Success Story 1-9-2025

North 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 tour of the DHL plant inspection facilities for the NKY/Cincinnati airport, which was unique, and memorable for most of the master gardeners who attended.    

The conference was held at the Boone County Extension Enrichment Center with preconference tours occurring in the Enrichment Center as well as at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport. A total of 175 Master Gardeners came from across the state to attend the conference. Speakers came from the University of Kentucky Forestry and Entomology Departments, Mt. St. Joseph University, Ohio University, USDA APHIS, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and others.

Some of our survey results are highlighted here, as a result, 81% of the participants shared that they plan to implement one or more things they learned at the conference to do in the garden. A few shared: “Be aware of invasive (insects and plants) and help others”, “I plan to try Bonsai now”, “Change some of my landscape by adding more pollinator plants and propagate White Oak trees to give away”, “Being aware of poisonous plant in my landscape”.

78% of the respondents share some of their most valuable takeaways from the conference:

“The importance of houseplants from a health perspective”, “Time to connect with other gardeners from around the state” and “Made me think outside of the box when planting”.

"Volunteer leaders are essential for Extension to extend our presence throughout the community. The Master Gardener program is not just a training that allows gardeners to learn new skills, it is a way for gardeners to build community and help the public through volunteering.”

Many of our Master Gardeners have been volunteers with us for years, helping to maintain demonstration gardens, write gardening articles for the public, teach horticulture classes, and much more. These Master Gardeners love to get together to see what other groups are doing and to share their common love of growing plants.

To allow Master Gardeners to further their passion for gardening and learn from each other, horticulture agents and staff from Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties hosted the Annual Kentucky Master Gardener Conference in Northern Kentucky. The theme for the conference was Energize, Enrich, Engage. The mission was to give Master Gardeners the fuel to continue pursuing their passion of helping the public.