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The Distinguished Service Award was designed to honor truly outstanding individuals who have made lasting contributions to Master Gardening, served in leadership positions and have been instrumental in sustaining the MG Program in Snohomish County and beyond. Created in 2009, this award recognizes exceptional service to the Master Gardener program through leadership over a sustained period.
The following individuals have received the Distinguished Service Award to date.
The following individuals have received the Distinguished Service Award to date.
Susan Snyder - 2023
- Recognitions:
- Annual 100 hour pins 2018- present
- 1000 hour pin 2022
- Master Gardener of the Year 2022
- MG Basic Training:
- Class of 2018
- Mentor Basic Training Classes 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
- Classes and Advanced Training:
- Mentor Natural Yard Care Soils Series classes 2021
- Entomology 2020
- Mentor Plant Pathology 2023
- Offices held and other Support Positions:
- SNOCO Foundation Board of Directors 2020-present
- SNOCO Foundation Board of Directors Secretary 2023
- Reference Librarian for the MG Office Clinic
- Office Clinic Team
- Part of the Pack Up and Move Team to transition to Willis Tucker
- Organization of storage at Willis Tucker and Monroe Fairgrounds
- Hospitality Lead
- Garage Sale Host and Lead 2019, 2022, 2023
- Lead for Graduation Parties for the Classes of 2020, 2022 and 2023
- Involved leads from the different Committees and Study Groups
- Lead for the Snohomish County Master Gardeners 50th Anniversary Celebration Party 2023
- Founding Member of the Book Club and current member of the Book Club Steering Committee
Diane Decker-Ihle - 2022
- WSU Snohomish County Master Gardener since 1990.
- Member of the Snohomish County Growing Groceries Team since 2008.
- Help developed the program and still providing food growing educatio to the public as a speaker for the Growing Groceries classes and to garden clubs, etc.
- WSU Snohomish County Master Gardener of the Year 2009.
- Volunteered over 100 hours a year as an MG since 2008 and received The President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteering over 500 hours in 2013.
- Member of the Snohomish County MG Foundation Community Grant Committee since 2009. And volunteered as MG mentor to several community gardens.
Jean Savory - 2022
Snohomish County Master Gardener since 2010
Recognitions
Snohomish County Master Gardener since 2010
Recognitions
- Annual 100-hour pins since 2011
- Three 1,000-hour pins
- Master Gardener of the Year 2015
- Hats-Off Certificates
- Two terms on the Foundation Board
- Banquet Team Member, 2012 State Conference
- Silent Auction Team Leader, Recognition Dinners
- Mentor 2011
- Several years as an alternate mentor
- Several years on the Basic Training Team
- Potting Area
- Vendor Support
- Tomato Set-up
- Tally Team
- MG Holding
- Inventory/Pricing/Quality Control
- Co-Coordinator, Edmonds Farmers’ Market 2012-2022
- Legion: One of the team leaders for several years
- McCollum: Member of the team that adopted the Fernery and Small Conifer gardens
- Jennings: Member of the team that cares for the Fernery Garden
- Hort Short Editing Team
- Monthly Tips and Tasks Writing/Editing Team
- Advisory Team
- Hours’ Attainment: Monitor/Advisor
- Entomology, Diagnostic, and Natural Yard Care classes
Pete Mackay - 2022
MG Basic Training:
MG Basic Training:
- Class of 2015
- Mentor – 2016 through 2020, 2022
- Annual 100-hour pins – 2015 through current
- 1000-hour pins – 2018, 2021
- Master Gardener of the Year – 2019
- Responsible for canopy and table set up and take down – 2016-current
- NYC Mentor series – 2016 Training, 2020 Training
- Rain Garden Mentor program – 2018 training
- Natural Yard Care “Digging Deeper” soil series – 2019
- NYC “Rainscaping” – Developing curriculum for 2023 class 2022
- SCMGF Board-member – 2016-current
- Office move team-2022 - 2023
- Growing Groceries Teams Presenter (soils, IPM – 2020 thru current)
- PSG II study group member 2015 thru current
- Founding member for Native plant and animal study group
- Founding member MG Book Club
- Plant Pathology training 2015, 2017
- Entymology training 2016, 2018
Virginia Blain - 2020/2021
Recognitions:
Recognitions:
- Annual 100-hour pins – 2016-current
- 1000-hour pins – 2018, 2020
- Master Gardener of the Year – 2018
- Class of 2015
- Training Team, Intern Clinic Assignments – 2017-current
