Going and Growing
Items of Note
Monthly Busy Bee Awards
Each month we recognize Master Gardeners when they contribute 50 hours in sanctioned projects.
January – March
| Geraldine Alvis | David Edwards | Kathy Launder | |
| Alfi Anderson | Carrie Gamble | Jan Lefler | |
| Carole Ball | Elizabeth Hale | Patsy Louk | |
| Linda Bennett-Smith | Karen Hanna-Towne | Julia Murray | |
| Pam Butler | Ruthanne Hill | Jim Sposato | |
| Kristi Campbell | Laura Wilkins |
April
Kim Coslett, Jessica Guillory, Doris Cassidy, Stacy Lake, Bruce Neidecker, Roger Faulkner, Danna Greer, Laura Underwood. Not pictured: Kathryn Birkhead.
May
Susan Young, Chris Bell, Lynette Terrell, Peggy Sissel, Betty Nichols, Steve Shearman. Not pictured: Nan Abbiatti, Mariette Spidel.
June
Kelly Chaney, Janice Walker, Vicki Spencer, Judy Cohea. Not pictured: Talya Boerner, Regina Gabel, Donna McDaniel, Jeff McGuire, Stephanie McGuire, Judy Reighter, Mary Sparks, Dale Thomas.
July
Pictured: Margaret Abowitz, Lynne Bell, Chuck Rutherford, Donilyn Rutherford, Linda Morrow
Not pictured: John Ball, Robert Callier, Darielle James, Michael Mohler, Joyce Starr, Adrianne Treadway, Phyllis Wilkins, Laura Winburn
August
Pictured: Caleb Israel, Kitty Sanders
Not pictured: Steve Brizzi, Sharon Daniels, Sonja Everitt, Peggy Konert, Carolyn Newbern, Sally Schoen, Patty Stith, Teresa Sullivan, Julie Torseth, Jane Van Tuyl, Marie Waters-Ford
September
Pictured: Terry Hedden, Rhonda Lovell
Not pictured: Dawn Fisher, Joyce Hardin, Gari James, Jayne Laster, Dale Thomas
Years of Service Awards
Five-Year Pins
Terry Hedden, Lynette Terrell, Brad Neidecker, Kimberly Hosey.
Not pictured: Leslie Bailey, Keith Blowers, Randy Butler, Elizabeth Hall, Audley Hall, Julia Murray, Virginia Ramos.
Ten-Year Pins
Linda Morrow, Geraldine Alvis, Chris Bell, Mary McCully. Not pictured: Janet Brown, Dawn Didier, Jim MacLean, Linda MacLean, Donilyn Rutherford, Janice Torbet, Michael Wulf.
Lifetime Awards
Betty Nichols, Ruth Cohoon, Jane Bryant, Marguerite Abowitz. Not pictured: Jill King.
Lifetime + Awards
Jaylon Haley. Not pictured: Ginger Candrilli.
Washington County Master Gardener Annual Awards
Washington County Master Gardener of the Year
Liz Hale
Rookie of the Year
Pam Salamo
Mentor of the Year
Jan Lefler
Project of the Year
Lincoln Community Garden
Stephanie McGuire, Jim Sposato, Judy Cohea, Jeff McGuire
Excellence in Education
Butterfly House Education Program, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Betty Nichols, Chris Bell, Kitty Sanders, Judy Reighter, Pam Butler
“Yes, I Can” Award
Doris Cassidy and Kathy Launder
“Yes, I Can” Award Rookie
Stephanie McGuire and Sheri Bucciferro
Friend of the Year
Jeff McGuire
Photos by Kathryn Birkhead
Organization Friend of Master Gardeners
Lee Anne Weiderkehr
Washington County Historical Society
2025 Washington County Master Gardeners Training Class
Seated from left: Donna McDaniel, Calista Keck, Lulamae Wampler, Swathi Munagala, Terri Speer, Jody Hughes, Kelly Chaney, and James Harvey
Standing middle row from left: Becca Muenich, Teresa Sullivan, Mari Walters-Ford, Steve Shearman, Mary Sparks, Rhonda Lovell, Lynne Bell, Jessica Guillory, and Julie Torseth
Standing back row from left: Jeff McGuire, Calinda Green, Kim Coslett, Bill Speer, Roger Faulkner, and Caleb Israel
Photo by Kathy Launder.
Not pictured: Debra Broyles and Tim McGinn
Class of 2024 Washington County Master Gardeners
Seated from left: Rick Oliver, Ronda Marks, David Edwards, Sheri Bucciferro
Standing second row from left: Thalita Santos, Laura Anne Watson, Carlie Willett, Peter Gavin, Laura Winburn.
Standing back row from left: Bruce Redinger, Stephanie McGuire, Gerry Harris, Haley Hausam, Patty Stith.
Not pictured: Robert Callier, Sharon Ferguson, Pam Salamo, Kara Wishon.
Shiloh Museum Free Seed Library
Under the leadership of Marty Powers, a seed giveaway program was developed to encourage the planting of more seeds which benefit butterflies and other pollinators. The project was begun in 2022 when a total of 7,700 seed packets were picked up from the seed box. During the 2023 season, that number increased to 8,072. An additional 2,000 milkweed packets were donated to schools and were handed out during the milkweed giveaway and the monarch festival.
Project Highlight – Washington County Fair
Washington County Master Gardeners serve the Washington County Fair by supervising all activities in the fair’s Agronomy Department. Exhibit categories (adult and youth) include vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, flower arrangements, potted plants, field crops, and outdoor art. There is also a youth category for entomology. The fair runs for five days in late August. WCMGs are involved before (building prep), during (receive entries, assist judges, visit with the public) and after (building cleanup) the fair. During the fair the WCMGs also run a “Gardeners Store,” with all proceeds going to fund fair premiums for youth.
The Washington County Fair is WCMG’s largest sanctioned project, both in public outreach and in Master Gardener volunteer participation. As project co-chair Doris Cassidy says, “It takes a village to staff the Horticulture Building!”
