THE WOODFORD COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS received the 2026 Kentucky Outstanding Master Gardener Group Award at the Kentucky State Master Gardener Conference, held Sept. 27-29 in Madisonville, Kentucky. In addition to the award, the group received a tulip poplar, Kentucky’s state tree. From left, Lynn Anne Bishop, Laurel Kratt, Janie Lindle, Elaine Jacobsen, Bob Jacobsen, Delia Scott, Woodford Extension agent, Rebecca Weatherford and Delwin Jacoby. (Photo submitted)
By Rebecca Weatherford,
Special to the Sun
The Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners (WCEMG) are cultivating more than gardens; they are showcasing a year of volunteer service, educational outreach and projects designed to help the community grow. Through education, environmental stewardship and community partnerships, the organization continues to make a lasting impact across Woodford County.
Established in 2013, WCEMG includes 66 members, with 57 actively involved in its 15 community projects and programs. In 2025, members contributed more than 2,500 volunteer and educational hours, sharing research-based horticultural knowledge and promoting sustainable gardening practices to the community.
The group’s work reaches residents of all ages, from beginning gardeners seeking advice to children discovering the wonders of plants and pollinators for the first time.
Each year, WCEMG hosts spring and fall gardening workshops featuring knowledgeable speakers, with topics ranging from native plants and pollinator gardens to pruning, landscape design, vegetable gardening and winter sowing. The workshops typically attract about 85 participants each.
Members also maintain a year-round presence in the community.
At the Woodford County Farmers Market, they answer seasonal gardening questions and encourage residents to incorporate native plants and pollinator-friendly habitats into their landscapes. The annual plant sale offers vegetables, flowers, herbs, perennials and milkweed at affordable prices, while the group also provides bare-root asparagus and berry plants in the spring.
Protecting pollinators and supporting environmental health are also important priorities. WCEMG awards Monarch Waystation grants to help residents establish pollinator gardens and grows milkweed in demonstration beds. Members also designed, established and maintain a pollinator garden at Huntertown Community Interpretive Park.
A new initiative launched in 2026, “Plant-It-Forward!” extends the group’s impact by helping other organizations put gardening ideas into action. Educational and nonprofit organizations may apply for reimbursement of up to $500 per calendar year for projects supporting horticultural education, pollinators, environmental stewardship, clean water, soil health, food security, local food and access to nature. Two awards have been approved so far, including one for a local elementary school to create raised garden beds and a diverse pollinator garden.
Behind the public projects is a commitment to lifelong learning. Through its “Training & Trekking” program, members visit notable gardens, participate in guided nature hikes, attend demonstrations and learn from horticultural experts. These activities help members expand their knowledge while earning continuing education and volunteer hours.
The organization is guided by a three-year strategic plan emphasizing horticulture, biodiversity, pollinator protection, water conservation, soil health, food security and connecting residents with nature. Members meet monthly, collaborate with the Woodford County Horticulture Extension agent, currently Delia Scott, and work together to develop projects that respond to community interests and needs.
Through thousands of volunteer hours and a growing network of partnerships, WCEMG continues to demonstrate how a shared love of gardening can help an entire community flourish.