Sowing Seeds: 50 Years In The Industry

Recent Retiree Reflects On More Than 50 years in the Industry

The mountain is tall and the path is steep, but we have already come a long way. Many of the more seasoned landscapers say they have seen the industry take long strides toward sustainable, ecologically-based ways of operating. This is due to the commitment from hundreds of business leaders, researchers, information sharers and professionals who want to build a better world for tomorrow. 

“The use of native plants, planting things in the right location, saving water and educating clients are all things that have really improved in the last 20 to 30 years,” says Randy Bigbee. The lifelong landscaper retired at the end of 2021. 

Randy worked in the landscape industry for more than 50 years. As a Texas native, he spent the majority of his time in the Houston area, where he also grew up and went to school. Randy’s final role was an enhancement estimator with Westco Grounds Maintenance in Houston. He worked there for 15 years. His team focused on landscapes that began developing problems after their initial completion. Things like trees growing too close to buildings or grass dying due to a lack of irrigation. 

Randy held many titles during his career, though, including horticulturist, business owner, nursery sales and management and landscape designer. His long career stemmed from a love of life and people. 

“I wanted to dig in the dirt and plant things, just to watch it grow,” he says. “Take a tiny little seed and see how it takes shape, each a bit different than the other one. It is the process of bringing new life into the world.” 

He sowed seeds in the ground and sowed seeds in people. In fact, Randy says the most rewarding part of landscaping is how it can completely transform lives. He says outdoor jobs can offer second chances to many people struggling to find a place in other industries. Building or maintaining a living landscape can be therapeutic, satisfying and encouraging. 

“I’ve seen people who are really down and trying to get back on their feet. We can help,” he says. “When they do something really good and know they've done hard work, then are praised for that, it makes a big difference. A lot of employers are slow to hire people with maybe more troubled pasts, but we can give them a start and a chance, and I think that that means a lot.”

Randy offers advice to those following in his footsteps. He says the key to success is to make your job a career.

“If it's just a job, you will go home and forget about it,” he says. “But you can make a career enjoyable. If it's enjoyable, you're going to study it and really learn about it. Always read to study your profession. There are so many books that people in the industry have written on business and growing. Read the books, read the trade magazines. Pick up ideas and tips from your peers and use them to improve your work.”

Randy and his Westco team worked on dozens of sites throughout Houston. One he remembers fondly is the rose garden at the George Bush Library. His team says, while they are thankful for the contributions Randy made to the company, they’re mostly thankful for his friendship, leadership and commitment to serving others.