Author: Sharon Flynt
Planning Unit: Scott County CES
Major Program: Master Gardener
Plan of Work: Basic Life Skills for Youth and Adults in Scott County
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Planning for the 2017 Scott Co. Extension Master Gardener Lawn and Garden Expo begin in October, of 2016. At that time committees were formed and chairs appointed to those committees. The event took place in March, 2017. The structure of the event included 13 educational events focused on gardening, soil, raised bed gardening, native plants, pollinator, seed starting, composting, fertilizers, herbs, lawns, terrariums, and heathy garden food recipes. The day of the event followed a weeklong forecast for accumulating snowfall amounts and treacherous driving. Despite the weather and accumulating snowfall that started an hour after the EXPO had opened, one hundred plus participants attended. This resulted in an Expo saw a 333% increase in attendance, with attendees rating educational experiences as 100% saying they learned something new, and 89% saying they would put into practice what they learned. From past events where 25 to 30 attendees was considered a success, the 2018 Lawn and Garden Expo was a colossal success, especially considering the weather for the day held. As an additional, but just as important success, the committee approach supplied the training ground for current Master Gardener volunteers in leadership growth, and an opportunity for emerging leaders to test and refine their skills and abilities.
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