Macoupin County Courthouse receives 2021 Community Partner Award from Extension

University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Andrew Holsinger, presenting Macoupin County Courthouse personnel with the 2021 Community Partner Award. (L to R): Harry Starr, Macoupin County Board Member; Janette Baker, Macoupin County Master Gardener; Andrew Holsinger, Extension Horticulture Educator; Chad Rives, Macoupin County Sherriff’s Department; Paula Robinson, Macoupin County Master Gardener; and Dennis Rahe, Macoupin County Master Gardener

CARLINVILLE, Ill. – The historical Macoupin County Courthouse was nominated by Macoupin County Extension for the 2021 Community Partner Award. Throughout the years, Macoupin County Courthouse has continued to be a strong supporter of the local Master Gardener program by allowing landscaping projects to take place on the grounds since 2013 and each year since then, additional landscapes have been planted around the grounds. “The Master Gardeners in Macoupin County have put much effort into revitalizing the once dated landscaping at the courthouse. I nominated the courthouse because of their continued support in partnering with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program to demonstrate how low-maintenance plantings function most effectively. This effort has provided learning opportunities to the general public that otherwise may have gone unnoticed,” said Andrew Holsinger, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

This award is sponsored by Extension Council of University of Illinois Extension serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, & Montgomery Counties. The council plans to recognize a community partner each year throughout our four counties. Extension Council is a volunteer board, which serve in an advisory role cooperating with Extension staff in planning, promoting, developing, implementing, evaluating, and financing an Extension program designed to meet the needs, interests, and resources of the local communities served.

“We are incredibly grateful in Extension for phenomenal partners such as the Macoupin County Courthouse. They help us make a lifelong impact in the lives of the Macoupin County residents by giving them the opportunity to learn about horticulture firsthand and maintain a beautiful and inviting community space. Without them, we couldn’t do what we do,” said Lisa Peterson, Extension acting county director. University of Illinois Extension serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, & Montgomery Counties is extremely proud to be able to provide this award to the Macoupin County Courthouse and to thank them for their service to Extension.

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