Texas Master Gardener Association in cooperation with The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and The Texas A&M University System recognizes and presents awards for exemplary achievement in the following award categories:
- Youth/County Master Gardener JMG Program
- Project
- Education Program
- Written Education
- Research
- JMG Marva Beck Leader Award
- Individual Master Gardener
- Outstanding Master Gardener Association
Entries are judged by a committee of Master Gardeners from throughout the state. Kaufman County competes in the Medium Association category for organizations with 25 to 49 dues-paying members
KC Master Gardeners Win State Awards
KC Master Gardeners Win State Awards
Kaufman County Master Gardeners won two first place awards at the Texas Master Gardener Association State Convention in late May for projects completed in 2024. Kaufman County competes in the Small Association category for associations with 49 or fewer members.
“Learn at the Library,” an annual program done in conjunction with the Ritter C. Hulsey Library in Terrell, got the first place award in the Workshop/Presentation category. The series featured programs for children and adults, some of which were combined when topics allowed. Topics included three programs on gardening with kids, two on cacti, and these additional topics: bees and beekeeping, mushrooms, garlic, plants in the bible, Texas Arbor Day, and what’s in dirt.
In the Written/Recorded category, our 2024 Horticultural Calendar, “Niche Gardening,” also received first place. The calendar featured way to landscape small, sometimes troublesome areas like mailboxes, air conditioner motors, or garbage cans. Other niche areas covered included corners, blank walls or fences, and arbors. Water efficiency and low maintenance were emphasized. Native plants, which generally meet both those requirements were suggested for each landscape. Tips for increasing success were also included.
2025 KCMGA Annual Awards Program
2025 KCMGA Annual Awards Program
On December 1, 2025, Kaufman County Master Gardeners held their annual awards program. This year, it was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Forney and featured a Thanksgiving-themed meal. President Dana Hunt welcomed members and guests. Members enjoyed a performance by the Kaufman Highschool Chior led by Ms. Stephanie Hardin. They were accompanied by Dr. Mideum Chung, the church’s service accompanist, on piano.
Kaufman County Extension Agent Tommy Phillips welcomed everyone and introduced our special guest, County Commissione, Precinct 2, Skeet Phillips. Phillips congratulated members on their accomplishments this year. Projects included gardens and a green house at the Poor Farm and a new native perennial garden at the entrance to the Kaufman County Resource Connection, which is located at the Trinity Valley Community College bulding at 800 Ed. Hall Drive. Master Gardeners contributed 3,082.10 volunteer hours this year. At the hourly volunteer rate set by the state, which is $34.79, the value of these hours was $107,226.26.
Assisted by President Dana Hunt, Phillips presented certificates for years of service and number of volunteer hours recorded for 2025. Click here to go to the photo gallery at the end of the page.
With mixed feelings, we bid farewell to our sponsor, Extension Agent Tommy Phillips, who is retiring this year after a 30-year career with Extension. We’re happy to wish him well in this new chapter of his life, but we will miss his support, his guidance, and his humor.
New officers for 2026 who were elected at the November 3, 2025 meeting were presented. They make up the Executive Committee responsible for overseeing the day- to-day operation of our organization. Returning as President and Vice President respectively are Dana Hunt and Shirley Strano. Our new secretary is Brenda Walker and Linda Redd is our new treasurer. Thank you all for agreeing tto serve in these important roles next year. Alsio, many thanks to our departing secretary Sandy Stahlman and treasurer Jim Burt. Both have served ably for three years in these positions. Also presented were non-voting members of the Executive Committee Zahn Schlensker, Parliamentarian, and Rebecca Morrow, Past President.
Years of Service/Volunteer Hours
Not pictured: Sandra Stahlman: 25 years, 97.75 hours; Frances Holmes, Emerita: 24 years; Hildegard Smith, Emerita: 22 years; Nancy Bowman, Emerita: 21 years; Judy Barton, Emerita: 16 years; Lisa Nalls: 16 years, 53 hours; Marline Ballard, Emerita: 14 years; Renee Roysdon, 10 years, 33.5 hours; Nancy Szabo: 10 years, 21.5 hours; Kris Kumar: 9 years, 70.25 hours; Angela Johnston: 8 years, 126.5 hours; Sheila Stein, 8 years; Amy Barber 6 years; Dorothy Dillon: 6 years, 38 hours; Sara Kramer: 2 years, 70.25 hours; Lynette Barker: 1 year, 73.25 hours;
2021
The 2022 Texas Master Gardener Association virtual conference, Community Connections, was held May 10-12, 2022. Kaufman County Master Gardeners compete in the Medium category for associations with 25 to 49 members. We won second place awards in two categories: Youth-Other for the Children’s Legacy Garden and Written Education for a series of horticultural articles for the Kaufman Herald.
Children's Legacy Garden in Forney
Beginning in March of 2021, Kaufman County Master Gardeners cooperated with the Sharing the Love Foundation and a number of other businesses and organizations in Forney to renovate an old 3/4 acre home site that had been donated for a garden space. Marian Stewart, founder of Share the Love Foundation, envisioned a garden everyone could enjoy and a place where senior and youth could learn from each other. The result was the Children’s Legacy Garden in Forney.