- Plant Sale “Potting Party Spreadsheet” (Weekly tracking and reporting of quantities of plants on hand and pricing. Over time expanded from perennials to include all plants potted and quantities remaining on hand after the plant sale.) – 2016-current
- NYC Mentor series – 2016 Training, 2020 Training team and Mentor
- Rain Garden Mentor program – 2018 training
- Natural Yard Care “Digging Deeper” soil series – 2018 Training, 2019 Mentor, 2021 Admin Team and Zoom host
- NYC “Rainscaping” – 2021 Training team and Mentor
- SCMGF Community Garden Grants Chairperson – 2017-current
- Participated on SCMGF audit committee – 2018-current
- SCMGF Board-member – 2019-current
- SCMGF Secretary – 2020-current
- Participated on Advisory Team, Management Team, Coordinator Team – 2017-current
- Speaker Coordinator – 2017-18
- Editing Team – 2018-current
- Veggie Class Series team – 2020
- MG-CE Series Administrator and Zoom Host – 2021
- Growing Groceries Teams – 2021, 2021-22 series
- PSG III Coordinator – 2018-2020
- Plant Pathology training – 2019
- Curriculum Team, Speaker Coordinator for seven presenters – 2020-21
- Content Support Team Lead 7 class days – 2021
Meg Jacobsen - 2020/2021
- Class of 2008
- Served on the Foundation Board from 2008 to 2020
- Chaired Scholarship Committee; designed poster for distribution to all Snohomish County High Schools; established relationship with the new Director of Horticultural Studies at Edmonds Community College
- Chaired Search Committee for new greenhouse space; helped dismantle and reclaim materials from previous location
- Designed “Hats Off” Award
- Co-managed the Jennings Rose Garden and conduct classes on sustainable rose care
- Provide information on rose care for Tips & Tasks
- Designed and presented Natural Yard Care lecture to eight organizations
- Provided NYC lecture and slides to Educational Outreach Committee
- Served on Organizing Committee for 2013 Advanced Education Conference
- Co-Chaired Sponsor Outreach for Conference, preparing and distributing 46 corporate sponsor packets and following-up with each one; wrote grant proposal for sponsorship from the Tulalip Tribes
- Supported Treasurer for Plant Sales and Garage Sales and Audit Committee; created pricing system for the Garage Sales; served as Board Liaison for relocation of Garage Sale and helped organize the sale
Sharon Thayer - 2019
Trained in 2002
Coordinated a community clinic in my first year
Elected to the Foundation Board in 2004 and served for several years
Worked in Office clinic for 15 yr.
Team Leader in the potting shed for 10 years
Mentor in 2019
Total hours volunteered nearing 3000 as of 2019
Trained in 2002
Coordinated a community clinic in my first year
Elected to the Foundation Board in 2004 and served for several years
Worked in Office clinic for 15 yr.
Team Leader in the potting shed for 10 years
Mentor in 2019
Total hours volunteered nearing 3000 as of 2019
Sam Means - 2019
Training
2013 intern
2014 – 2019 mentored and substitute mentored created table study groups
Recognition
2013 Intern of the Year
2013 – 2019 yearly hundred-hour pins
2017 thousand-hour pin
Jennings demonstration
2013 found a garden area in need of attention worked with the owner and kept up on the area. Found interns who wanted to adopt the garden and transitioned out.
2014 - 2017 joined the kitchen garden team. When the lead left took over the organizational duties. Heard of an intern looking for a garden to get involved with. Brought her on to lead and transitioned out.
2017 - 2019 took over the Great Plant Picks Gardens and brought on two of my previous interns to co-own. Mapped and labeled the GPP gardens.
2018 - 2019 adopted the shade garden and will map and label.
Foundation
2013 - 2019 member of the foundation and served one term as a board member.
Plant sale
2013 mapped the plant sale and created a plant sale book
2014 -2019 updated perennial staging to include before and after counts along with signs. Trained a team to backfill the perennial staging. Created training for sale day volunteers.
Recognition Dinner committee
2014 – 2019 chaired, co-chaired and served on the committee. Table host every year.
Training
2013 intern
2014 – 2019 mentored and substitute mentored created table study groups
Recognition
2013 Intern of the Year
2013 – 2019 yearly hundred-hour pins
2017 thousand-hour pin
Jennings demonstration
2013 found a garden area in need of attention worked with the owner and kept up on the area. Found interns who wanted to adopt the garden and transitioned out.
