Master Gardener Awards
Every year, Master Gardener volunteers are recognized at the Master Gardener Continued Training Conference. The success of the Master Gardener Program would not be possible without the volunteers’ great contributions. We thank each of our volunteers and especially recognize those who go above and beyond in their volunteering capacity.
General Guidelines
- Only the efforts of the Master Gardeners themselves are to be evaluated. Efforts of the Master Gardener Coordinator should not be included in the application.
- Only efforts made since the last awards ceremony will be considered.
- Any new or re-certified active Florida Master Gardeners are eligible.
- If your project has won in ANY year, it cannot be re-entered again, despite any significant changes in format or participants.
Criteria
- Each county is allowed one entry per category.
- Each entry must have filled out an Awards of Excellence Form (form 10).
- Each entry must have a correct and complete category award application form (forms 11-23).
- A typed application form and/or supporting materials (where applicable) should be included.
- A 150-word project summary of each project must be included
Forms must include the signature of county agent and the date.
Before applying for an award, discuss the application with your county Master Gardener Coordinator. Forms can be obtained from the county Master Gardener Coordinator.
Entries are due August 1 in the State Master Gardener Coordinator's office.
Award Categories
Beautification/Enhancement
The Beautification/Enhancement Award recognizes Master Gardener(s) who make efforts to beautify and enhance their community. The award is based on the creation of new plantings or modifying existing plantings. This can be for either exterior or interior landscapes.
Demonstration/Educational Garden
The Demonstration/Educational Garden Award recognizes Master Gardener(s) who contribute to developing or maintaining demonstration gardens. Gardens should have educational components and reach their intended audiences.
Educational Materials Development
The Educational Materials Development Award recognizes the development of educational materials that are part of a program for the general public or other Florida Master Gardeners. These educational materials would be proactive. Examples of materials include newsletters, slide sets with script or tape, videos, or PowerPoint presentations.
Extension Awareness
The Extension Awareness Award recognizes the Master Gardener(s) who make an effort to give credit to the University of Florida/IFAS and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service for a particular project they were involved with. It is not the particular project that is being judged, but the attempt to gain awareness for the Extension Service's role in the effort. If credit was given to the Master Gardener Program, there must be evidence that the Extension Service was also recognized for this entry to qualify in this category.
County Awareness / Educational Display
The County Awareness/Educational Display Award recognizes displays or exhibits designed and created by Master Gardeners. These displays should either create awareness and education about the Cooperative Extension Service or educate about sound horticultural practices or the principles.
General Achievement
The General Achievement Award is designed to recognize an area of Master Gardener involvement which is unique to any of the other categories. Please make every effort to review all other award categories to ensure that your entry may not be more appropriately placed under another category.
Outstanding Master Gardener
The Outstanding Master Gardener Award recognizes an individual Master Gardener who has made outstanding efforts in several projects/activities while being a Florida Master Gardener. Total effort is judged collectively over numbers of projects. Degree of involvement, evaluation, and educational impact are very important in this category. Applicants of this award cannot compete in any of the other award categories as an individual. However, if the Master Gardener is part of a group or team, the applicant can compete in another award category.
Personal Communications
The Personal Communications Award consists of telephone activities by Master Gardeners that are reactive or responsive in nature. The responses given are to questions or concerns of the public.
Service to 4-H and Other Youth
The Service to 4-H and Other Youth Award recognizes the Master Gardener(s) who contributed the most to Florida 4-H and/or other youth horticulture while serving as a Florida Master Gardener. The basis for the award is in the area of horticulture, including fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. These projects may be carried out on the grounds of the Extension Service, school yards, backyard plots, or community-owned properties.
Special Audiences
The Special Audiences Award recognizes activities of Master Gardeners who work with special audiences such as handicapped, senior citizens, low income, minority, or inmates. Projects will be evaluated on the contributions made to the special audience.
Verbal Mass Communications
The Verbal Mass Communications Award consists of program activities by Master Gardeners for television or radio programs.
Written Mass Communications
The Written Mass Communications Award consists of program activities by Master Gardeners that include news articles, feature stories, or columns.
County Master Gardener Newsletter
The County Master Gardener Newsletter Award recognizes Master Gardeners that produce a newsletter distributed to the Master Gardeners in the county. This document can be exclusively for the Master Gardener volunteers, or also distributed to the public.
Service Recognition
Master Gardeners who have served 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of continuous service will be recognized at the Master Gardener Continued Training Conference.
