Just as your garden sprouts anew, so too is “Garden Success.” July 2024 brings a new era to the popular KAMU-FM call-in gardening show, as longtime host Skip Richter passes the microphone to Stephen Brueggerhoff.
– Stephen and Skip pictured on Skip’s last day as host.
We’re celebrating Skip and the impact he’s had on our airwaves and your gardens. And we’re welcoming Stephen to the team as the third-ever host of the program. Want to hear the episodes they’ve already co-hosted together? Visit our “Garden Success” page to listen to all archived episodes.
Thanks, Skip!
After ten years and nearly 500 episodes, Skip said goodbye during our June 27 episode.
“After 35 years with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and ten years of hosting the “Garden Success” radio show, I’ve retired to focus on other horticultural activities,” Skip said. “The show was one of the most enjoyable things I did during my Extension career.”
– Skip talks to Stephen during Skip’s last recording of “Garden Success.”
Skip’s voice was first heard on KAMU-FM in 2014 after the initial host, Doug Welsh, retired. Doug was the first host of “Garden Success,” answering your questions from its debut in 2003 until his retirement.
And as “Garden Success” marks 21 years with the debut of a new host, Skip is confident Stephen is the perfect fit to take over.
“I cannot express strongly enough how excited I am that Stephen has agreed to become the Brazos County Extension horticulture agent and to host the “Garden Success” radio show,” Skip said. “Show listeners will really appreciate his horticultural knowledge and kind demeanor. We are all very fortunate to have Stephen Brueggerhoff in Brazos County!”
Thank you, Skip! We wish you a very happy retirement… and the guest chair on “Garden Success” is open for you anytime.
Meet Stephen
Stephen Brueggerhoff started as the Brazos County extension agent for horticulture in April. He brings years of experience to the role and tells us he’s excited to serve residents across the county with their horticulture needs.
Stephen says he’s been a personal and professional friend of Skip for years. He comes to Brazos County from Galveston County, where he served as their horticulture extension agent for two-and-a-half years. Other previous roles include county extension agent in Brazoria County, outreach manager at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin and nursery manager.
He earned his bachelor’s in horticulture from Sam Houston State University. He left Texas to earn a master’s from the University of Washington but says he “high-tailed it back as soon as I could.”
You’ll see Stephen around the county helping residents improve their gardening skills, holding educational programs, working with the Brazos County Master Gardeners — and now hosting “Garden Success.” He has a particular interest in home fruit production, especially figs. Calling them an “impulse buy,” Stephen grows eight different fig varieties in his backyard. He also enjoys growing blueberries and citrus, and says, yes, citrus can be grown in Brazos County – ask him how!
Knowing the ins and outs of trees is his next goal as he’s actively earning an arborist certification. When he’s not at work, he enjoys gardening at home and playing music.
Listen to the Show
The host is the only thing that’s changing about “Garden Success.” You can still listen every Thursday from noon-1 p.m. on 90.9 KAMU-FM. And you can still ask your questions by calling 979-845-5689 or emailing gardensuccess@tamu.edu.
Stephen’s first solo show as the new host takes place on July 4. We hope you’ll listen and welcome Stephen to the KAMU-FM family! If you can’t listen live, remember you can listen to all past episodes on our “Garden Success” page or on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and iHeart Podcasts.
