The 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 Gardeners are required to complete 20 hours of service and 10 continuing education credit hours annually in order to continue their certification. In 2017, the Pennyroyal Master Gardener Association reported that 45 volunteers completed a total of 2778.42 service hours and 491.50 continuing education hours. According to Independent Sector, the 2016 dollar value of volunteer time in Kentucky was $21.38 per hour.  Based on this rate, the volunteer service of the Pennyroyal Master Gardeners holds to $59,402.62 in value.