At the State Master Gardener Conference held in Rockford, IL, on September 11, David Regan of Paris, IL, was awarded as one of the State Outstanding Master Gardeners. This is a prestigious award with only 1-2% of all Master Gardeners in the state being awarded it annually. To be nominated for such a prestigious award, Regan had to fill out an application outlining his work as a master gardener, including completing 86.14 hours total of Master Gardener volunteer service and 52.36 hours of continuing education.
Regan has been a dedicated and dependable member of the Edgar County Master Gardeners for three years. In that time, Regan has contributed widely by bringing the Paris City Council’s attention to local projects with the goal of garnering their support, working with local schools to support youth interest in botany, as well as assisting with the endeavors of the Annual April in Paris Master Gardener event. Regan has served as the Edgar County Master Gardener President since 2025.
During his time as an Illinois Extension Master Gardener, Regan has strengthened partnerships across educational, community, and extension channels. His leadership, initiative, and follow-through can be seen in his partnerships with local 4-H clubs to assist in the cleanup of Schwartz Park, planting and maintaining educational landscapes at the Edgar Cemetery in Paris, IL, and working with local schools and the library to plant apple trees and provide growing tips, pollination requirements, and what cultivars to consider.
After each event, Regan shares with the Edgar County Master Gardeners group his experiences and key insights both in formal and informal presentations. Regan is a lifelong learner and has a love for gardening and horticulture.
Congratulations to our State Outstanding Master Gardener, David Regan!
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.