2014 - 2017 joined the kitchen garden team. When the lead left took over the organizational duties. Heard of an intern looking for a garden to get involved with. Brought her on to lead and transitioned out.
2017 - 2019 took over the Great Plant Picks Gardens and brought on two of my previous interns to co-own. Mapped and labeled the GPP gardens.
2018 - 2019 adopted the shade garden and will map and label.
Foundation
2013 - 2019 member of the foundation and served one term as a board member.
Plant sale
2013 mapped the plant sale and created a plant sale book
2014 -2019 updated perennial staging to include before and after counts along with signs. Trained a team to backfill the perennial staging. Created training for sale day volunteers.
Recognition Dinner committee
2014 – 2019 chaired, co-chaired and served on the committee. Table host every year.
Rob and Richelle Taylor - 2017
Class of 2008
Lifetime MG Foundation Members
Both have earned 3000 hours pins to date
Master Gardeners of the Year 2010
2015 Presidential Gold Service Award
Give Vertical talks to the Intern Class each year
Participate with MG Plant sale every year to date
Helped establish 5 ECAP Gardens around Snohomish County
Served with Tulalip Health and Family Gardening for 10 years
Garden garage sales
In addition, Rob has been involved in many projects on his own:
Built many vertical educational structures for Jennings Park and McCollum Park
Built Gardening Beds for Jennings Park
Scholarship Committee
Intern Mentor one year
Richelle has also had an assortment of individual activities:
2011-2013 Advanced Education Conference
2015 State Conference Raffle Committee
Photographer for many of the MG events
Intern Class Photographer
Current MG Foundation Vice President since 2012
Recognition Dinner team and Photographer
Class of 2008
Lifetime MG Foundation Members
Both have earned 3000 hours pins to date
Master Gardeners of the Year 2010
2015 Presidential Gold Service Award
Give Vertical talks to the Intern Class each year
Participate with MG Plant sale every year to date
Helped establish 5 ECAP Gardens around Snohomish County
Served with Tulalip Health and Family Gardening for 10 years
Garden garage sales
In addition, Rob has been involved in many projects on his own:
Built many vertical educational structures for Jennings Park and McCollum Park
Built Gardening Beds for Jennings Park
Scholarship Committee
Intern Mentor one year
Richelle has also had an assortment of individual activities:
2011-2013 Advanced Education Conference
2015 State Conference Raffle Committee
Photographer for many of the MG events
Intern Class Photographer
Current MG Foundation Vice President since 2012
Recognition Dinner team and Photographer
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Patty Kerston - 2016
Class of 2008 Over 3500 hours of volunteer service 2015, 2017 Presidential Gold Service Award 2009 -- MG Garden Tour 2009 -- Mentor 2010 -- 2012 Intern Class Team 2010 -- 2012 Recognition Dinner co-Leader 2011 -- 2013 Advanced Education Conference co-Leader 2013 -- Master Gardener of the Year 2009 -- current Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation Board 2014 -- current President, SCMGF co-creator of the MOA with SnoMG to run 10 years Created garden art, ran team meetings, grew 500 4 inch veggies for Plant Sale Garden Garage Sale Team and Book Sale Teams Participated on Advisory Team, Management Team, Coordinator’s Team, Executive Team, Financial Committee |
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Jackie Trimble - 2015
Class of 2009 2009-2015 3300 hours of service 2010 - 2015 - Intern Class Coordinator Fine-tuned mentoring program 2012 - MG of Year 2012-2015 - Secretary of SCMGF board 2013 - Technology Chair for Snohomish Conference 2013 - Host Chair for Snohomish Conference 2013-2015 - Member of the Advisory Board 2013-2015 - Member of Awards Committee 2015 - Member of Finance Committee |
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Janice Tallman - 2015
