Ignacio Muñoz Recognized in Search for Excellence Awards
El Paso Master Gardener President, Ignacio Muñoz, was presented with the Outstanding Individual Master Gardener award, 2nd Place, in the state of Texas Master Gardener Association Search for Excellence 2020 Awards. Fewer than one percent of the Master Gardeners in Texas are recognized with this award annually.
Outstanding Individual Master Gardener
Ignacio Muñoz with State Award
As a certified Master Gardener since 2018 with a professional engineering background, Ignacio quickly became the “go to” person for all El Paso County Master Gardener Association (EPCMGA) building projects. He spearheaded several major initiatives, including construction of a new greenhouse, accessible garden, and pergola. He earned his Master Gardener Advanced Training: Greenhouse Management certificate in 2019 and was named EPCMGA Outstanding Master Gardener of the Year in December 2019. In 2020, he served as Co-Chair of the Ascarate Teaching and Demonstration Garden Committee and Vice President of the EPCMGA. He was elected to serve as President beginning January 2021.
“I love it,” Ignacio affirms. “You can’t find better people to be around than Master Gardeners. When I walk through the garden gate, I focus on the garden and nothing else. All of my troubles go away.” Ignacio is truly a mentor to all, always willing to answer questions, whether they are from interns who are working to complete their internship or community members who walk into the garden to ask gardening questions. “Normally, I stop whatever I’m doing to answer their questions,” Ignacio explains.
The Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA) in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System recognizes Texas Master Gardeners whose involvement is of significant importance to their community. Ignacio Muñoz, truly deserving of this Outstanding Individual Master Gardener award, shines when encouraging, teaching, and sharing Texas A&M AgriLife’s research-based practices. Congratulations, Ignacio!
The El Paso Master Gardener State Awards Committee, and its Chair Evelyn Posey, were instrumental in the preparation and submission of this award entry to TMGA. We thank them for their excellent work. We also thank Denise Rodriguez, El Paso County Extension Agent-Horticulture, for her continuing support and encouragement for our Master Gardener activities.
Contributors: Article – Evelyn Posey and Marlene Stalker. Photos – Matt Santillan.