Star City Six – Tom Scharfen
Eagle Nursery (www.eaglenurseries.com) offers residential and commercial landscaping design and installation, landscape maintenance, hardscapes, landscape lighting, tree spading services, and snow removal. Tom Scharfen is the owner of Eagle Nursery.
Tell us a little about your business.
Eagle Nursery is a full-service nursery, landscape, installation, design, and maintenance facility. We are proud to utilize Nebraska-grown and Nebraska-hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials. What really sets us apart is that we have 70 acres of growing fields where we grow our own nursery stock that is Nebraska-hardy. Our team is made up of 15 solid employees who are all passionate about providing quality work and the highest integrity service to our clients.
How did you get started in the business?
I worked at a garden center in high school and really enjoyed doing what I did. So, after graduating I joined a landscaping crew at Eagle Nursery in 2002 and I’ve been working here ever since.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Figuring out how to improve and grow our business. I’m always striving to make the business the very best it can be. Having quality employees is very important to our company.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
I’ve always wanted to own my own business, so when I had the opportunity to obtain Eagle Nursery in 2017, that was a huge achievement for me.
Tell us a little about your family.
My wife, Ashley, and I have three wonderful children who keep us very busy with sports and activities.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
Spending time at the lake with my family, boating, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors.
What are you the most proud of?
My family.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Wake up every morning and work hard. Work ethic has always been important to me. I’m always thinking about the next step in order to achieve my goals.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?
Energetic.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To see the future.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I was a better craftsman. I feel like I’d enjoy woodworking, or something similar that involves working with my hands.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be?
Some sort of sales position. I like the idea of providing people with a good or a service that they need, even if they might not know they need it!
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
Heartland Cancer Foundation or the Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska. They both have amazing missions and are doing noble work in the community.
What is your favorite movie?
Probably National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s hilarious.
What is your favorite TV show?
The Office and The Weather Channel.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
La Paz Mexican Restaurant.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
America’s race car driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 781-9337; Email: tom@eaglenurseries.com; Website: www.eaglenurseries.com.