River Valley Master Gardeners

The River Valley Master Gardeners serve Lafayette and Ray counties. Meetings are held the third Monday of the month at 3 p.m. at the Lexington Battlefield. If you're interested, contact the Lafayette County Extension Office.

Officers

President — Sandra Slusher
Vice president — Glenda Owens
Secretary — Diane Rush
Treasurer — Gwen Trumbo

Any resident with an interest in gardening, novice or expert, may take the Master Gardener Core Course. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Apply to attend the training in a location near you or online.
   • Find events near you. 
2. Submit and pass the background check.
   • Read the Master Gardener's Policies and Procedures.
3. Complete the extension Master Gardener core training.

   • 30 hours of plant education offered in the fall: August through November

   • Courses are taught by Missouri University faculty, local experts & MU Extension educators

   • Topics include: Vegetables, soil, flowers, fruits, turf grass, landscape design, woody landscape plants, plant propagation, integrated pest management, plant diseases and insects.

4. Volunteer in your community.
   • Complete the 30-hour internship. Volunteer on projects and at events teach others to grow.
5. Stay involved.

   • Master Gardeners can remain active members in following years by attending six or more hours of continuing education and contributing 20 hours or more of volunteer community service.

   • Report your volunteer and continuing education hours online by December 31st of each year.

Master Gardeners moving from other states are evaluated on a case-by-case basis through discussion with the individual, local coordinator, and State Coordinator.

At the heart of the Missouri Master Gardener program is our volunteers. Volunteers assist the University of Missouri Extension Service personnel to extend the educational arm of the university to the public by providing horticultural information based on university research and recommendations.

In other words, the Missouri Master Gardener program is a place for volunteers to have a fun, educational experience while serving the community in which they live while doing what they love.