The Master Gardeners of Clark County held their annual Recognition Celebration on November 2 in Springfield, Ohio.  More than 100 people were in attendance as well as special guests including County Commissioner John Detrick, Springfield City Commissioners Dan Martin and Karen Duncan as well as spouses and guests of the volunteers.  The 101 MGVs of Clark County contributed 10,132 hours of service to the community; the value of their volunteer time is equivalent to $208,818.00. Natheta Mercer received the highest honor for the Clark County MGVs, the James Looney Memorial Award.  A silent auction with items donated by the volunteers raised more than $800.00.  Clark County MGVs are one of the 72 county programs in Ohio. 

   Natheta Mercer MGV Clark County

The projects that the Clark County volunteers are involved in include:  designing, planting, and maintaining the Gateway Learning Gardens, a 5 acre demonstration garden, Clark County Fair Flower Show, planting the hanging baskets for downtown Springfield, assisting with the Neighborhood Housing Partnership Landscape project, Way to Grow Community Garden program, 4H Flower Bed project at the fairgrounds, speaker's bureau, Gardening Angels, Utzinger Memorial Garden maintenance, and more.

Additional awards that were presented that evening were as follows:

Golden Thumb - Given to the individual or organization who has gone above and beyond to support the Clark County MGVs - Dan O'Keefe

Behind the Scenes Award - Given to the person who does the work "behind the scenes" - John Eichelberger and Anne Kaup-Fett

Golden Trowel - Given to the person whom "the office staff sees the most" - Ed Wozniak

Go To Gardeners - Given to the volunteers who give any time assistance is requested - Peggie Elsnau, Natheta Mercer, Lois O'Keefe, Ruth Ann Rahim, and Jean Rickards

Ironmen Award - Tom Davidson, John Eichelberger, Jim Hamilton, Rick McKinstry, and Ed Wozniak

The following were recognized for their nominations for the State MGV Program awards:

OSUE Friend of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program - Bob Harley

OSUE Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer of the Year - Jean Rickards

OSUE Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer Outstanding Project - Large Category - Perrin Woods Rain Garden Demonstration Project