MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Lions Club is pleased to announce the 2025 Citizens of the Year Award to Steve and Susie Stratton. The Strattons have been operating Stratton Greenhouses for 47 years. Their commitment, investment and passion for many local projects have greatly benefited the Bluffton community.

Steve Stratton was born and raised in the Bluffton area, spending his childhood working alongside his father, Jim, who started the greenhouse in 1949. Steve graduated from Bluffton High School and Wittenberg University, teaching high school history at Fairmont West High School before returning to his family’s greenhouse business.

Susie Stratton graduated from Brush High School in Cuyahoga County, from Albion College with a BA in Visual Arts, and from BGSU with a master’s degree in College Student Personnel. An internship at Bluffton College brought Susie to the area, she met Steve, and they were married in 1977.  

They started working together in the business in 1979, and Steve encouraged Susie to open The Country Peddler gift shop. More recently, a retail store called roots by Strattons in downtown Bluffton opened near Susie’s original plant store, called Plants N Things which she had opened in 1977.

Stratton Greenhouses has been an employer in the community for 77 years, including the employment and mentoring of more than 500 high school and college students throughout the years, providing first-job experiences that shape character, responsibility, and career readiness.  

BLUFFTON IN BLOOM
During the early 2000s, Steve had always wanted to add 12 large pots of flowers to the Bluffton business district to beautify the downtown and to focus on creating a welcoming and vibrant community to attract retail business.  From 2007-2011, the Strattons continued to add pots at their own expense.  

In 2011, they added the sponsorship program to pay for most of the cost of the flowers, but they continue to donate their time and materials to water and maintain the flowers. In addition, hanging planters of flowers have also been added to the town’s light posts, at the Strattons’ own cost.

America in Bloom, founded in 2001, which “promotes and builds vibrant and sustainable communities through volunteerism and education emphasizing flowers, plants, trees, heritage, and environmental and lifestyle enhancements,” has encouraged the Strattons in their quest to give back to the community.  A Bluffton in Bloom Committee was formed for the beautification of Bluffton. Their efforts have included the addition of wayfinding signage throughout the town, including the welcome signs at the town entrances, and transforming downtown village alleyways into usable and enjoyable parklets.

In 2017, Bluffton received the America in Bloom Outstanding Urban Forestry Award. In 2018, Bluffton received the America in Bloom Outstanding Achievement Award in Flowers, thanks to the efforts of Steve and Susie Stratton.  Susie has also been actively involved in America in Bloom for the past ten years as a volunteer judge.

Steve and Susie have been married for 48 years. They have three sons and twelve grandchildren. They are active members of the Bluffton English Lutheran Church.

DINNER ON APRIL 21
A dinner to honor Steve and Susie Stratton will be held at 6:00 p.m.at Bluffton Town Hall on April 21, 2026.  The public is invited, with a limited number of seats available. Tickets may be reserved by contacting Brigette Hoff at [email protected].