SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener volunteers and coordinators were honored recently for outstanding service and support to their county gardening and community service programs during the Ohio Master Gardener State Conference Awards Banquet.
The Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested gardeners who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local OSU Extension county office.
Working with county Extension personnel, Master Gardener volunteers provide such educational services to their communities as answering gardening questions from the public; conducting plant clinics; gardening activities with children, senior citizens, or disabled persons; beautifying the community; developing community or demonstration gardens; and other horticultural activities.
Last year, volunteers committed more than 100,000 hours to community services, impacting more than a quarter of a million residents.
The following Master Gardener awards were presented during the conference:
• State Master Gardener Volunteer: Sandi Rockwell, Delaware County.
• Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer regional winners: North Central, Sandi Rockwell, Delaware County; Southeast, Pamela Tate, Guernsey County; West, Kathy McConkey, Clark County and Don Creamer, Fayette County.
• Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator regional winners: North Central, Susan Schleder, Lake County; Southeast, Kaye Clay, Guernsey County; West, Nancy Kronberg, Hancock County.
• Friend of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program: Steve Hawkins, National Trail Parks & Recreation District, Clark County; Nancy and Bill Hendricks, Klyn Nurseries, Inc., Ashtabula and Lake Counties.
• Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Project: medium category (26-75 volunteers), Red Simmons Memorial Garden, Geauga County; large category (76 and more), Utzinger Memorial Garden, Clark County.
• Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Project Excellence Awards: Community Service Project, Garden Repot Project, Portage County; Demonstration Garden, Fort Ancient State Memorial Prehistoric Gardens, Warren County; Educational Program, Tomatoes!, Ashtabula County; Special Audiences, United Rehabilitation Services, Montgomery County; Youth Program, Maplehurst Butterfly Garden, Huron County.
For more information on the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, log on to http://mastergardener.osu.edu, or contact Pam Bennett, State Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, at (937) 328-4607 or bennett.27@cfaes.osu.edu.