Kaufman County Master Gardeners held their annual Appreciation Dinner on December 7. Master Gardeners contributed 3,250 hours of volunteer and training valued at $88,385. The value of volunteer hours is set at $25.43 for this year by the State Comptroller’s Office.

The challenges presented by Covid and associated restrictions, which began in late March, curtailed many of their planned activities, but members met by video conference to continue as much of the association’s business as possible. Work in gardens continued while following Covid masking and social distancing guidelines. In-person classes and seminars were restricted through most of the year.

At the Texas Master Gardener Association State Convention, Kaufman County Master Gardeners were awarded in two 2019 categories for medium-size associations (25 to 49 members): Master Gardener Rebecca Morrow was named Outstanding Individual Master Gardener, and the Spring Seminar, “Peggy Martin Presents Old Garden and Antique Roses,” received second place in the Educational Program category.