Several Extension Master Gardeners were honored during the recent North Dakota State University Extension Master Gardener Program awards ceremony.

The NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service organization that beautifies communities, educates the public about gardening, donates fresh produce to local food pantries and encourages pollinator conservation.

After participants complete 40 hours of class work, they are known as Master Gardener interns. They can become certified Master Gardener volunteers by volunteering 48 hours of time during a two-year period on gardening and education projects in cooperation with NDSU Extension.

Those honored at the awards program were (all cities are in North Dakota unless otherwise noted):

• Adult Education Award - Burleigh and Morton Counties Diagnostic Teams; Sophia Asbury, Deb Gallagher, Annette Kost, Breanna Miller, Don Reiner, Ray Utter, Kathleen Wiese, Bismarck; Christy Ames-Davis, Mandan
• Best Group Project Award - presented to Ward County Extension Master Gardener Food Pantry Garden; Bette Furgeson, Burlington; Liz Mueller, Linton; Rebeccah Eman, Deb Fauske, Gladys Lowell, Nancy Scofield, Minot
• Communications Award - Renée Jean, Williston
• Best Elder Care Project - Curt Larson, Forman
• Feeding the Hungry Award - Jennifer Skoog, Christine
• Innovation Award - Theresa Martin-Johnson, Tolna
• Working with Underserved Populations Award - Beth Rogness, Fargo
• Youth Education Award - Cecelia Collins and Laurie Podoll, Jamestown
• Friend of the Extension Master Gardener Program - Breana Kiser, NDSU Extension agent for Dickey County
• Ron Smith Award for Community Service - Candace Allen, Moorhead, Minnesota

100 Hour Service Club Members – These Master Gardeners volunteered 100 hours or more but less than 200 hours (volunteer hours in parentheses):

• Sandy Bieber (110.5), Mary Heyerman (180.5), Annette Kost (143.5), Don Reiner (124.5), Bismarck
• Myla Alsaker (100), Felicia Davis Cooper (164), Julie Garden-Robinson (114), Cindy McLean (141), Will Robinson (114), Nola Storm (158.5), Fargo
• Cindy Filler (156), Grand Forks
• Nicole Severance (102.5), Hunter
• Kathryn Torkelson (144.5), Lansford
• Ann Guanella (148), Oberon
• Linda Hovda (176.5), Parshall
• Lynnette Vachal (119.5), Ross
• Brenda Jorgenson (158), Tioga
• Penny Seifert (164.5), Wahpeton
• Barbara Keyes (180.75), West Fargo

200 Hour Service Club Members – These Master Gardeners volunteered 200 plus hours in the previous year (volunteer hours in parentheses):

• Meigan Cameron (254), Bismarck
• Jennifer Skoog (401.5), Christine
• Joan Bishoff (341), Anita Hofsommer (332), Kathleen Johnson (211), Rhonda Miller (221), Jack Wood (580), Linda Worner (276), Fargo
• Anne Smith (215.5), Grand Forks
• Laurie Podoll (243.5), Jamestown
• Rebeccah Eman (258.25), Minot
• Candace Allen (296.5), Moorhead, Minnesota
• Karen Weber (304), Wahpeton

Certified Master Gardener Volunteers – These individuals completed their 48-hour volunteer internship in 2021 and were certified as Master Gardener volunteers:

• Sophia Asbury, Debra Gallagher, Kim Lee, Breanna Miller, Greg Tschider, Bismarck
• Lee Briese, Edgeley
• Joyce Hanna, Breanna Kompelien, Nick Moszer, Bette Stieglitz, Maria Toomey, Amber Ueland, Arielle Windham, Fargo
• Jo-Anne LaVigne, Larimore
• Tamara Metzen, Milnor
• Jacob Thrailkill, Minot
• Cheryl Doll, New Salem
• Elizabeth Suhr, Ray
• Amy Koehler, Upham
• Daniel Sikkink, West Fargo

Master Gardener Diagnosticians – These individuals completed their 20-hour apprenticeship in 2021 and earned the elevated title of Master Gardener Diagnostician:

• Emily Hilgers, Fargo
• Cindy Filler, Grand Forks
• Christy Ames-Davis, Mandan
• Ann Guanella, Oberon
• Linda Hovda, Parshall
• Lynnette Vachal, Ross
• Theresa Martin-Johnson, Tolna
• Renee Jean, Williston

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Oct. 24, 2022

Source:  Esther McGinnis, 701-231-7406, esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu