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The Big Spring Master Gardener Association held their annual year-end celebration on December 14 at the Bulls Gap Community Center. The Master Gardeners were rewarded for their individual and collective achievements in 2021.
This year was the culmination of 12 years of service for the Big Spring Master Gardener Association in Greene County. Beth Hembree, Patricia Moore, Jerry Kische and Beverley Walker were recognized for their consecutive participation as active members of the association by receiving their 10 year badges. Joe Brown, Elizabeth Mullins, Jane Karuschkat and Susan Pezanowski were recognized for five consecutive years of service, receiving their five-year pins.
Among those recognized as VIPs, who have been active members for three years, were: Lori Grabner, Pam Heeren, Terri Rhodes-Taylor and Charlotte Smith.
Many members have received recognition awards for their annual commitment to volunteerism.
Bronze Level, 50-99 hours: Gayle Crowe, Martha Fluharty, Katy Goins, Patricia Hayes, Betsy Long, Todd Long, Pat Moore, Elizabeth Mullins, Bev Walker and Simon Wilhoit.
Silver Level, 100-199 hours: Luce Crim, Amber Davis, Annie Dunn, Bill Emsheimer, Lori Grabner, Glenn Karuschkat, Jerry Kische, Allie Peet, Susan Pezanowski, Patti Rogers, Charlotte Smith, Wendy Sykora and Aileen Vaughn.
Gold Level, 200-299 hours: Michele Bradley, Joe Brown, Beth Hembree, LeeAnn McIntyre and Terri Rhodes-Taylor.
Over 300 Platinum Level Hours: Ron Davis, Mary Goldman and Darlene Moore.
BSMGA members who volunteered more than 100 hours in 2021 were awarded a certificate and gold leaf pins. These recipients were: Michele Bradley, Joe Brown, Luce Crim, Amber Davis, Ron Davis, Annie Dunn, Bill Emsheimer, Mary Goldman, Lori Grabner, Beth Hembree, Glenn Karuschkat, Jerry Kische, LeeAnn McIntyre, Darlene Moore, Allie Peet, Susan Pezanowski, Terri Rhodes-Taylor, Patti Rogers, Charlotte Smith, Wendy Sykora and Aileen Vaughan.
The following members were recognized for their outstanding service to BSMGA (as voted on by their peers): Internal Service Award, Gayle Crowe; Community Service Award, Mary Goldman; Greene Thumb Prize, Terri Rhodes-Taylor; Club Service Award, Michele Bradley; Outstanding Educator Award, Darlene Moore; Foundation Prize, Ron Davis; Spirit Award, Luce Crim; Service Excellence Award, Ron Davis; and honorary members of MG, Natalie Bumgarner and Vera Ann Myers.
The following people have been elected to the 2022/23 leadership team: President, Ron Davis; vice-president, Joe Brown; Secretary, Katy Goins; Treasurer, Aileen Vaughan; historian Michele Bradley; Reporter, Wendy Sykora; Member of Parliament, Mary Goldman; and 2021 Intern Representative Gayle Crowe.
The BSMGA certified five interns in the BSMGA program in 2021. These members participated in 40 hours of classroom training and volunteered 40 hours in community service projects as part of the Greene County BSMGA program. The latest additions to the BSMGA in 2021: Gayle Crowe, Amber Davis, Allie Peet, Patti Rogers and Wendy Sykora.
As an hour’s worth of volunteering was worth $ 24.52 in 2021, according to Department of Labor statistics, BSMGA contributed $ 121,303.14 in economic value to Greene County through its cumulative annual total of 4,947. ,2 hours.
The BSMGA looks forward to another year of community gardening projects across Greene County. Projects include leading weekly gardening seminars at the Boys & Girls Club; maintain and conduct educational seminars in the New Hope Cemetery landscape; maintenance of the soup kitchen; and the beginnings of a grant-funded project at the Greeneville Research and Education Center titled Creating a Sustainability Cycle on Homestead. They will also begin the third year as a large-scale garden demonstration project at the Research and Education Center, showcasing trials of home garden vegetables and various fruit and herb plots, as well as the installation of a pollinator garden. They will also participate in Greene County Fair events; participate in community events such as Children’s Day on the Farm; the Greene County Christmas Parade; and be available to answer questions via the ASK US! portal to bsmga.com.
For more information on the BSMGA, contact the Greene County UT Extension Office at 423-812-2054 or email Melody Rose, Extension Officer and Master Gardener Coordinator at mtrose @ utk. edu. Also see the BSMGA website at www.bsmga.com
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