The Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV) brought back three state awards from the Ohio MGV Conference held this past weekend at Maumee Bay State Park near Toledo.
The Hardin County Developmental Disabilities Board, Master Gardener Dave McPheron, and the local program ‘Children’s Day at the Friendship Gardens,’ were recognized as state winners at this annual conference.
Kim Thomas, Harco Industries Director and local Master Gardener, was present at the annual awards banquet to receive the Ohio ‘Friend of MGV Award’ on behalf of the Hardin County Developmental Disabilities Board. This award is based on support to county OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer programs.
The Developmental Disabilities Board has been a source of great encouragement to the Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, providing a location and inspiration to help create and support the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County, a learning experience for all ages.
Local Master Gardener Dave McPheron received the state ‘Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator’ award. As an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, McPheron has made a positive impact in the county. He has had opportunity to speak to many groups within and outside of the county to share expertise in horticulture. He has spoken on garden preparation, soils, landscape design, water gardening, house plants, as well as general gardening. This has included teaching new Master Gardener classes to the county as well as counties surrounding Hardin.
Having a degree in Horticulture from The Ohio State University, McPheron has a zeal for his chosen profession, which has allowed him to encourage others to be successful in gardening. He believes that once equipped with education, anyone can enjoy the thrill of gardening. In addition to serving as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteers, he has also served as the group’s president.
The annual ‘Children’s Day at the Friendship Gardens’ was selected as the ‘Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Project’ at the state conference. Seeing a need to reach out to 4-H members with gardening projects in the county, the Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteers created the idea of a 4-H and Children’s Day at the demonstration garden, the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County.
As the numbers of 4-H gardening projects have decreased in the county, the Master Gardeners changed the event to just a Children’s Day held the second Saturday of June. This morning program invites children and their parents into the garden to experience Master Gardener-staffed stations, each with a different focus. The goal of this program is to help create life-long learners, excitement for what you can find in your garden, and hopefully encourage a new generation of gardeners.
In addition to winning these three state awards, the Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteers were recognized with the platinum ‘Standards for Excellence’ distinction. This is the highest degree of accomplishment for a county Master Gardener Volunteer program, based on guidelines set up by the Ohio State University Extension. Also, local Master Gardener Steve Phillips was nominated by the local group as Hardin County’s Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer for 2015.
Attached photo caption – Harco Industries Director Kim Thomas accepts the Ohio ‘Friend of Master Gardener Volunteers’ award on behalf of the Hardin County Developmental Disabilities Board. She is being presented the plaque by Ohio’s state winning ‘Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator’ Dave McPheron, who is also from Hardin County.
