Bluebonnet Master Gardener AssociationTexas AgriLife Extension Service

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2nd 2019 Scholarship Awarded

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Halye Guerrero Photo

Ms. Haley Guerrero was awarded the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association 2019 4-H Scholarship for Austin County, Texas on August 17, 2019. Ms. Guerrero graduated with a class rank in the top half from Bellville High School.  She plans to attend Blinn College and then transfer to Sam Houston State University to study Agriculture Business.  She stated:

“I am looking forward to earning a degree in Ag Business and obtain a career in an agriculture-based company.  I have not decided on any particular field or career at the moment however I am looking forward to giving back my community giving back to the programs that have supported me over the years.  A friend used to say if you enjoy what you do you will never work a day in your life, this would be the best career.”

Ms. Guerrero says her mother instilled in her how important it is to receive a degree.  She learned first-hand how hard it was for her mother to raise two kids while working full time, maintaining extra jobs and going to school.  Ms. Guerrero overcame personal challenges and used techniques and study habits to excel in Advance Placement classes and dual credit classes.

Pete Berckenhoff of the Austin County branch of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association presented the $1000 scholarship certificate to Ms. Guerrero.

Scholarship Awarded

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Taylor Klatte Scholarship Winner

Christy Schweikhardt, Taylor Klatte & Allen Prescott

Ms. Taylor Klatte was awarded the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association 2019 4-H Scholarship for Washington County, Texas on August 2, 2019. Ms. Klatte’s class rank was 36 out of 359 graduating seniors from Brenham High School.  She plans to attend Texas A&M University to study Political Science with a minor in Animal Science then go to law school to study Agricultural Law. She stated:

Ag-law has become a passion of mine this past year when I completed
the Advocacy Academy through the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador
program.  I realized how much representation the agricultural community needs, especially everyday farmers and ranchers who need a positive
voice.  I want to become that positive voice to help the agricultural
community in the future . . . I attribute the development of my leadership
skills to my involvement in 4-H.  This transformed me from a girl in the
back of the room to a confident young woman who is not afraid to lead a meeting, voice her opinion, or work with others to achieve a common goal.

Allen Prescott and Christy Schweikhardt of the Washington County branch of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association presented the $1000 scholarship certificate to Ms. Klatte at the 2019 Washington County 4-H Family Night & Awards Banquet in Brenham, Texas.  Mr. Prescott told that banquet crowd of 4-H participants, their families, Washington County government officials and others how difficult it was for the scholarship committee to narrow the list of six candidates down to just one.  Mr. Prescott said “all six deserve a scholarshp but we just have one available to award.”  Ms. Schweikahrdt later said:

All six candidates are impressive young men and women who possess
the skills and building-blocks to grow into our leaders of tomorrow.
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud that our volunteer organization can support the Washington County 4-H program with this scholarship.

Ms. Klatte certainly is no longer the girl in the back of the room. Expect to see her standing confidently in the front, and in charge, as a future leader in our community and beyond.

 

2020 Training Class

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Our  2020 Master Gardener Certification Training Class is scheduled each Thursday from January 16th – April 23rd with the final graduation class on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.  Participatants from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties are welcome. The 64 hours of classes will be held at the Washington County Extension Sales Facility at 1305 East Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833 (use the Indepdance Rd entrance) , plus some field trips to be announced in class.  The updated training manual compiled by the Texas Master Gardener Assocation, is inlcuded in the $175 registration fee.  You may register online below or contact the Washington County Extension office at (979) 277-6262 for more information.

 

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Volunteer Program Application

 

2020 Training Class Flyer

Map to Open House & Class Location

2020 Training Class Flyer

2019 Summer Kids Kamp Registration is Open!

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2019 BMGA Kids Kamp Flyer

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s 2019 week long summer camp for kids is accepting registrations now. The Kids Kamp will be held in all four BMGA counties for kids ages 10 to 13 years of age:

Washington County:  June 3 – 7, 2019
Colorado County: June 10- 14, 2019
Fayette County: June 17-21, 2019
Austin:June 24-June 28, 2019

The kids will learn about worm composting, soil & gardening, nutrition & kitchen management, food preservation and good bugs and bad bugs in the garden.  They will also make garden related crafts and healthy snacks.

Christy Schweikhardt, a Master Gardener who facilitated the soil & gardening segments of Kids Kamp for two years, said, “We fill the Kids Kamp with  hands-on activities that are both fun and educational.  The kids who participated in the past two Kids Kamps were entergeitc and eager to learn, even over summer break.  For the volunteer Master Gardeners who particpate in running the Kids Kamp, it is rewarding to help AgriLife Extension Service and the State of Texas foster fact-based gardening and food knowelge in a future generation of Texas gardeners.”

At only $25.00 for the week, this may be the best bargin in summer fun.

Register Online or by Mail

 

Advanced Training – Plant Propagation – Tarrant County

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“Advanced Master Gardener – Plant Propagation” training will be comprised of high-quality training including hands-on learning of a variety of propagation techniques: seeding, air-layering, stem cutting, soft and semi-hardwood cuttings, root cutting, bulb chipping, dividing, simple layering, grafting and more.

Information

Registration Form, Agenda and Lodging

 

Master Gardener Advanced Training – Budding & Grafting *NEW* Topic

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“Advanced Master Gardener – Budding & Grafting” training will be comprised of high-quality training and feature a format of detailed demonstration by the instructor, followed by hands-on practice of each technique.

While grafting has been practiced for over four millennia, the practice is still surrounded by mystery and awe. This two-day event will provide for a thorough understanding of both the art and science behind this exciting form of propagation. Specific techniques that will be covered include: cleft graft, bark graft, whip and tongue graft, side veneer graft, bench (machine) grafting, t-bud, chip-bud, and more. Several methods of herbaceous (vegetable) grafting will also be covered. Other topics will include history of grafting, scion collection and storage, rootstock production, and materials/tools used. Participants will leave with a working knowledge of how to propagate fruits, woody ornamentals, and herbaceous plants—along with the plants that they practice these techniques on.

To be eligible for the “Advanced Master Gardener – Budding & Grafting” training, an individual must possess an up-to-date Master Gardener certification, or be an employee of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services. Master Gardener  applicants must be approved by their local County Extension Agent.

Description

Agenda

Registration and Information