After she graduated, Amy Rodgers’ dream was to start her own farm.

“She just loved plants and flowers and growing things, from vegetables to plants, but especially flowers,” said Trudy Rodgers, Amy’s mother.

Amalia “Amy” Rodgers, who was a junior in horticulture, was identified as the driver of a fatal single-vehicle accident Jan. 18 near Ledges State Park in Boone County.

At 8:58 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, Boone County Sheriff officers responded to a single-vehicle accident at the north entrance to Ledges State Park. A 2005 Toyota Corolla was found burning at the scene, with an unidentified driver inside.

On Jan. 20, officials from the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny identified the driver of the vehicle as Amy.

Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr said Amy’s car was travelling southbound on Ledges Road at 40 to 45 mph when it struck a stone pillar and burst into flames upon impact.

“She was completely burned along with the vehicle,” he said.

Trudy said she would never be sure what caused the accident.

“We’ll never really know,” she said.

“Some people have said that maybe a deer jumped in front of her, but it’s probable that she was doing something with the radio. That’s about the best guess that any of us have.”

Plants were Amy’s passion, Trudy said.

“I think she wanted to have a farm like the people she interned for,” Trudy said.

“She said I could come work for her.”

Amy interned for Tom’s Market and Greenhouses in Huntley, Ill., Trudy said, where she fell in love with raising plants.

Tom Halat, founder of Tom’s Market and Greenhouses, was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Trudy said Amy also held a deep love for music, especially playing the guitar.

“She would just pick notes and just loved music – especially country music,” she said. “She knew all the [country] songs – even the old ones.”

Trudy also said Amy was fond of horses and was a member of the ISU Equestrian Club.

“She loved horses – going through Ledges from the west way up to the top east part, that’s where the horses are and she used to feed them,” she said.

Amy also played on the Ames High School softball team, Trudy said.

“She was a darn good pitcher,” she said. “[Iowa State] tried to talk her into going out for the team, but she didn’t want to take it to the college level.”

Memorial services for Amy are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, 703 Greene St., in Boone.