Session Option 1:

Track I: Curriculum

10:30-11:30 CST

Learn, Go, Eat, & Go!   Randy Seagraves

This session will equip and empower you to effectively implement the popular, evidence-based Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! curriculum with your class! Created by teachers, this standards-based, multifaceted school garden curriculum is fun and academically rich. Through a linear set of hands-on, proven lessons, your students step through process of establishing a thriving garden that is easy to create and maintain! but YOU will also have an opportunity to take part in a LIVE HANDS-ON activity AND before the session closer there will be a drawing (from attendees in the room) for a FREE Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! curriculum DOOR PRIZE.

Randy is an Extension Program Specialist & Curriculum Director for the International Junior Master Gardener program. A former 3rd grade teacher in College Station ISD, Randy is the lead author of 8 JMG® curriculum guides, including the new, evidence-based Learn, Grow, Eat & GO! curriculum. He guest lecturers for horticulture and education courses at Texas A&M and has been a guest host for the Weekend Gardener television segment for local CBS affiliate in College Station and regularly speaks at regional, state and national conferences across the country.

Session Option 2:

Track II: Growing Thriving Gardens & Adventurous Eaters

10:30-11:30 CST

Gardening After Your First Season  David Rodriquez

Congratulations your first garden season is over for the spring or fall! Fantastic job! So, what is next? Well, we know that the summer break is super-hot, and the winter break is super-cold. And what time do any of us have to check on things during our well-deserved breaks? Great question. Therefore, we are going to give you some guidelines with options and alternatives on how to put your garden happily to sleep for the summer and winter breaks. Doing so will help your gardens wake up happier going into the following spring and fall planting season. Yes, you can do this!

David Rodriguez started working at the prime age of 10 with local nurseries which included Grimm’s Garden Centers and Landscape, Wolfe Nurseries and Calloway’s. David went off to Texas A&M University and earned both as bachelor and master’s degrees in horticultural sciences.  David joined the ranks of the Extension Service an educational agency of the Texas A&M University System in 2006 as the area Extension Horticulturist. David oversees the Bexar County Youth Gardens program, which serves more than 80 schools, the majority of which are in low-income areas of Bexar County. Among the most popular of his youth gardening programs are two award winning and national recognized Children’s Vegetable Gardens at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and at Phil Hardberger Park. As part of these programs, children are provided a plot and learn to grow their own vegetables, herbs, and seasonal annuals under the mentorship of a Master Gardener. For many urban youths, these programs provide their first experience working in a vegetable garden and learning how plant-based foods are grown and how their nutritional value impacts overall health. 

Session Option 3:

Track III: Serving a Diverse Range of Audiences in a Wide Variety of Settings

10:30-11:30 CST

Grandfriends  Deborah Ivie

There are many challenges to starting a community Junior Master Gardener program: supplies, gardening space, and volunteers. Salt Lake County 4-H has found a unique partner in sustaining a JMG program: Salt Lake County Aging Services. Come learn about how we have combined resources to create a Junior Master Gardener program at Senior Centers in Salt Lake County. We will give you a front-seat insight into both our successes and our challenges in this unique partnership with school gardens as part of the learning environment.

Deborah Ivie is the STEM lead and JMG coordinator for USU Extension Youth Programs/Utah 4-H. She has experience working with youth in gardening on a local, county and state level. Her passion for work with youth began as a volunteer, fueled by her efforts with her own seven children. Among other responsibilities, she now mentors JMG efforts in numerous counties throughout Utah.

Session Option 4:

Track IV: Growing Sustainability, Leaders, and Program Growth

10:30-11:30 CST

Tips for Working with Volunteers in Garden Programs
Jayla Fry

Volunteers today want to be a part of meaningful and impactful work. The work you do in teaching gardening to kids is not only important, but it is also rewarding. Volunteers want to be included in your work! In this session, we will discuss recruiting volunteers and building relationships with the volunteer team. We will talk about the different jobs volunteers can provide, utilizing job descriptions, and aligning volunteers with the most appropriate job for them and for your project. Finally, we will visit about recognizing and appreciating volunteers’ efforts in making your projects successful.