Class of 2006 2006-2015 3400 hours of service 2006-2009 Interfaith Shelter Garden team 2009 - 2011 Housing Hope Shelter Bowls 2008 Master Gardener of the Year 2009 Legion Park Demo Garden Lead 2008-2015 Jennings Park Garden Co-Lead 2007-2015 Plant Sale Co-Lead On MG Garden Tour Taught MG classes on seed-starting and creating sedum frames 2010 - 2015 Created sedum chairs, frames and planters for plant sale |
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Sheila McKinnon - 2015
Class of 2004 2004-2015 3300 hours of service to date 2005-2011 Everett Lowe’s Clinic Coordinator 2006-2015 Foundation Treasurer 2006-2015 Plant Sale Checkout Coordinator 2007-2015 Overall Clinic Coordinator 2007 and 2012 On the MG Garden Tour 2007-2015 Scheduled intern class clinics 2007-2015 Foundation Web Site manager 2008-2014 Jennings Berry Patch owner |
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Speaker to intern class and other venues on Growing Berries
2008-2015– Everett Home and Garden Show Clinic Manager
2008-2015 Rain Garden Mentor and Speaker
2009-2015 Developed and supported the Clinic Scheduling web site
2009 Designed and created special clinic display
2009-2015 Sorticulture Clinic Manager
2011-2015 Winter Series Web Master
2012 Natural Yard Care Training
2013-2015 Advisory Team Member
2013 State Conference Registrar and WebMaster
2008-2015– Everett Home and Garden Show Clinic Manager
2008-2015 Rain Garden Mentor and Speaker
2009-2015 Developed and supported the Clinic Scheduling web site
2009 Designed and created special clinic display
2009-2015 Sorticulture Clinic Manager
2011-2015 Winter Series Web Master
2012 Natural Yard Care Training
2013-2015 Advisory Team Member
2013 State Conference Registrar and WebMaster
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Penny Talbot 2014
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*Developed and implemented the Adopt-A-Garden program at McCollum, recruiting MGs to take ownership, to care and maintain a garden
*Project Leader for many projects and additions to McCollum, including our Vertical Walls, Pergola, and currently the Pollinator Project
*Lifetime member of SCMGF
*Served on the Board for 3 years
*Worked on many committees including Awards and Inventory
*Advisory Team member
*Winter Series Team member
*Member of PSGIV
*Helped to implement the Rain Garden Program, created presentations, giving lectures, workshops,and installations of several Rain Gardens and continue to support the program as a Rain Garden Mentor
*Taken many workshops, and CE opportunities such as, Drip Irrigation, Natural Yard Care, and Master Pruning. *Hosted Garden Tour 2008
*Consistently volunteered over 200 hours a year since 2007, receiving 1000 hour pins twice, nearing 3000 documented hours
*Participated in the Plant Sale every year since internship by supporting various needs of the potting parties at McCollum, managing the set up and take down of the canopies and developed an inventory list and protocol for the storage of the canopies and tables. As well as being Traffic Cop on the line, keeping folks happy and moving along.
*Speaker for various topics offered to the community and MGs, including lectures on Rain Gardens, Winter Damage, Bulbs, Containers and English Gardens
*Project Leader for many projects and additions to McCollum, including our Vertical Walls, Pergola, and currently the Pollinator Project
*Lifetime member of SCMGF
*Served on the Board for 3 years
*Worked on many committees including Awards and Inventory
*Advisory Team member
*Winter Series Team member
*Member of PSGIV
*Helped to implement the Rain Garden Program, created presentations, giving lectures, workshops,and installations of several Rain Gardens and continue to support the program as a Rain Garden Mentor
*Taken many workshops, and CE opportunities such as, Drip Irrigation, Natural Yard Care, and Master Pruning. *Hosted Garden Tour 2008
*Consistently volunteered over 200 hours a year since 2007, receiving 1000 hour pins twice, nearing 3000 documented hours
*Participated in the Plant Sale every year since internship by supporting various needs of the potting parties at McCollum, managing the set up and take down of the canopies and developed an inventory list and protocol for the storage of the canopies and tables. As well as being Traffic Cop on the line, keeping folks happy and moving along.
