VMGA Education
VMGA Education Events
VMGA was founded to assist the state program with providing continuing education opportunities to Extension Master Gardener volunteers (EMG). The events take place at different locations about twice a year. A committee determines relevant topics and exciting speakers and makes all arrangements for the event. The events may be in-person, virtual or a hybrid of both. The events are open to all EMGs with VMGA members receiving a discount in the registration fee.
VMGA promotes other educational events as well. We offer scholarships to Master Gardener College and sponsoring the premier event annually. Our calendar page lists education opportunities provided by local units. Announcements of local events are regularly made at our bi-monthly Board meetings and can be submitted to our newsletter.
You may also want to consider joining the Education Committee! Committee members brainstorm topics and speakers and plan events. It is a satisfying task to take an idea and see it through to completion but requires imagination, insight, attention to detail, and organizational skills. Contact the Education Committee Chair and join a fun group with an important mission!
Virginia State Fair
The State Fair Committee arranges with the Virginia State Fair for a Virginia Master Gardener booth. The committee creates relevant activities and schedules MG units to cover shifts during the Fair. The objective is to extend horticultural and environmental education and to raise awareness about Virginia’s Master Gardener program to the Fair attendees. This activity reaches tens of thousands of Virginians every year. Read that again - tens of thousands of Virginians.
The committee is responsible for communication with the Virginia State Fair organization to assure that all needs are met. VMGA’s State Fair often asks the Master Gardener volunteers to assist with other areas at the Fair, and the level of cooperation in past years has assured continued success for the MG booth. The booth is regularly on the route used by school and children’s groups, bringing both kids and their parents to the booth.
The Virginia State Fair usually takes place outside Richmond in late September through early October. Each year in late summer the committee begins to plan the activities for the booth that year, and to schedule MG units from around the state to work the booth. Because this committee is a special, ad hoc committee, a chair is selected each year as planning begins. Units are now taking on the leadership position with a display to be used for two years. Feel free to contact VMGA’s President to express interest in the State Fair Committee.
VMGA is grateful to the Henrico unit for decades of leadership. Christy Brennan led the effort for many years, with Evelyn Parker handling the event before her. These two set a standard for volunteerism that we all admire. As the responsibility moves around the state, each new unit benefits from their experience. Thank you, Evelyn and Christie!