Jayla Fry graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture and a master’s degree in Agriculture Education. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. Her work experience began by facilitating a horticulture program at a federal prison camp. She currently works with Master Gardener volunteers and coordinators throughout the state of Texas. She teaches an introduction of the Texas Master Gardener Program and Plant Growth and Development. In 2019, she was the editor for the seventh edition of the Texas Master Gardener Handbook. She authored the Introduction and co-authored the Plant Growth and Development chapter within the handbook. Jayla serves as the advisor to the Texas Master Gardener Association and supports the state Master Gardener conference and leadership training.

Session Option 1:

Track I: Curriculum

12:30-1:30 CST

Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go Julie Hamilton

This session will help you to grow a classroom of thriving students, with the new Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go curriculum that combines rich plant/garden learning, food exposure, fun brain- & body-boosting physical activities, AND novel parent/school community engagement in a fun, teacher-friendly format! Save planning time with this step-by-step, 4 week unit that equips teachers with daily engaging lessons, group activities, and journal prompts that lead your class to create a simple, thriving vegetable garden. Weekly featured songs, literature connections, classroom garden kitchen recipes, innovative family engagement tools, and effective center resources complement learning and maximize benefits to students. Created by Head Start teachers, kindergarten teachers, and content experts, this multifaceted garden, nutrition, and physical activity curriculum is specially designed for teachers 4 & 5-year-olds. YOU will also have an opportunity to take part in a LIVE HANDS ON activity AND before the session closer there will be a drawing (from attendees in the room) for a FREE Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go curriculum DOOR PRIZE.

Julie graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Kinesiology in 1991. She is certified to teach all levels of Physical Education and Health as well as Elementary Education and Early Childhood. Julie has been in education a total of 27 years (6 years teaching Physical Education, 17 years teaching Preschool, and 4 years as a Mother’s Day Out/Preschool director). Currently, Julie teaches Head Start in College Station ISD, serves on the board for the Texas Baptist Weekday Education Association, and presents to preschool teachers across the state of Texas. She loves working with Head Start children and has a passion for early childhood!

Session Option 2:

Track II: Growing Thriving Gardens & Adventurous Eaters

12:30-1:30 CST

Easy Herbs to Grow for the School Garden
Stephen Brueggerhoff

Enhance your culinary curriculum with herbs to grow for your school garden. Horticulture Agent Stephen Brueggerhoff will explore best methods of planting and growing basil, parsley, chives, oregano and rosemary; five easy herbs that will engage your students. Plans for designing a pizza garden are included in this workshop.

Stephen is the Horticulture Extension Agent for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Galveston County. Stephen furthers the Extension mission of education and community service, offering horticultural consultation to residential clients, business owners and green industry practitioners. Stephen manages the Galveston County Master Gardeners Association, providing coordination to consistently deliver quality research-based regional programs. Stephen received a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Sam Houston State University and a Masters of Forest Resources from the University of Washington. With over 15 years of experience, Stephen has supported the environmental community as a lecturer, instructor, administrative organizer and collaborative partner. Stephen is a member of several professional development and community service organizations such as Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Texas County Agricultural Agents Association, International Society for Arboriculture – Texas, Epsilon Sigma Phi – Alpha Zeta chapter, Houston Area Urban Forestry Council and Native Plant Society of Texas.

Session Option 3:

Track III: Serving a Diverse Range of Audiences in a Wide Variety of Settings

12:30-1:30 CST

JMG in Boys & Girls Clubs  Jasmine Carey & Katherine Ponce

With our ever-growing urban counties in Texas, reaching every Texan can seem like an impossible feat. But we are not alone. By collaborating with like-minded organizations within our community & utilizing each organization’s strengths, we can amplify our impact while maintaining the high standards we pride ourselves in.

