Keith Hansen

Smith County Master Gardeners, a volunteer program of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, celebrated 14 years of volunteer service to the people of Smith County during an awards and recognition program held April 3.

During the past 14 years, Smith County Master Gardeners have volunteered nearly 100,000 hours in many different educational and environmental programs and projects, by helping gardeners, "yardeners'' and school children, working one on one answering questions at the Extension office, and working with groups through workshops, conferences, speaker's bureau, demonstration gardens, school gardens, and through publications and news articles, and many other activities.

In 2007, they volunteered more than 10,000 hours, and were involved in more than 20 different educational projects and programs.

At the luncheon, 17 volunteers were certified as Texas Master Gardeners, having completed an intensive training, and volunteering a minimum of 72 hours during a one-year period. Many put in well over the minimum required hours to become Master Gardeners, serving in various community service projects and programs, assisting horticulture programs conducted by the Smith County office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Master Gardeners receiving certification included:

Frankston - Hugh Autrey

Whitehouse - Hazel Bateman

Overton - Donna Cole

Tyler - Hugh Coursey, David Gary, Becky Hamilton, Lynne Merryfield, Nancy Nelson, David Pierson, Rhonda Rholes, and John Woolverton

Van - Joan Driver

Troup - Ronny Duncan

Hideaway - JoAnne Huffman and Jerry Mullins

Flint - Art Phillips and Janine Phillips.

Rhonda Rholes was awarded Master Gardener Intern of the Year for her commitment and dedication to several projects of the Smith County Master Gardener program during her first year of service. She was also the intern with the most volunteer hours with more than 443 hours.

Cindy Harrington of Tyler was awarded Master Gardener of the Year for her dedication, involvement and leadership in several Master Gardener projects and activities.

Merlin Eck was recognized for volunteering the most hours in 2007, giving more than 700 hours of his time. He was also recognized, along with his committee, with the Project Award for the annual Fall Garden Conference and Bulb Sale, by increasing this program's impact and quality of educational programming.

Other awards presented at the luncheon held at the Tyler Rose Garden Center included:

Youth Award - The AgriWorld Team was presented this award for their development of an outstanding interactive youth exhibit called "Our Secret Garden" for the 2007 East Texas State Fair.

New Initiative Award - Sue Clark for her work developing the Master Gardener educational exhibit at the first Main Street Flower Market during the 2007 Tyler Azalea Trail.

President's Award - Scherel Carver, presented by Andie Rathbone, past Master Gardener president, for her involvement, support and dedication to many of the ongoing Master Gardener projects and programs.

Ms. Rathbone also recognized Susan Holloway with the Helping Hands Award, for her contribution to the Master Gardener Association as Treasurer for the last 2 years.

Current Master Gardener President John Brasher presented a Special Award of Excellence to Andie Rathbone for her dedication, leadership and involvement in a number of Smith County Master Gardener projects for the past several years.

Dee Bishop was given the Sage Award for her sharing gardening advice and her extensive knowledge of plants to the people of Smith County.

Bob Shearer was given the Research and Development Award for his leadership in the National Earth Kind Rose Trial which was installed last fall at Lindsey Park in Tyler.

Martin Davis was given the Public Awareness Award for his development of the outstanding Smith County Master Gardener Web site (http://grovesite.com/mg/smg)

Chamblee's Rose Nursery, and the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association - Region 3, were recognized as Friends of Smith County Master Gardeners for their support of various Smith County Master Gardener projects.

There were121 Smith County Master Gardeners recertified as Texas Master Gardeners by fulfilling the minimum requirements of providing volunteer hours and receiving continuing education credits during 2007.

And 17 Master Gardener trainees finished the 2008 training this winter, passed a written exam, and are now interns. They will have one year to donate a minimum of 72 hours to Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulture programs to become certified Texas Master Gardeners.

Upcoming programs involving Smith County Master Gardeners include the Spring Home Garden Tour on May 3 and the First Tuesday in the Garden on May 6. See the Master Gardener Web site for more details.

Applications for the next Master Gardener training, which will take place January through March 2009, will be available this fall.

Keith Hansen
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