Master Gardener Annual Celebration held

OSKALOOSA — Mahaska County Master Gardeners held their annual Celebration of their activities in 2025 on January 13, 2026. A wonderful potluck was enjoyed by nineteen members and their spouses/guests.

After completing initial training, members perform 40 hours of volunteer service. Three members completed their 40 hours and earned their permanent name badge in 2025. They are Sara Aguilar, Deb Draper & Syndey Miller. Two attended the Celebration: Deb Draper and Sydney Miller.

To remain an active member, they perform 20 hours of volunteer service and attend 10 hours of continuing education annually. Four members performed more than 40 hours of volunteer service in 2025: Ken Broadway, Verna Conry, Ann Evans and Mike Maxwell, and five performed more than 50 hours of volunteer service in 2025: Mike Striegel, John Langstraat, Aideen Vega-VanAuken, Marlene Maxwell, and Eileen Blom. Five members completed more than 20 hours of continuing education in 2025: Eileen Blom, Suzette Striegel, Lois Harris, Ann Evans and Aideen Vega-Van Auken.

Cumulative volunteer service hours milestones were also celebrated. The following members reached the 100 hour milestone: Mike Maxwell, Joy Prothero, Cindy Stewart, and Mike Striegel. Suzette Striegel reached the 400 hour milestone. Two members reached the 500 hour milestone: Verna Conry and Marlen Maxwell. Eileen Blom reached the 1000 hour milestone.

Years as a member milestones were also celebrated. Two members reached the 5-year milestone: Joy Prothero and Cindy Stewart. Two members reached the 15 year milestone: Ken Broadway and Aideen Vega-VanAuken.

In 2025, as a group, the performed and recorded over 980 hours of volunteer service and attended over 350 hours of continuing education. As part of their volunteer service, the Mahaska County Master Gardeners offered 10 hours of horticulture education to Mahaska County. This is in addition to over 10 hours of hosted watch parties of Home Gardening Webinars from Iowa Master Gardeners and other non-biased research-based sources.

Mahaska County Master Gardeners are celebrating their twenty-third year. The local program was organized after the county held their first local training in 2003. The educational volunteer program, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, provides current, research-based, home horticulture information and education to the citizens of Iowa through programs and projects. Master Gardeners receive horticulture training, and volunteer to promote a mission of education and service. The program is open to anyone 16 or older with an interest in gardening and a willingness to use their knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on their local community. They celebrated an open house January 8 at the Mahaska County Extension office highlighting Master Gardener training.

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