Katherine Ponce is the 4-H & Imagine Science Program Assistant at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Harris County. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in Biology. Before joining the Harris County Team, she spent time working with early childhood in a Montessori setting. She is passionate about making science fun for all. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering and taking nature walks with her fiancé and their chiweenie Elle.

Jasmine Carey is a Better Living for Texans agent at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Harris County. She graduated from San Diego State University where she received her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Then she moved to Texas to attend Texas A&M University and received her MPH in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences. Before becoming an extension agent, Jasmine worked with seniors to provide in-home care and assisted with the COVID-19 response for the county. She is passionate about helping the community reach its optimal health. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating and photography.

Session Option 4:

Track IV: Growing Sustainability, Leaders, & Program Growth

12:30-1:30 CST

Kids Growing in Common Ground (Bringing the Garden to the Neighborhood) Sandy Dailey

Active learning in the Junior Master Gardener program can engage students to learn more about who they are and empower them to be active in the local community. In this session we will discuss: 1) adapting your Youth Garden for the Junior Master Gardener Program and leveraging community partners like Extension Master Gardeners and diverse Partner Groups; 2) creating a safe place for Junior Master Gardener classes and having their garden become a common place to grow love and diversity with all ages; 3) leveraging local resources to determine what the needs of the students are and utilizing all garden elements to draw comparisons between the students and the plants they grow; and finally 4) matching the needs of the people of the community to the student to grow the students surrounding environment as part of their growing community diversity. The growing of strong kids and sharing their insight with the community will help us all in “”Growing Common Ground””

Sandra is the Director of Garden Programs at Harvest House Community Learning Center (HHCC) @ St. Peter’s in Lebanon IN. She is a state trainer for the Jr Master Gardener program and a member of the INDIANA JMG State Advisory Board through Purdue University for the past two years. Sandy is a Master Gardener and an Engineering Program Manager Professional. She is currently the Manager for “Growing Common Ground Farm” where she manages farmland for the Local Community Food Distribution Garden, and four smaller ⅛ acre gardens for the Black Independent Growers in Indianapolis.

Session Option 1:

Track I: Curriculum

2:00-3:00 CST

Literature in the Garden/Wildlife Gardener Lisa Whittlesey

This session will include everything you wanted to know about both the popular Literature in the Garden curriculum and the Wildlife Gardener curriculum developed for use with elementary students. Literature in the Garden will help you to cultivate a connection to children’s literature & gardening with this award-winning curriculum. You’ll be engaging children through powerful garden and ecology-themed children’s books to inspire learning through outdoor activities, creative expression and open exploration. Dozens of hands-on math, science and language-based activities encourage leadership development, individual responsibility, community involvement, and the development of critical thinking skills. With Wildlife Gardener, your students will gain a greater understanding and strengthen appreciation for the wildlife that is part of their local community. Your class will enjoy novel, hands-on, project-based learning as they have fun gardening for wildlife.
And your class will work and learn together to create components of wildlife gardening habitat.
The session will not only provide great familiarity with the engaging format and many of the lessons that make up these unique curriculum options, but YOU will also have an opportunity to take part in a LIVE HANDS ON activity during the session AND before the session closes there will be a drawing (from attendees in the room) for a FREE JMG Operation Thistle and a FREE Wildlife Gardener and Literature in the Garden curriculum DOOR PRIZES.

Lisa serves as the program director for the International Junior Master Gardener program and has been an invited speaker to over 285 regional and national conferences. Her recent work has focused on utilizing the Junior Master Gardener program (Learn, Grow, Eat & GO curricula) as an intervention as a part of a 5 year USDA AFRI funded Extension and Research project focused on child and family interventions for obesity prevention. In addition to her work with the JMG Program, Lisa provides leadership to horticulture programming, staff development/management and as a PI on federal contracts with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Windham Schools – TDCJ, and with Lee College prison programming efforts. Lisa is a lecturer for the freshman university course AGLS 125, guest lecturer for floral design and socio-horticulture classes at Texas A&M University and does educational videos for the public through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension social media outlets.

