Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Master Gardeners educated and educating

Author: Amy Aldenderfer

Major Program: Master Gardener

Describe the Issue or Situation.Hardin County has over 42,000 households with over 110,000 residents.  Extension Master Gardeners enable residents to access research-based information as an extension to the county Horticulture Agent. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).The Extension Master Gardener Program consists of 15 classes of intense training in various areas of interest to horticulture enthusiasts.  After the classroom trainin

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Master Gardner Pruning Feburary 2025

Author: Donavan Moore

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardner Pruning Feburary 2025

Many residents in Louisville express interest in growing fresh apples or peaches, but few fully understand the level of care required for any tree—especially fruiting varieties. Fruit trees demand significant time and commitment before producing a harvest, with full-sized trees often taking up to 10 years to bear fruit. A critical aspect of their care is proper pruning to remove dead or diseased limbs and promote healthy growth. While dwarf trees can often be pruned with simple extendable

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Master Gardeners Make a Big Difference in Christian County

Author: Kelly Jackson

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardeners Make a Big Difference in Christian County

The Christian County Master Gardener Association began in 2005. As part of the University of Kentucky Extension, we teach people how to grow, care for, and enjoy plants. Last year, 55 volunteers gave 3,005 hours of their time to local projects. That time is worth more than $64,000 in service. But the real value is in what they gave back to the community.Our Master Gardeners reached over 3,500 people through hands-on teaching, workshops, and one-on-one help. They hosted big events like the Garden

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Master Gardeners Program Launched in Letcher County

Author: Shad Baker

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Letcher County Extension Office recently completed the first half of its Kentucky Master Gardener training, welcoming 25 eager learners from across the county into the program. Over 11 classes, participants gained practical skills in basic botany, plant identification, propagation, soils and fertility, plant diseases, insects, and weed management. Hands-on activities paired with classroom instruction allowed participants to gain confidence in diagnosing plant problems and selecting appropria

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Master Gardeners Impact Pulaski County

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Master Gardener

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are volunteer educators serving across the country in local communities. Backed by the University of Kentucky, Kentucky EMGs are dedicated to outreach and on a mission to support successful gardening through science-based horticulture information. Eight new EMGs In-Training were trained during Fall 2024 in Pulaski County.  They are completing their volunteer hours during 2025.EMGs are required to volunteer hours of service back to the community or in ef

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Master Gardener Program

Author: Bryce Roberts

Major Program: Master Gardener

               With the continued growth in population in Spencer County, the number of horticulture questions continues to increase. Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in starting a Master Gardener program to help educate local residents on proper horticulture techniques. In January 2023, the Spencer County Master Gardener program officially launched.               The Master Gardener program i

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From Federal Correctional Inmate to Leading Community Horticulture Classes

Author: Lori Bowling

Major Program: Master Gardener

Former inmate in a Federal Correctional Institution who went through the Kentucky Master Gardener program while incarcerated has taken his education and used it to teach other gardeners and master gardeners about irrigation.  Many small gardeners struggle with how to set up an effective irrigation system to increase their yields and quality of their produce.  In an effort to reintegrate back into his community the former inmate realized that many of the local farmers were not familiar

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Growing Community at Bourbon Heights – A Courtyard Garden for All

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Master Gardener

At Bourbon Heights in Paris, Kentucky, a vibrant courtyard community garden has blossomed into a hub of activity, connection, and care. Developed and maintained by the Bourbon County Extension Master Gardener program, the garden has become a cherished part of life for residents and adult day care participants, with support and involvement from administrative staff.Designed with accessibility and inclusion in mind, the garden features sensory elements and barrier-free design, enabling participati

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Master Gardener Program Cultivates Confidence and Community Impact in Bourbon County

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Master Gardener

In Bourbon County, the rising interest in sustainable gardening, local food production, and community beautification has highlighted a growing need for trained horticulture volunteers who can support these efforts with research-based knowledge. Many residents are eager to contribute but lack formal training and connection to Extension resources. In response, the Bourbon County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service implemented the 2025 Master Gardener Program to addre

