Smith County Master Gardener Association Awards for 2021
Each year at its April luncheon, our local Smith County Master Gardeners Association awards are presented to Master Gardeners for special achievement during the previous year. These 2021 SCMGA Awards reflect the hard work and dedication by our members. Congratulations to each and every Smith County Master Gardener member. (note: 2022 awards will be announced in April of 2023)
Master Gardener of the Year – Brenda Strong, Bulbs & More Conference and Sale
Master Gardener of the Year – Hours – Lenka Johnson (285 hours)
Intern of the Year – Ivy Greening
Intern of the Year – Hours – Dan Gerber & Lynette Sewell (93+ hours from September, 2021 through March 2022)
Lifetime Membership: Martin Davis (posthumously), Jean Smith, and Susan Stone.
Milestone Awards
15 Years – Betty Conejo, Anne Pattullo, Jim Showen, and Laquita Showen
20 Years – Mary Hamlin and Lenka Johnson
25 Years – Kathy Ballow
Project of the Year – Heather Stephens & Chris Cochran (Made special adaptations for a summer class in
2021 because of the pandemic)
Public Awareness Award – Paul Wick (Speakers Bureau) & Terri Gerber (MG Web Site & YouTube
Channel)
Social Media Award – Andie Rathbone
No Problem Award Elizabeth Waldrop
Helping Hand Award – Jeff Brown
Research and Development Award – Charlie Colman (Overton Experimental Trials)
Youth Award – Becky Wade (Griffin Elementary School Gardens)
New Initiative Award – Susan Buntz (Rose Garden Guides) and Debbie Taylor (Greenhouse)
Golden Glove Award – Katy Barone (Shade Garden and School Garden Project)
Certificates of Appreciation:
Mary Hamlin VMS administration
Janet Burns – Bulb cleaning & trimming for the bulb sale
Marth Fowler – Superstar Section of IDEA Garden
Betsy Browder – Work in all the gardens in the Tyler Botanical Garden
Betty Atchley – IDEA Garden
Ann Smith – Volunteer Coordinator
2021 President’s Award – Debby Watkins
Special Awards to Friends of SCMGA:
Glass Recreation Center (City of Tyler)
David Rasco (ETX State Fair)
Dale Wade (Griffin Elementary School)
Agent’s Award given by Greg Grant: Mary Jo Madden
Texas Master Gardener Association Awards for 2021
The following are the awards that Smith County Master Gardener Association received at the Texas Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards Program in the Large Category (100-199). These awards reflect the hard work and quick adaptation of SCMGA despite COVID-19 throwing a wrench into every program. It proves there was nothing we couldn’t handle in 2021. We not only continued our mission of education, but also supported the public at a time when gardening interest took a large increase because of so many people being home. Congratulations to each and every Smith County Master Gardener and the AgriLife staff who gave us so much support. These awards are for all of us!
1st Outstanding Master Gardener Association
3rd Outstanding Individual Master Gardener– Brenda Strong
2nd Education Program – SCMGA YouTube Channel
1st Project – Garden Guides
2nd Written Education – Garden Guides
Congratulations and a big thanks to everyone who worked on the awards!
Smith County won an award in every category submitted.