Kay County OSU Extension graduates 18 new Master Gardeners

Front row, from left, Joshua Wagner, Irene Ackerson, Judy Reck, Joni Lantz, Linda Broome, Mary Ann Sudbury, Kassie Bridges, Lorna Wilson. Back row, Sue Dinger, Sharon Davis, Diane Braden, Janet Brooks, Teri Dester, Barbara Davis, Janis Hudson, John Lockwood, Regeneia Van Arsdale, Boyd Braden, and Shannon Mallory, Agriculture Educator.

Recently, 18 potential new Master Gardeners took a 100-question exam to prove they had a green thumb. Everyone passed with merit. Class members were from all over Kay County and the surrounding area.

“The course was just wonderful. I learned so much and met so many nice people,” said Judy Reck of Kaw City.

Over the past few months, this group of lifelong learners have met weekly 10 times at Pioneer Technology Center to learn from Oklahoma State University Extension professors and staff on gardening-related subjects.

Subjects include basic botany, plant disease diagnostics, insect identification, and annual and perennial flowers. What can sometimes seem like an overwhelming amount of information is broken up into one-day courses.

“Anyone interested in gardening or plants should take the training if they can,” said Teri Dester of Ponca City. “I really enjoyed it, and the speakers from OSU are very enjoyable.”

After course completion, graduates join the Kay County Master Gardener organization that volunteer in Kay County communities. Kay County Master Gardeners amassed more than 750 volunteer hours in Kay County in 2018. In addition to volunteer work, Master Gardeners have access to classes and training through OSU to continue their education even after their graduation.

Planners hope to schedule another class for fall 2020. If interested in taking the Master Gardener Training, please contact the Kay County OSU Extension office at (580) 362-3194 or by e-mail at [email protected].