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2024 Master Gardener Volunteer Hours

Author: Donavan Moore

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Master Gardener program has existed across the United States for decades, providing opportunities for research-based information to be shared within communities. Like many counties in Kentucky, Jefferson County has a rich history of volunteerism and a strong commitment to community improvement. Numerous initiatives and organizations in Louisville focus on making the city a better place through gleaning projects, anti-violence interventions, addiction recovery efforts, and more.In 2024, appro

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Master Gardener Calendar Provides Educational Gardening Resource

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardener Calendar Provides Educational Gardening Resource

For over a decade, the Pennyroyal Master Gardener Association has created a gardening calendar available for the community to learn more about growing plants.  Each year, the master gardener group forms a committee and decides on a particular topic to focus on for the next year’s calendar.   Previous years have shown insects, vegetables, bulbs, deer-resistant plants, trees, and much more.  This year’s calendar features native plants.   Once the topic is decided, t

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Master Gardener Volunteer Certification Attracts New Participants

Author: Sharon Flynt

Major Program: Master Gardener

Describe the Issue or Situation.   Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are people who have earned and maintained their certification through training conducted by Kentucky Extension specialists and agents. They contribute to their communities by offering educational programs for both youth and adults and engaging in community service projects. They serve by conducting educational programs for youth and adults and community service projects, instilling confidence in their knowledge and

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Master Gardener becomes more involved in the community

Author: Mary Dossett

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardener becomes more involved in the community

During the fall of 2022, I taught a Master Gardener training class. The class started with 20 participants and at the end, I graduated 5 people.  Throughout this training I taught topics on pruning, flowers, lawn management, fruit, and much more. This was my first class as an agent, so I was learning as well how to teach the class and acquire speakers. Laurie Salvacion is a Master Gardener that has stayed with the program even after graduating. By doing the Master Gardener class she is now

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Training New Master Gardener Volunteers

Author: Adam Leonberger

Major Program: Master Gardener

Training New Master Gardener Volunteers

The Kentucky Master Gardener Program is a fourteen-week course on horticulture, aimed at training volunteers to be better gardeners and community leaders. Graduates must complete 40 hours of community service in the first year and 20 hours annually thereafter.  Franklin and Woodford County CES held a class of nineteen students, all passionate about gardening. Many have started or plan to assist with community gardens, using sustainable methods. This year, fourteen students became certi

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North Kentucky Hosts the 2024 Kentucky Master Gardener Conference

Author: Brandon George

Major Program: Master Gardener

Success Story 1-9-2025North Kentucky Hosts the 2024 Kentucky Master Gardener Conference On September 24-26, 2024, Kenton, Campbell, and Boone Counties cohosted the State Master Gardener Conference. Each NKY horticulture extension team along with their respective Master Gardener groups were tasked with event planning committees. Kenton County was responsible for organizing speakers for the event as well as setting up for and arranging workshops and tours. A unique experience was getting a to

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Master Gardeners Make a Difference

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization dedicated to teaching and training people about horticulture related topics. This program is a part of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and assists county extension agents in providing education and outreach in the community.   Master Gardeners are required to undergo training and complete 40 hours of volunteer service in their first year before becoming certified.  After the first year, Master Ga

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Expanding Reach Through Volunteers

Author: Jamie Dockery

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Fayette County horticulture program plays a vital role in supporting the local community in one of Kentucky's largest cities, home to a population of X residents. With just two full-time horticulture staff members, meeting the growing demand for expert horticultural guidance can be a challenge. However, the program leverages the incredible power of a dedicated group of trained Extension Master Gardener volunteers, enhancing its reach and impact across the county.In Fayette County, becomi

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New MG education classes

Author: Matthew Chadwick

Major Program: Master Gardener

Describe the Issue or Situation: The Master Gardener (MG) program aims to develop knowledgeable, confident, and skilled volunteers. However, feedback from the last two volunteer training cohorts indicated concerns about the program’s structure. Participants expressed that certain classes lacked both relevant content and effective delivery, leading to gaps in their readiness to apply the knowledge in real-world settings.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment