From ‘Cauliflower Ear’ to ‘Awesome Apple,’ U of I Extension Honors Kane Master Gardeners
The University of Illinois Extension honored its Master Gardeners for their thousands of hours of service to Kane County in 2015. During an awards ceremony in October, volunteers were recognized for various milestone and projects completed this year. CREDIT: University of Illinois Extension
University of Illinois Extension celebrated its Kane County Master Gardeners with an awards and appreciation night in October. The dedicated volunteer group has already completed more than 3,500 hours of service for 2015.
“University of Illinois Extension appreciates everything our amazing volunteers do to make the Master Gardener program a success for our Kane County communities,” said Master Gardener Program Coordinator Sarah Fellerer. “Master Gardeners share their own time and talents through the Master Gardener Help Desk, the Idea Garden, the Sherman Community Garden, and other community gardens, service projects and workshops throughout the year.”
The awards event recognized both new Master Gardeners, as well as those with several years of service, Fellerer said.
Seven interns were elevated to the official rank of Certified Master Gardener in Kane County, including Paula Altekruse, Leah Beck, and Sherri Nelson of St. Charles; Ann Carlsen of Batavia; Pat Engel of Geneva; and Susanne Everson and Susan Swing, both of Elgin. Each received a certificate and nametag to commemorate the achievement.
“Master Gardener interns are required to complete 60 hours of training and at least 60 hours of volunteer time, including many at the Help Desk and Idea Garden,” Fellerer said. “It makes for a busy year, and our newly-inducted Master Gardeners showed true dedication and enthusiasm for the program and county residents’ needs.”
In addition, many Master Gardeners received anniversary certificates to mark milestone years with the program, said Fellerer. Those celebrating 10 years with the program include: Ellen Bassett of Geneva, Cathy Vahey of Hampshire, and Karen Hoyne, Alice MacCallum, Bonnie Prokop, and Luci Taormina, all of St. Charles.
“We have a strong Master Gardener program in Kane County, and that is due in part to the example our seasoned Master Gardeners set,” Fellerer said. “They are as dependable, eager and passionate as any new recruit, and they have the extended knowledge and experience to complement their drive.”
Both new and experienced volunteers earned recognition for putting in more than 100 hours of service in 2015. Honorees were: Patsy Hirsch of Elgin, 280 hours; Sue Styer of Geneva, 264; Carlsen, 140; Susan Brauhn of Batavia, 132; Sandy Portincaso of Huntley, 121; Margaret-ann Haas of Algonquin, 116; Altekruse, 107; Lorayne Hrejsa of Batavia, 106; Everson, 105; Nancy Cox of St. Charles, 102; and Engel, 100.
Throughout the evening, Fellerer also handed out several other honors, including:
- An Advanced Certificate in Ecology to Hirsch.
- The “Cauliflower Ear” Award to Tico Conover of St. Charles for most hours at the Kane County Master Gardener Help Desk.
- The “Awesome Apple” Award to Carlsen for outstanding work in her intern year.
- The “High Yield” Award to both Hirsch and Styer for their dedicated, above-and-beyond commitment to program objectives.
- The “Spuds Potato” Award for consistent hard work to Haas and Linda Lood of Sleepy Hollow.
Fellerer also recognized Patty Harrer of Elgin as a state award recipient, which was announced over the summer. She earned a State Outstanding Master Gardener Award for her work at the Sherman Community Garden.
The Master Gardener Help Desk will be open for calls again in March of 2015. For more information on the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program in Kane County, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/.
University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.
SOURCE: University of Illinois Extension
About the Master Gardeners Program
The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program in Kane County is a volunteer program open to anyone with the desire and availability to share information with others about good landscape and gardening practices.
A primary objective of the Master Gardener Program is to develop and deliver educational programs, resources and events relating to horticulture to Kane County residents.
Volunteers participate in extensive training sessions conducted by University of Illinois Extension specialists and educators in horticulture, insects, diseases, grasses, woody and herbaceous ornamentals, and fruits and vegetables. In exchange for this challenging educational experience, Master Gardeners are required to volunteer 60 hours, primarily between April and October to share their new knowledge with the community. Fellow Master Gardeners are a dedicated group, and many chose to return year after year to share their knowledge with others.
“The Master Gardener program has equipped me with knowledge to share with my community. The more I share, the more I realize the need to continue my studies.” Catherine Harrington, Kane County Master Gardener since 2000
