WINNEBAGO, Ill.- Rows of produce, hands in soil, and hearts dedicated to making sure their neighbors are fed— that is what earned Winnebago County Master Gardeners this year’s Hunger Champion award at the 2025 Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon. Illinois Extension Master Gardeners were recognized and awarded Hunger Champion for their participation in and implementation of Plant a Row for the Hungry in Winnebago County. The Hunger Champion Award honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to ending hunger through meaningful action in their community.
Plant a Row for the Hungry is a nationwide program designed to encourage home gardeners to donate extra produce to those less fortunate. Gardeners can take their extra produce to a Plant a Row drop-off site, after which volunteers or Extension staff bring the produce to local food pantries to give to those who may not have had fresh produce otherwise. In Winnebago County, this program is led by Illinois Extension Master Gardener volunteers, with support from University of Illinois Extension.
Started by a team of Master Gardeners volunteers and an Extension Educator, Winnebago County first adopted the Plant a Row program in 2000. Over the years, volunteers and Extension staff alike have established connections with many organizations that have joined as drop-off sites. Since its beginning in 2000, over 257,000 pounds of produce have been donated through these sites, including the Winnebago County Extension office, Edgebrook Farmers Market, Farm Bureau, and Cherry Valley Library. This quarter of a million pounds of produce have landed in the hands of our hungry neighbors because of the many efforts of Master Gardener volunteers, partner sites, and Extension staff.
The award was accepted by County Director Margaret Larson, and Master Gardeners Barbara Flores, Lorna Carlson, and Karn Mejudhon, who represented the many staff and 100+ volunteers who have been involved in the program over the years. Their efforts have inspired many others to donate directly to pantries, as well as organizations to start similar programs.
If you would like to learn more about the Plant a Row program in Winnebago County, you can visit go.illinois.edu/jsw or call the University of Illinois Extension Winnebago County office, 815-986-4357.
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.