior Head Grower and fulfilled growing responsibilities for the company. Ariana was also responsible for scheduling weekly and daily growing tasks, as well as making decisions on plant maintenance, shrink, and growth phase changes.

Ariana Feist completed their Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Colorado State University between 2015 and 2018. Prior to that, they earned their High School Diploma from Boulder High School between 2010 and 2014.