Session Option 2:

Track II: Growing Thriving Gardens & Adventurous Eaters

2:00-3:00 CST

Attracting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects to the Garden Molly Keck

Pollinators and other beneficial predators are important to a healthy garden. They allow plants to grow and produce fruit and keep the harmful insects at bay. Learn how to recognize some of the important beneficials in your garden and what you can do and plant to encourage and increase their numbers.

Molly is an Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Bexar County, TX (San Antonio, TX). Molly is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Entomology and is a Board Certified Entomologist and hobbyist beekeeper. Molly has been working for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service since 2005 and specializes in urban and structural entomology, providing pest management and identification programs to Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, the general public, school age students, and pest management professionals.

Session Option 3:

Track III: Serving a Diverse Range of Audiences in a Wide Variety of Settings

2:00-3:00 CST

“Crazy” Boot Camp Gardening Connie Packer

Connecting and identifying with military families is a challenge. In this session, you will learn that resiliency skills play a big part teaching JMG to military kids. Life skills such as gardening prepare these kids when deployments happen both pre and post. We will cover how to extend the JMG program in the schools they attend as well as out reach using other locations to provide this learning opportunity. We will also get creative in our resources and in using volunteers!

“Crazy” Connie is exactly my nick name. I am a mother/grandmother raising an adopted grandson who is almost 8. I have 4 grown kids and 6 grandkids. I have been an employee of Utah State University Extension/Thanksgiving Point for 9 years and currently am the Director of the Utah National Guard Youth Programs here in Utah. I worked as a Child Youth Program Specialist for 11 years with UTNG and for the past year and a half am now director of our program. I am very passionate about gardening. I helped start the Junior Master Gardener program at Thanksgiving Point years ago and started it with the Guard Youth Programs when I came to work for them. I facilitate all kinds of STEM classes and camps on base at Camp Williams in Utah, but my most favorite to run is the gardening program. Utah State 4-H Extension enhances and supports our JMG program.

Session Option 4:

Track IV: Growing Sustainability, Leaders and Successful Program Growth

2:00-3:00 CST

Growing School Garden Success, Funding and Sustainability Randy Seagraves

Why do some school garden projects thrive while others fail? This session will reveal tips for growing long term sustainability in your school/youth garden program. Attendees will learn successful ideas for generating revenue, accessing “built in” JMG resources, creating structure to empower students to be active leaders, AND how to best utilize youth/school/community volunteers to assist in program implementation/growth.

Randy is an Extension Program Specialist & Curriculum Director for the International Junior Master Gardener program. A former 3rd grade teacher in College Station ISD, Randy is the lead author of 8 JMG® curriculum guides, including the new, evidence-based Learn, Grow, Eat & GO! curriculum. He guest lecturers for horticulture and education courses at Texas A&M and has been a guest host for the Weekend Gardener television segment for local CBS affiliate in College Station and regularly speaks at regional, state and national conferences across the country.

Session Option 1:

Track I: Curriculum

3:30-4:45 CST

JMG Level Two with Operation Thistle & Operation W.A.T.E.R.   Melinda Dillon 

Everything you wanted to know about the middle school/junior high LEVEL TWO curricula featuring the novel Operation Thistle, Plant Growth & Development Teacher/Leader Guide and the Operation W.A.T.E.R., Soils & Water Teacher/Leader Guide. The session will not only provide great familiarity with this novel, “Mission Impossible” inspired curriculum but YOU will also have an opportunity to take part in a HANDS-ON activity AND before the session closer there will be a drawing (from attendees in the room) for a FREE JMG Level 2 curriculum DOOR PRIZE!

Melinda Dillon : I teach at Elysian Fields Middle School. This is my 24th year in the classroom. I taught 6th grade science for 6 years and moved to the 8th grade for the past 18 years. I enjoy spending as much time as I can outside with my husband and daughter. I believe that kids that are allowed to dig in the dirt grow into better adults.

