January 4, 2020
Brian Cocks offers real-world experience to students
Brian Cocks
How did you get involved in this industry?
I started back with my grandfather in 1972, working in his small maintenance and landscaping company. Trimming has always been my specialty, and that was his specialty.
Why did you get involved with the show committee?
I got involved with the show committee because there was a lot of fancy equipment at the show, but no basic things like wheelbarrows and shovels — things that every landscaper needs.
What do enjoy most about volunteering?
The more you put into anything, the more you get out of it. I enjoy the relationship building and meeting other members of LO that have similar problems and being able to help them.
What do you enjoy most about the student gardens?
After I served as show chair, I got heavily involved with the student gardens. Having a person from the committee dedicated to the student gardens has really helped them to grow. It’s relationship building with teachers and students. Some have come up to me years later and thanked me for some little thing I helped them with years ago.
These kids are our future. They will be buying our businesses and taking care of our customers. They are willing to learn. The practical experience they get at Congress doing the garden build is like a real job.
What lessons do you try to teach the students during the build?
The kids are coming out of school much smarter than we were. I like showing them little tricks of the trade that can make their job easier, because I have that experience. I also try to teach them they are actually working for the customer, not their boss. The customer is the one who pays the wages. Make the customer happy. They also have to work safe, work smart and keep a clean job site. I even introduced a deadline for them to finish, to put a little bit of pressure on them and to treat it like a real job.
“These kids are our future.
— Brian Cocks
They will be buying our businesses and taking care of our customers.
They are willing to learn.”
Get out there and socialize with contractors face-to-face. Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Be proud of the fantastic work you are doing.
What has changed with the gardens over the years?
There used to be a huge gap in the skill levels between schools. That gap is no longer there. The quality of work has come a long way and what they are all doing now is outstanding. The kids look at what other schools are doing and take it upon themselves to improve each year.
We also have the schools working together now. It’s like one big crew. They work in the same space and share equipment. I’ve also pushed to have them all sit down and have lunch together.
Is there anything you would like to change?
These students are really proud of their work. I wish more people could see the faces of these kids on Sunday afternoon when they finish. I would love to see the top officials from the schools come down to see what these kids have done. I’m proud of what they’ve done.