What's New with the Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State?
Annual Conference
June 12th, 13th, and 14th saw a hugely successful celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Master Gardeners in Washington State (and therefore Anywhere!) More that 260 Master Gardeners and friends came together at wonderful Fort Worden State Park and Convention Center, in Port Townsend, Washington.
The Conference was jointly organized by the State Foundation and WSU Extension.
Conference Attendance, by Chris Bailey
It was interesting to look at all of the counties represented at the 2008 conference.
Three counties are within a 50 miles radius of Port Townsend. Fourteen Master Gardeners attended from Kitsap, 10 from Jefferson and 5 from Island County.
Driving 50 to 100 miles to Port Townsend were 17 Master Gardeners from Snohomish County, 5 from Mason, and 4 each from Clallam and San Juan Counties.
Traveling from 100 to 200 miles away were 64 Master Gardeners from King County, 22 from Thurston, 13 from Pierce, 8 from Pacific-Grays Harbor and Whatcom, 7 from Skagit, 6 from Lewis, 5 from Kittitas and 4 from Cowlitz County.
Ranging from 200 to 300 miles from the conference site, 8 Master Gardeners came from Benton-Franklin, 7 from Chelan, 4 from both Clark and Yakima, 3 from Grant-Adams, and one each from Douglas and Okanogan Counties.
Other Master Gardeners traveled 300 to 400 miles. Five from Asotin County and 3 from Spokane County. If there was a prize for driving the longest distance to attend the conference, it would be claimed by 3 Master Gardeners from Pend Oreille. They had to travel over 400 miles to join us!
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WSU Master Gardener program leader Tonie Fitzgerald introduces WSU Associate Vice President and Dean of Extension Linda Kirk Fox for the keynote address at the opening session of the Master Gardeners Leadership Conference as Fox looks on. |
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WSU Associate Vice President and Dean of Extension Linda Kirk Fox presents the keynote address at the opening session of the WSU Master Gardeners Leadership Conference at Fort Warden near Port Townsend. |
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Master Gardeners enjoy a lunch break and an opportunity to compare notes and debrief from their morning sessions at the Master Gardener Leadership Conference. |
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WSU soil scientist Craig Cogger presents information on composting, cover crops and other organic amendments at a breakout session at the Master Gardener Leadership Conference. |
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Washington State University Master Gardener program leader Tonie Fitzgerald (left) confers with WSU Associate Vice President and Dean of Extension Linda Kirk Fox as Master Gardeners gather for the opening session of their leadership conference and 35th anniversary celebration. |
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Master Gardener Magazine publisher Jim Black leads a discussion on how to write a great garden column at the Master Gardener Leadership Conference. |
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Larry Owens, of Pierce County was selected as 2008 Master Gardener of the year! |
WSU-MGFWS MOA
The State Foundation is soon to sign a new Memorandum of Agreement with Washington State University Extension, replacing an MOA that expired in February 2008.
Save These Dates!
March 22-26, 2009: International Master Gardener Conference, Las Vegas, NV. The theme will be "water conservation."
September 24-26, 2009: WSU/MGFWS Leadership Conference in Pullman,Washington
Submit News of Statewide Interest by email to: webmaster.mgfws@wsu.edu