Growing the Industry: Scott Gay of Borealis
As Missouri’s cannabis industry grows, both figuratively and literally, Greenway aims to highlight and introduce the individuals behind the plants that Missouri’s legal cannabis market is built on with Growing the Industry.
Before he became a leader in the cannabis industry, Scott Gay’s journey took a unique path that has shaped his approach to growing cannabis today.
Now Gay serves as Cultivation Manager at Borealis, a Missouri flower brand built on balance with a focus on quality.
Gay recently spoke to Greeway to share his journey into the cannabis industry.
Blending his military background with his passion for cultivation, Gay is a man who has spent his life pursuing excellence. Gay’s story is one of resilience, learning, and a deep connection to the plants he cultivates.
Born in Alabama and raised in Tennessee, Gay’s journey truly started in 1999 when he enlisted in the military at the age of 20. His 15 years of service shaped him both personally and professionally. “I traveled the world, witnessed miracles, and most importantly met my wife of 24 years,” he says.
Gay’s personal life, like his professional one, is something he deeply cherishes and is as rich and flourishing with just enough uniqueness to mimic the canopy he grows. A father of two grown children, a son and a daughter, who Gay boasts are both forging their paths in the world and a loving husband, He spends as much time nurturing his soul and home as he does the plants under his care. When he’s not working, Gay enjoys some truly unique hobbies, from writing code for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to SCUBA diving. “It’s very peaceful in the water, I see why hydroponic plants like it so much,” he quips.
Professionally, Gay’s path to cannabis was about as non-traditional as the cannabis industry comes. In his military career, Gay served as a Green Beret and a Special Forces Combat Medic, he credits his military service with his diligence and the driving principles that guide his career in cannabis.
“I was trained that my two basic responsibilities are ‘the accomplishment of my mission, and the welfare of my soldiers.’ I try to bring this mentality into my current profession,” Gay explained.
In 2017, Gay transitioned into the cannabis industry, managing a large outdoor grow in Colorado. Four years later, he took on the role of Cultivation Manager at Delphi, where he oversees operations of the hybrid greenhouse facility.
Under his leadership, Borealis has flourished as it has grown and this year a revitalized brand aims to showcase the cannabis plant in its best forms. “I believe our operation is a balanced one. We are constantly honing our craft,” he continues. “Every team member is invested in producing a quality product that we can be proud of. We also want to grow a quantity of product we can be proud of. We believe that our attitudes will reflect in our product.”
What came first for you, a passion for plants or cannabis?
“Definitely the love for cannabis. Who doesn’t enjoy that feeling of euphoria?”
What does marijuana mean to you?
“Cannabis has been a bridge to a normal life for me. The transition back to civilian life was difficult. It took me a bit to realize that I would never truly be able to let the military part of myself go. However, I began to believe that I could build an Army to guard and garden our small portion of the Garden of Eden. I began to understand I could make work the meaning of life. I have made the cultivation of cannabis both my profession and my passion. All that to say, cannabis means a lot to me.”
How big is the 1913 grow (plant count, sq feet, etc.)
“Our Facility is approximately 25,000 square feet. At any given time we are growing around 5,000 plants. Those plants are spread across a vegetation room and 3 flowering rooms.”
What information can you give me about your grow method or methods?
“We are generally following traditional grow techniques with a modern spin on it. We focus on automating repetitive processes in order to allow our team members to focus more on the dynamic tasks that present challenges that can only be solved without outside-of-the-box thinking.”
Tell me about your genetics and what went into your selection process.
“For our genetics, we are looking for hardy healthy strains that aren’t too temperamental. We are looking at plant structure to see if it fits well with our pruning and training techniques. We make note of the smell profile to see where it will fall into our lineup. Does testing of THC and terps support its continued propagation? These are some of the questions that are asked during production planning. Believe me, I would love to grow every plant of every strain. But space and time are constraints that bind us to reality.”
What makes good flower?
“Time, attention to detail, a strong IPM program, proper watering techniques, proper pruning and training should all make good flower.
“If you are asking how I define good flower for consumption, I would say. I enjoy flower that has bold tangy profiles and colorful expressions. Something fresh in a deep purple that smells like the rind of an orange was just crushed under my nose. Tart and sweet at the same time. Smooth draw with some weight to the hit.”
What makes Borealis-grown cannabis unique?
“We bring a commitment to excellence that I would be surprised to see anywhere else. Our team loves what they do and they love to do it effectively. They take great pride in a job well done and don’t take kindly to stoppages. Also, since we are in a hybrid-style greenhouse facility, the genetic expression of the flower shifts with the season. In the fall as temps drop and colors pop, light purple turns to midnight, and trichome density increases.”
What is the biggest obstacle you face with a grow like this?
“Our greenhouse is large with a lot of moving parts. Maintenance is mission critical and we like to stay two steps ahead. Preventive maintenance, care, and services are some of the tools we use to keep the wheels from falling off the cart. However, some events are unforeseeable. If the wheels do fall off, we also have a great team more than ready to step in, grab the axle, and lift. We will carry the cart across the finish line if that is what it takes.”
What lessons have you learned from day 1 to now?
“Be humble – I am human and make mistakes. Do better – What have I learned from my mistakes? Follow through – Remember the pain those mistakes caused and be vigilant that they do not reoccur.”
What are some pet peeves you have related to cannabis; growing, knowledge, or otherwise?
“People who are not team players. On our team, we sweat together, we bleed together, and sometimes we cry together. But, we also learn together, we laugh together and we win together. Teamwork makes the dream work!”
What’s your favorite cannabis cultivar and why?
“Black Marshmello. It is a hardy strain with a great terpene profile. I love the color expressions in the flowering stage, nice dark purples. It is also one of our higher testers and it does pack a punch. The medic in me often advises to ‘Smoke two of these and reassess in the morning.'”
What are the most important things when growing cannabis?
“Be observant and engaged when cultivating. Most problems can be solved easily if they are recognized early. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are paying attention, the plants are constantly telling us a story. Are they happy, if so make note of what you are doing and keep doing it. If they are sad, why? Be engaged! You are the line between awesome and awful. Make sure your plants always land on the awesome side.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Proverbs 4:20(+3) – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
As we ended the interview, Gay left us with words to live by, “What is the meaning of life? Work is the meaning of life! Without work, there can be no life! – And when some naysayer spouts off with ‘I thought love was the meaning of life,’ you respond quick, fast, and in a hurry, ‘If you don’t sweat when you are loving, you are doing it wrong!'”
