Taylor County had its first Master Gardeners' class on the 6th of September. The Master Gardeners' Program was one of the reasons a horticulture agent was hired for Taylor County. Upon arrival, the agent was asked numerous times when the program would be held. During the month before the agent's second year, the first two classes of the program were held. 

The importance of the program is the heart of extension's mission; teaching individuals to be teachers / leaders within their communities. This is an extension driven program where the horticulture agent serves as a presenter, educator, sponsor, collaborator, facilitator, and advisor.  These roles are evident within both the educational classes / labs, as well as the volunteer segment of the program. Extension specialists as well as other horticulture agents, will also be providing educational instruction.

The classes / labs utilize lectures, worksheets, hands-on activities within the labs, etc. Pre-tests and post-tests have been utilized as well as personal testimonials from the participants. There has been a maximum of 15 individuals in attendance at these classes.  This education and volunteer program was open to all who filled out an application, passed a background check, and participated in an interview.

There are initial, intermediate, and long-term outcomes within a Master Gardeners' program. The current initial outcome is that participants will gain knowledge. The intermediate outcome is showcased when Master Gardeners participate in the labs after the lecture. They put their newly gained knowledge into practice by actually doing the activities that have just been taught. They utilize these techniques when they perform these activities again outside of the lab, at home, or in their community. The long-term outcome goal is for the Master Gardeners to become teachers themselves. They can share their knowledge gained through these classes / labs of researched based information from the University of Kentucky.