The Master Gardener Program is a public service program offered by the Cooperative Extension Service that provides university training to volunteers for the purpose of enabling them to serve their communities through horticulture, gardening, and pest management.
The first Master Gardener Program was initiated in the state of Washington in 1973 by Extension agents in response to a burgeoning interest in horticulture from citizens in the urban areas. The program’s objective was to train volunteers to help Extension meet the overwhelming demand for information on horticulture, gardening, and plant problems. Volunteers participated in a series of science-based educational sessions that included many aspects of horticulture and related topics. Then, in return for this training, they assisted local Extension personnel in providing information and education.
Today there are Master Gardener Programs affiliated with most land-grant universities throughout the United States.
Established Roots
The Missouri Master Gardener Extension Program began in St. Louis in 1983 and is designed to assist the University of Missouri and Lincoln University with a mission of bringing horticultural information to the public. The Master Gardener Program throughout Missouri promotes and raises public awareness of the University of Missouri Extension as a source of unbiased, research based gardening information. Master Gardeners of Greene County in Springfield, MO was formed in 1984 to continue that mission, contributing thousands of hours each year in the Springfield area and surrounding region.
2016 Bylaws Master Gardeners of Greene County
2017 BOARD MEMBERS
Barbara St. Clair, Class of 2004
President
Don Snyder, Class of 2013
Vice President
Glenn Blake, Class of 2009
Secretary
Ann Gunion, Class or 2009
Treasurer
Patty Garrett, Class of 2013
2017 Board Member
Dick Carter, Class of 2013
2017 Board Member
Catherine Banks, Class of 2013
2017 Board Member
Glenn Blake
2017 Board Member
2017 LEADERSHIP TEAM
Coordinator
Kelly McGowan
Board President
Barbara St. Clair, Class of 2004
Membership
Membership Chair
Dee Bremer, Class of 2015
Continuing Education
Vacant
Chapter News
Emma Valentin, Class of 2010
Emeritus Care
Shirley Shipley, Class of 2007
Historian/Archivist
Vacant
Hours Reporting and Roster
Glenn Blake, Class of 2009
Member Care
Joy Zorsch, Class of 2014
Trainee Care
Mentoring: Margo Shull, Class of 2007
Apprentice Program: Kelly McGowan, Coordinator
Monthly General Meeting
Don Snyder, Class of 2013
Barbara Ingalsbe, Class of 2016
Social
J.J. Averett, Class of 2009
Volunteer Coordinator
Kelly McGowan
Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens
Demonstration Gardens Chair
Patricia DeWitt, Class of 2015
Structures
Dick Carter, Class of 2013
Irrigation
Vacant
Kiosk Updates
Vacant
Labeling
Maryann Holt, Class of 2014
Mulch and Compost
Bobbi Ream, Class of 2009
Special Events
Liz Ford-Coates, Class of 2014
Sectionheads
Fruits
Patrick Byers, Coordinator
Herbs
Barb Emge, Class of 2005
Misc. Areas
Vacant
Natives
Linda Reinart, Class of 2015
Ornamental Grasses and West Entrance
Margo Shull, Class of 2007
Mixed Borders
Liz Ford-Coates, Class of 2014
Pollinator Garden
Lois Zerrer, Class of 2015
Shade
Vacant
Turf Grasses
Randy Underwood, Class of 2003
Vegetables
Denise Fleetwood, Class of 2016
Xeriscape Gardens
Xeriscape Garden Chair
Barbara St Clair, Class of 2004
Structures
Glenn Blake, Class of 2009
Irrigation
Glenn Blake, Class of 2009
Mulch and Compost
Carl Redmon, Class of 2000
Hotline
Hotline Chair
Lisa Bakerink, Friends of the Garden President
Meetings
Shirley Shipley, Class of 2007
Trainer
Pat Swackhamer, Class of 2010
Scheduling
Susie Joplin, Class of 2012
Data Entry
Maryann Holt, Class of 2014
Public Education
Public Education Chair
Susan Phillips, Class of 2016
Hickory Hills School Prairie Restoration and Greenhouse
Kay Johnson, Class of 2010
Learn to Grow in the Garden Series
Dulcy Stewart, Class of 2013
MaryAnn Bolli, Class of 2011
Potting Shed University
Jana Belk, Class of Class of 2000
Speakers Bureau
Ken Chamberlain, Class of 2016
Children’s Programming
Shae Johnson, Class of 2014
Public Education Publicity
Becca Meeks, Class of 2014
Flyer Distribution
MaryAnn Bolli, Class of 2011
Fundraising
Fundraising Chair
Vacant
Plant Sale
Catherine Banks, Class of 2013
Marketing/Public Relations (MPR)
MPR Chair
Kathy Rapp, Class of 1999
Ask a Master Gardener
Mark Bernskoetter, Class of 2004
Fairs & Shows
Susan Moran, Class of 2014
Publications
Ken Bass, Class of 2015
Publicity
Vacant
Social Media, Facebook
Rebecca Nickols, class of 2007
Website
Malissa Nowack, Class of 2014
Constant Contact (Public Newsletter)
Kathy Rapp, Class of 1999
Park Partner Representatives
Amos and Denise Fleetwood, Class of 2016
Ad hoc / Special Projects
Volunteer Retention
Kelly McGowan, Horticultural Educator
Shade Garden Project
Patricia DeWitt, Class of 2015
2015/2016 Demo Gardens/Xeriscape Garden Labeling Project
Maryann Holt, Class of 2014
Bobbi Ream, Class of 2009
Mary Ventress, Class of 2014