EURKEA, Ill. – The University of Illinois Extension congratulates the Woodford County Master Gardeners for receiving state awards from the Illinois Master Gardener program. Award winners were acknowledged at the Illinois Master Gardener Conference and awards ceremony on Friday, September 13, in Champaign-Urbana.
Gail Hayes was recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Master Gardener in Illinois. The Outstanding Master Gardener State Award was established to honor the best of Illinois Master Gardeners. Only the top 2% of Illinois State Master Gardeners win this award each year. Recipients must demonstrate exceptional leadership, determination, positivity, and initiative, and be actively engaged in the program.
Gail Hayes, class of 2016, is involved in many Master Gardener projects across Woodford County, including the Information Booth at the Eureka Library, the Woodford County Courthouse Herb Garden, and the Germantown Hills School Garden. Gail enjoys educating youth about gardening and nature at various community events and programs.
Tina Deetz, Linda Simpson, and Gretchen Strauch received the Sustained Excellence Award, which was established to honor Illinois Master Gardeners who have previously received the Outstanding Award and have continued to demonstrate distinction in the program.
Tina Deetz became a Master Gardener in 2016 and earned the Outstanding Master Gardener Award in 2018 for her amazing work. Tina is always eager to volunteer for any task and generously shares her knowledge with others. She enjoys working at Germantown Hills School Garden and Woodford County Courthouse Herb Garden, as well as activity stations and youth programs.
Linda Simpson, class of 2010, earned the Outstanding Master Gardener Award in 2015 for her dedication to the program. Linda is passionate about teaching kids and sharing gardening knowledge with the next generation. She has focused her efforts on educating hundreds of students, teachers, and volunteers, primarily at Germantown Hills School, both in the classrooms and the large courtyard garden there. She shares best practices and her love of growing a variety of plants.
Gretchen Strauch has been a valued member of the Woodford County Master Gardener group since 2007, earning the Outstanding Master Gardener Award in 2011. Gretchen has played a key role in leading various programs focusing on educating her fellow Master Gardener volunteers and the public. She takes pleasure in coordinating monthly information booths and teaching educational programs at several local libraries.
Congratulations to all the recipients and great job once again. If you see the Woodford County Master Gardeners gardening or teaching in your community, be sure to thank them for their outstanding efforts in improving the community and helping others learn to grow.
For more information about the Woodford County Master Gardener program, visit us at go.illinois.edu/LMW_MG or contact the Woodford County Extension Office at (309) 467-3789.
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.