BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The University of Illinois Extension proudly congratulates McLean County Master Gardener Cheryl West of Arrowsmith on receiving a prestigious state award from the Illinois Master Gardener program. Cheryl was honored for her outstanding contributions during the Illinois Master Gardener Conference and Awards Ceremony held on Friday, September 5, in Springfield.
Cheryl was recognized as a 2025 Illinois Master Gardener Sustained Excellence award winner. This award was established to honor Illinois Master Gardeners who have previously received the Outstanding Master Gardener Award and have continued to demonstrate distinction in the program.
Since joining the Master Gardener program in the fall of 2019, Cheryl has been an active and highly valued volunteer with the McLean County Master Gardeners. A lifelong learner and natural leader, she serves as co-leader of Sarah’s Garden at the David Davis Mansion, where she helps restore, preserve, and maintain the historic 1872 garden. Cheryl also researches and documents the history and cultivation of the garden’s plant varieties, while mentoring new volunteers to ensure the legacy of the site continues.
In addition to her work at the mansion, Cheryl has contributed her talents to the Home, Lawn, and Garden Day committee, serving as both a program committee member and co-chair of the event. Her leadership has been instrumental in planning this community event, which promotes gardening education and shares valuable resources with the public.
Cheryl’s passion for horticulture shines through in her presentations for the Master Gardener Speakers Series, where she shares her knowledge with diverse audiences across McLean County.
Congratulations again to Cheryl on this well-deserved award! If you see Cheryl or other McLean County Master Gardeners teaching or out working in the community, thank them for their outstanding efforts in improving the community and helping others learn to grow.
For more information about the McLean County Master Gardener program, visit us at go.illinois.edu/LMW_MG or contact the McLean County Extension Office at 309-663-8306.
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 700 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 six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.