Alec Augustine

Business: Manager of Star Nursery, 911 Buol Rd., 775-727-5300

Age: 25

Background: "I am a certified arborist and pesticide applicator and I come from a farm background on a large corn and soybean farm in Iowa. It was there I learned what hard work was all about. I also got used to the idea of working with plants. From there I went to Hawaii, where I worked pruning trees. I worked a lot on private residences and small farms. I was there for two years before I came back to Las Vegas. I pretty much grew up here and graduated from Arbor View High School."

My first job: "I worked at Albertsons pushing carts."

Years in Business: "I have been working with plants for five years."

Personal: "I love plants and I like trying to propagate plants in my spare time. Making things grow out in the desert is a challenge to me. I also play the guitar and enjoy good music. Music is a big part of my life."

Business Climate: "The nursery business is slowly growing and improving. We have new businesses that need landscaping and many new people continue to come to Pahrump looking to beautify their property."