The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is leaving its mark at the North Carolina State Fair, with its influence extending even to the competitions. Kole Andrews, a CALS alumnus and the proprietor of BlackDog Blooms, returns to the Flower Show, ready to give it his all. Andrews, a formidable competitor, secured first place in the single-stem zinnia contest at last year’s fair.
Recalling the unexpected victory last year, Andrews says, “It was kind of last minute last year. We wanted to try it out and see what happened. I just randomly picked out the flower, and I was like, ‘If I get in the top 10, I’ll be happy.’ I went up, and I nearly buckled over.”
Andrews’ sister, Kylie, who is the floral designer at BlackDog Blooms, also achieved recognition last year, earning second and third place for her stunning bouquets. With their sights set on success, they are eager to aim for the gold once more.
“We’re trying to go for the gold again,” Andrews declares.
Located in Stem, North Carolina, north of Creedmoor, Andrews cultivates his flowers on his family farm. Originally drawn to craft brewing, he started by growing hops for local breweries before transitioning to cut flower production. His time at North Carolina State University, where he majored in horticultural science, provided him with valuable experiences in cut flower production, working in Professor Brian Jackson’s Wood Substrates Lab and the Horticulture Field Lab.
For Andrews, education is the most precious asset, and his CALS education holds a special place. He reflects, “My education is my greatest asset. I value my education more than anything else because of CALS.”
The inception of his floral business primarily featured sunflowers and zinnias, with sunflowers continuing to be his top-selling bloom, along with eucalyptus. However, Andrews is not one to rest on his laurels. He embraces novelty by introducing new flower varieties and types.
“I love to try new stuff out,” Andrews shares. “Every year, I try to follow an 80-20 rule. I grow 80% of what I know is going to sell and is easy to grow, and then 20%, I try out that new variety or that new species that I haven’t grown, and just see if it works and see if it sells.”
Enhancing the longevity of his flowers has always been a priority for Andrews, underlining his dedication to delivering quality products to customers.
“What I’m most proud of about the flowers is that I baby them to death, and my goal is to continually try my best to increase vase life for the customer,” he emphasizes.
Yet, it is the connection with customers that Andrews treasures most. Whether selling at farmers’ markets, festivals, or catering to weddings, his favorite aspect of flower cultivation is the interaction with those who appreciate his blooms.
“There’s no greater feeling to me than seeing somebody light up when they see the flowers that we grow,” Andrews concludes, echoing the joy that his flowers bring to others.
