MONROE — Twenty-seven Green County area residents were recently recognized for earning their Master Gardener Certification at the recent annual meeting of the Green County Master Gardeners Association.
The main functions of the group are to provide continuing education for its members, serve the needs of all horticulturists in the Green County area, provide community services through volunteer activities, exchange gardening ideas, promote responsible and sound gardening practices and provide a link between the community and University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension.
To earn the Extension Master Gardener Certification, participants are required to complete 36 hours of classroom training. They must also complete at least 24 hours of community service before receiving their Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Certification. Recertification is required annually and, to retain their certification, Master Gardeners must participate in a minimum of 10 hours of educational development, in addition to providing 24 hours of volunteer service, each year.
The Green County Master Gardeners Association was formed in 2004 to provide Master Gardeners with opportunities for professional development and community service. Over 135 people have been trained since that time. This past year members of the association volunteered a total of 1,578 hours in community service projects throughout Green County.
Three Master Gardener Volunteers were honored for achieving 150 hours of service: Rudy Kaderly, Cindy Palombi, and Wendy Pendergraph. Tamara Schulte was recognized for 250 hours of volunteer service, Linda Boll, Theresa Colney and Tanna McKeon were recognized for achieving 500 hours of volunteer service, and Paul Roemer and Gregg Smith were recognized for achieving 750 hours of volunteer service. Kristi Leonard and Jayne Butts were recognized for 10 years of service with the Green County Master Gardeners Association.
The Green County Master Gardeners Association meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from February through October. Association officers for 2020 will include Tamara Schulte, president, Sharon Adams, vice president, Linda Boll, secretary, and Lynn Lokken, treasurer.
Anyone interested in horticulture and gardening is welcome to join the association. For more information on the Extension Green County Master Gardeners program, contact Jackie McCarville, agriculture educator, at 608-328-9440.
University of Wisconsin-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are pictured. Front row, from left, are Eugene Gessler, Norma Bader, Lynn Lokken, Kris Winkler, Tamara Schulte, Tanna McKeon and Susan Konopacki; second row, from left, are Sharon Adams, Jayne Butts, Marilyn Sandin-Ross, Theresa Colney, Mike Davis, Cheryl Rezabek, Rae Wellnitz and Lloyd Lueschow; back row, from left, are Mike Colney, Kristi Leonard, Linda Uttech, Linda Boll, Rudy Kaderly, and Daniel Chapman. Not pictured: Susan Anderson, Kay Collins-Argue, Mary Jackson, Ricky Kiesling, Debra Kleppe, Jim Meuth, Mary Nelson, Ann Marie Ott, Cindy Palombi, Wendy Pendergraph, Paul Roemer and Gregg Smith.
