For the first time in its history, Knox County Master Gardeners (KCMG) received a first- place award from the International Master Gardener Conference.
The KCMG project, Prune Like a Pro video series, placed first in the workshops/presentations category for the International 2023 Search for Excellence (SFE) awards.
The project, which airs on YouTube, is filmed, edited and produced by master gardener Marsha Lehman. At last year’s Tennessee Extension Master Gardener state conference, the project also received a first-place award. The series has more than 40 original videos and handouts available for the public and had more than 27,000 views during 2021-22.
Marsha Lehman
Another KCMG project, Gardening Tips Live, tied for third in the community service category for the International 2023 SFE awards. The program, which airs on Facebook, is hosted by KCMG volunteers Amy Haun, Tobi Johnson, Brian Townsend, Rosanne Smith and Margeaux Emery. It answers live questions and provides weekly gardening information for more than 18,000 gardeners participating in the Knoxville Area Gardening Tips Facebook group. Each show averages 400 views. It also received a state first-place SFE award at last year’s state conference.
“KCMG is happy to receive this international recognition of our dedicated master gardeners by their world-wide peers. We’re so proud of each of the recipients, who represent more than 200 passionate Knox County master gardeners,” said Rosanne Smith, president of KCMG.
The awards will be presented at the International Master Gardener Conference June 18-22 in Overland Park, Kansas, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 master gardeners from throughout the world.
KCMG, a Tennessee non-profit 501(c)(3), is a University of Tennessee Extension program with more than 200 active members who perform volunteer activities in the county, answer garden questions and provide education of new master gardeners each year.
Nancy Howell, is spokesperson for Knox County Master Gardeners