While celebrating Kellogg Garden Products’ 80th anniversary of being in business, Janice L. Kellogg was selected as the 2005 recipient of the Elmer J. Merz Memorial Award, presented by the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). She is chairman of the board for Kellogg Garden Products, in Carson, Calif., where the company retains its executive offices.
“Janice’s dedication to the nursery industry in California is apparent to all who have had the pleasure of doing business with her company. Certainly, the nursery industry continues to benefit enormously because of her generosity and dedication,” said Darlene Pickell, president of the award winner’s local Centinela Chapter.

Janice Kellogg, 73, stepped into company management of Kellogg Garden Products as president when her husband, H. Clay, better known as Hi Kellogg, passed away in 1987. Hi was the second generation of family to head the business, following his father, H. Clay Kellogg I, who began the business in 1925. Before his death, Hi brought the company up to $10 million in sales. He was active in several associations, including the CANGC and the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA).

Janice has shown a strong continued commitment to CANGC through sponsorship and service of its committees, programs and chapter events. Janice and her son, Hap, served together as CANGC associate member directors in 1999-00. She was a member of the Programs/Convention Committee in 1989, and continued to assist ensuing committees into 2004. Currently, she is a regular at Centinela Chapter meetings.

Within CANGC, Kellogg Garden Products has territorial managers participating in almost all 16 regional chapters. With the support of Janice and Kellogg Garden Products, men and women hold state and chapter offices and sponsor many events throughout the year. Janice proudly states that eight Kellogg representatives have been recipients of CANGC’s Supplier of the Year Award since it was first presented in 1966. The award recognizes a salesperson’s willingness to go the extra mile for his/her customers.

As part of Kellogg Garden Products’ 80th anniversary celebration, our award winner was honored by Star Roses’ introduction of Janice L. Kellogg, a deep magenta grandiflora rose, a descendant of Yves Piaget, which was first available this past bare root season.
Janice Kellogg has served on the board of directors for the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills, and Los Angeles Beautiful. Her civic involvement in Carson is extensive: Boys and Girls Club, Chamber of Commerce, Carson/Gardena YMCA, as well as the Carson Coordinating Council, which nominated her as a “Magnificent Woman” in 1999.

Born in Santa Ana, the award winner continued her education after graduating from high school at San Diego State University. She graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in Education and received her teaching credential. Following graduation, she taught in the San Diego Unified School District from 1955 to 1960.

Most recently, Janice works a 4-day week at Kellogg’s Carson facility and says she enjoys the challenges that present themselves. The company opened a new 25-acre manufacturing and distribution facility in Chino in 2005.

Her interest in gardening produced a first-place finish in CLCA’s Trophy Awards competition in 2003. She had the yard of her Palos Verdes Peninsula home re-landscaped; the entry won at the chapter level and received a Trophy Award in the large residential category in the statewide competition.
Janice and Hi were married 28 years and had two children, Hap and Kathy, who have become the third generation members of the Kellogg’s management team. Hap succeeded his mother as president in 1995, and now holds the title of CEO. Daughter Kathy Kellogg Johnson serves as corporate secretary and is knowledgeable about the technical and scientific issues relating to the business. She has five grandchildren.

The California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers is a professional organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the nursery industry for its members and the public it serves.