*Speaker for various topics offered to the community and MGs, including lectures on Rain Gardens, Winter Damage, Bulbs, Containers and English Gardens
Martha Clatterbaugh 2012
·Class of 1998
·Intern class mentor 2000
·Volunteered over 100 hours every year since 1998
·Received 1000 hour pins in 2006 and 2012
·Member of Perennial Study Group 1
·Helped form Veggie Study Group and member since inception
·Have given presentations around Puget Sound area since 2002 on “Growing Vegetables,”
“Sustainable Gardening,” and “Beneficial Insects”
·Designed and led “Salad Garden” and “Tomato Garden” projects at Jennings Demonstration Garden 1998-2000
·Designed brochures and fact sheets for MG Program and for community outreach
·Served on the Snohomish County MG Advisory Committee 2011-2012
·Extension Ambassador for Snohomish County
·Joined Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation 1998, lifetime member since 1999
·SCMGF Board member 2002-2012
·SCMGF Scholarship chair 2005-2012
·SCMGF Secretary 2004-2008
·SCMGF President 2008-2012
·Served on numerous SCMGF committees, including: “Sustainable Gardening” Winter Series ,
Long-term Planning, Annual Priorities, By-laws Revision and Policy Updates, Community Grants, Recognition Banquet and Awards, Finance
·Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State Board member for Snohomish County 2003-2012
·MGFWS Scholarship chair 2005-2012
·Participated in State MGFWS Advance Education Conferences 2002 – 2012
·Program Chair for the 2013 State MGFWS Advanced Education Conference
·Intern class mentor 2000
·Volunteered over 100 hours every year since 1998
·Received 1000 hour pins in 2006 and 2012
·Member of Perennial Study Group 1
·Helped form Veggie Study Group and member since inception
·Have given presentations around Puget Sound area since 2002 on “Growing Vegetables,”
“Sustainable Gardening,” and “Beneficial Insects”
·Designed and led “Salad Garden” and “Tomato Garden” projects at Jennings Demonstration Garden 1998-2000
·Designed brochures and fact sheets for MG Program and for community outreach
·Served on the Snohomish County MG Advisory Committee 2011-2012
·Extension Ambassador for Snohomish County
·Joined Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation 1998, lifetime member since 1999
·SCMGF Board member 2002-2012
·SCMGF Scholarship chair 2005-2012
·SCMGF Secretary 2004-2008
·SCMGF President 2008-2012
·Served on numerous SCMGF committees, including: “Sustainable Gardening” Winter Series ,
Long-term Planning, Annual Priorities, By-laws Revision and Policy Updates, Community Grants, Recognition Banquet and Awards, Finance
·Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State Board member for Snohomish County 2003-2012
·MGFWS Scholarship chair 2005-2012
·Participated in State MGFWS Advance Education Conferences 2002 – 2012
·Program Chair for the 2013 State MGFWS Advanced Education Conference
Carolyn Carlson - 2011
- Class of 2006
- Member of the MG Foundation for Life 2007
- Intern Mentor 2007-2008
- Assistant to Intern Training Class Coordinator 2009 - 2012
- Garden tour home in 2008
- Received one hundred hour pin annually from 2007 to 2011 (so far)
- Received 1000 hour pin 2011
- Member of Recognition dinner committee 2010 -2011
- Chair of Plant Sale "Dig Team" - 2011-12
- Legion Park Coordinator - 2010
- Foundation Election Committee 2010
- Garden Coordinator for the Mukilteo Community Garden 2011
- Co-Coordinator for Mukilteo Farmers Market - 2011
Michele Duncan - 2009
- Class of 1997
- 1997-98 - Jennings Demo Garden owner - French
Intensive Planting and Heirlooms
- 1999-2000 - On team assembling a Gardening Calendar and Master Gardener Cookbook
- 2000-2004 - President of the Foundation
- 2000-2011 - Foundation Board Member
- Involved in Plant Sale since 1997 and in charge of it since 2006
- 2006-2010 - Winter Lecture Series committee member 6 years on the Recognition Dinner committee
- 2009-2011 - Co-Chair Jennings Demo Garden
- Received 100 hour pin almost every year of membership.
- Received 1000 hour pin
- Actively involved in the Mukilteo Community Garden since 2009
MaryLou Hart - 2009
- Class of 1994
- 2006-2011 Co-Chair Plant Sale
- Recognition Dinner
Duane Farmen - 2009
- Class of 1999
- 2006-2008 - Intern Class Coordinator
- 2009 - Intern Mentor
- 1,000 year pins in 2007 & 2010
- 100 hour pins 10 of past 11 years
- Foundation lifetime member
- Inventoried and indexed Office Extension Bulletins
- Analyzed clinic questions to develop a FAQ by month
- Plant sale holding area coordinator 5 of the last 7 years
- Designed and co-installed the compost bins at Jennings Park
- Designed and constructed the MG storage cabinets
- On MG garden home tour 2009
- 2009-2010 - Developed and led Rain Garden Program
- Lectured on rain gardens at the Edmonds Community College,
- Lynnwood library and several classes at McCollum Park.
- Coordinator of the RG information booth at the Everett Home and Garden Show for 2009-2011
- Designed and setup the RG display at the WSU conservation program at Benaroya Hall in 2009
- Designed and setup the RG display at the Mountlake Terrace Recycling Fair in 2009 and Edmonds Birdfest in 2009
- Designed and coordinated the installation of both demo rain gardens at McCollum Park and Everett Arboretum
