2018 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report Statewide Program Highlights

Leadership Development

Online Training

During the fall of 2018, the State Office held a series of Leadership Development Training meetings throughout the Commonwealth.

Following a period of evaluation of our existing online modules by Extension Master Gardeners, the State Office undertook a revision and standardization of all existing modules so they are fully functional and consistent.

More than 120 agents, coordinators, and Extension Master Gardeners attended these training meetings to learn about communication, program evaluation, and marketing their programs. Shared resources can be found here.

More than 30 online training modules are currently available covering topics including botany, entomology, and plant pathology.

Educational Training Videos

Marketing Resources

Since 2017, the State Office, in collaboration with the Plant Disease Clinic and Insect ID Lab, has developed more than 25 videos on 15 unique plant diseases & pests. In 2018, videos accumulated 22,968 views on YouTube and 31,560 on Facebook.

In 2018, the State Office developed a series of new marketing resources including a communications manual with guidelines for social media and press releases, as well as a locally customizable infographic for each unit, a series of recruitment materials, and updated flyers, banners, and signs.

Other Achievements: Website - Updated website on Extension platform and redesigned intranet, launched February 2019 Demographic Research - Conducted a survey of 100+ Virginia Tech students on attitudes towards gardening Social Media - Increased total post reach by 249% and total engaged users by 369%

Statewide Highlights Annual hourly investment for Virginia Master Gardener volunteers includes: ~71,267 hours in 2018

~29,345 hours in 2018

~318,603 hours in 2018

Master Gardener College 779 volunteer hour milestones reached More than 20 participants in Tree Steward training Workshops including: garden design at Hahn Horticulture gardens, grilling with vegetables, and growing gourmet mushrooms.

More than 30 concurrent sessions Keynote speakers including: Jeanine Davis, Peggy Singlemann, Dennis Dimick, John Seiler, Alex Niemiera, Holly Scoggins, and Joe Murray

VCE Master Gardener State Office Dave Close | State Master Gardener Coordinator

John Freeborn | Assistant State Master Gardener Coordinator Devon Johnson | Communications Project Coordinator Sue Edwards | Program Development

Gabby Sanderson | Student Support Staff

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.