Volunteers to help with the project were recruited by forming a youth garden club, which grew to 19 members during the project, and overall volunteers from the community increased by 50%. Master Gardeners helped with planning the project and with plant selection. Plans were made for a walkway and a butterfly garden. Emphasis was placed on recycling and pallets were used throughout the garden as art projects and storage areas.
In 9 months, 23 raised beds were built, a butterfly garden was established with a granite walkway from the front gate. Seven picnic benches, a gazebo and library box were added. Over 200 pounds of fresh produce was distributed to senior residents in Forney in 2021.
Horticultural Series in Kaufman Herald
In 2021, Kaufman County Master Gardeners realized a long-held dream: a monthly gardening column in the local newspaper, The Kaufman Herald. While we had made previous attempts, they had stalled because we lacked a writer who could write copy for a newspaper. When Karel Holloway joined us, she brought years of newspaper experience from her previous career.
Holloway submitted two seasonally-appropriate article to the newspaper, and two were printed in February. Articles for the remainder of the year were planned and have been printed.
An article called “Plants that Really Grow in Kaufman County” was included in the Spring Home Improvement Supplement. Plants suggested by Master Gardeners were described, with accompanying pictures. This information was recreated for our website, kcmga.org, where the link to “What Grows Here” can be found.
2020
The annual Texas Master Gardener Association virtual conference, A Walk Through Texas Gardens, was held from May 18-19, 2021.
Kaufman County Master Gardeners won a 2020 first place award in the Medium County (25-49 members) Youth-Other category for “The Science of Gardening.” The program was produced in cooperation with Poetry Community Christian School and was directed at students in Kindergarten through the eighth grade.
Master Gardeners worked 48.75 hours helping students work with a partner on a 12” X 12” area in a raised bed and in the science lab on their journals for researching, planning, and collecting data. Then COVID forced school closures.
Master Gardeners developed “Ready. Set. Go Garden,” so students and parents could continue working from home on their journals. Available on our website, it could be utilized by any student at any time. Fifty-nine hours were spent on developing hands-on and on-line curriculum.
2019
2019
The annual Texas Master Gardener Association awards were announced today in an online meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. Our Spring Seminar, Peggy Martin Presents Old Garden and Antique Roses, won second place in the Educational Program category. This category recognizes a program presented by Master Gardeners that provides an opportunity to learn about a horticultural topic.
The first place Outstanding Individual Master Gardener award for medium counties went to KC Master Gardener Rebecca Morrow. This category recognizes a Master Gardener whose involvement and contributions during the award year are of primary importance, although prior year contributions or involvement may also be considered.
2018
2018
At the 2019 Texas Master Gardener Association Convention, Kaufman County Master Gardener Association, which is in the Medium Association category for organizations with 25 to 49 members, received three second place awards.
Beverly Curtis was recognized for contributions as Individual Master Gardener. This category recognizes a Master Gardener whose involvement and contributions during the award year are of primary importance, although prior year contributions or involvement may also be considered.
The Poor Farm Vegetable Demonstration Garden was recognized in the Project category, and the 2018 Horticultural Calendar was recognized in the Written Education category.
2017
2017
At the 2018 Texas Master Gardener Association Convention, Kaufman County won two awards. Our two-year-old program, Kaufman County Master Gardener Training, was awarded First Place in the Educational Program category.
Master Gardener Dianne Kaufman was awarded Outstanding Individual Master Gardener. This category recognizes a Master Gardener whose involvement and contributions during the award year are of primary importance, although prior year contributions or involvement may also be considered.
2016
2016
At the 2017 Texas Master Gardener Association Convention, Kaufman County Master Gardeners, who are in the medium association category (25 to 49 members), won a second-place award for their 2016 Spring Seminar, “No Dig Gardening: The Easier, Lazier Way to Grow Food.”
Master Gardener Rebecca Morrow spoke about no-dig gardening techniques that were also physically easier to manage, including raised-bed gardening, vertical gardening, and container gardening. Master Gardener Duddly Hargrove discusses the principles and methods of the popular square-foot gardening system promoted by Mel Bartholomew. The program ended with a demonstration of ways to recycle common items for use in the garden by Master Gardener Rebecca Morrow.
2015
2015
At the 2016 Texas Master Gardener Association Convention, Kaufman County Master Gardener Association, which is in the Medium Association category for organizations with 25 to 49 members, won three first-place awards.
We won first place in the Medium Association category, first place for in the Educational Program category for our Fall Seminar. “Gardening in Fall and Winter” featured programs on soil preparation, when and what to plant in winter, and extending the growing season to have fresh produce in winter. Our 2015 Horticultural Calendar also placed first in the Written Education category.
2012 and Before
In late 2012, the Texas Master Gardener Association revised their award categories and criteria to those listed above. Prior to that time, there were nine award categories:
- Educational Program
- Exhibit/Poster Showcase
- Graphic Presentation
- Mass Media
- Newsletter
- Project
- Publication
- Individual Master Gardener
- Outstanding Association
Kaufman County competed in the Small Association category for organizations with less than 50 dues-paying members.