In response to client requests, the Warren County Extension Office partnered with the Simpson County Extension Service to offer the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program in winter and spring 2025. Educational classes were held over 12 weeks, covering 14 topics in home consumer horticulture. Topics included home vegetable gardening, small and tree fruit production, lawn care practices, woody tree and shrub care, pesticide safety, soils and fertility, annual and perennial flowers, home composting, plant propagation techniques, plant diseases, and more. UK Extension agents and specialists led all classes.

The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program trained 18 horticulture enthusiasts, including 17 from Warren County, in practical skills and knowledge. Participants attended educational lectures led by UK Extension Agents, completed quizzes on each topic, and read chapters from the University of Kentucky Extension Master Gardener manual. At the end of the classes, participants took home the manual as a reference for future questions. Several sessions included hands-on demonstrations and activities to improve their learning experience. Specifically, 10 participants attended a hands-on tree grafting workshop, where they grafted apple scion wood onto a rootstock, which they then took home to start their fruit tree orchard.

The horticulture extension agent administered the pre- and post-evaluation to participants to measure the program's success. The key findings are summarized below.

• 100% of participants reported collecting a soil sample from their home garden, lawn, or landscape areas. Several mentioned it was their first time taking a soil sample, which they attributed to the information shared during the soil session. This practical application of the knowledge gained from the session directly impacts the participants' gardening practices, making it a valuable and relevant experience for them.  
• Based on survey results, several participants reported enjoying the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals during the class. 

One participant's feedback on their final evaluation provides a compelling testament to the program's success. They noted that "besides meeting all the nice, like-minded students and Master Gardeners and Extension staff, [she] enjoyed the opportunities that we were given for hands-on labs. I never would have attempted to graft a tree myself, and had no idea of how to identify grasses, or how to propagate 'new' plants. I would have just bought the new plants or trees and called it a day. I mostly loved that the class provided many subject matter experts from all over the state that showed how cohesively the Extension Offices work together to deliver peer-reviewed and scientific information in small bites that we could understand. I'd highly recommend this class to everyone with an interest in trees, flowers, gardening, and lawn maintenance.

Since completing their classes, many Master Gardeners have begun fulfilling their 40 hours of volunteer work. They have teamed up with Warren County Extension Master Gardeners for the 2025 Arbor Day, Bowling Green Fairy Garden Tour, and Kids on the Block Garden Tour. They have also helped maintain gardens at the Monarch Waystation and Pollinator Habitat in the Bowling Green Gardens.