Session Option 2:

Track II: Growing Thriving Gardens & Adventurous Eaters

3:30-4:45 CST

The D,E,Fs of a Successful Culinary Education Class (Demos, Engagement, Food, Facts and Fundamentals) Brittany Jones

Make your audience say “WOW!” with an engaging culinary demonstration full of Food, Facts and FUNdamentals! Chef Brittany Jones, the Houston ISD Food and Agriculture Literacy Chef, invites you to a Chef Chat to explore what is necessary for a wonderful presentation that will leave your audience wanting more. She will pique your interest and explain the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of a dynamic culinary education class. After this discussion, you will be able to develop and implement incredible food demonstrations and tastings.

Growing up in Kansas City, Kansas, Chef Brittany Jones enjoyed being inventive with different ingredients in her household as she learned how to make homemade apple pie from her grandfather. Her passion for creativity and food lead her to pursue a Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Management at Howard University in Washington, DC. While interning at “The Greatest Place on Earth”, Brittany grew fond of working with children as a Character Attendant throughout her College Program Internship at Walt Disney World. She, then, adventured to Miami, Florida to pursue a Culinary Degree from Johnson & Wales University. In February 2014, Chef Jones relocated to Houston, Texas to become part of the Nutrition Services Department with the Houston Independent School District as a Chef Trainer. Quickly, Brittany become known as the Culinary Education Chef where she teaches students, faculty, and the Houston community culinary skills and how to prepare healthy dishes. In September 2020, she fully transitioned to her current role as the Food and Agriculture Literacy Chef. Chef Brittany travels throughout the district bringing culinary education and nutrition lessons to Pre-K through 12th grade as well as our community. She creates curriculum for different programs, lesson plans and new recipes while teaching classes, conducting food demonstrations and tasting with students, families and staff across the district.

Session Option 3:

Track III: Serving a Diverse Range of Audiences in a Wide Variety of Settings

3:30-4:45 CST

Using the Junior Master Gardener Curriculum with Special Needs Adults Nicole Hansen

Using the Junior Master Gardener Curriculum with Special Needs Adults. The Youth Horticulture Education Program (https://extension.unr.edu/youth-horticulture/) has had great success with the JMG Curricula to teach special needs adults career exploration and life skills. This presentation will discuss best practices when using this curriculum with the special needs community and how certification can be used to further career prospects within that community in horticulture industries.

Tricia has vast career experience providing youth-centered programming for youth and families in New York City and Las Vegas from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds including adjudicated youth. She has managed several research and evidence-based programs for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension since 2013. In 2017, Tricia joined the Horticulture department after managing programs in Health & Nutrition and 4-H to formalized youth horticulture efforts into a cohesive multiapproach program. The Youth Horticulture Education Program (also known as “YHEP”) is a garden-based education program that uses a four-corner approach to address knowledge development, career readiness, professional development and basic school garden support for plant science education in youth environments. 

Nicole is a Horticulturist & Community Based Instructor, with the Youth Horticulture Education Program, housed in the in the Southern Area Extension of the University of Nevada, Reno

Session Option 4:

Track 4: Growing Sustainability, Leaders & Successful Program Growth

3:30-4:45 CST

Let’s Talk! “Implementing JMG programs in schools to benefit school community and increase 4-H enrollment”
Arvitta Scott

This session will reveal how to identify and work with schools, how county staff (4-H, BLT, FCH, AgNR) can collaborate with school JMG/LGEG programs, and how this has encouraged youth to get involved with other projects. Program highlights of success stories and why this model works.

Arvitta serves as a 4-H Coordinator and as a trainer agent. Arvitta received a B.S. Degree in Human Performance and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Health); Ms. Scott also completed her graduate studies at Prairie View A&M University receiving a Masters of Education in Educational Administration and a Masters of Arts in Counseling. She has an exceptional gift to teach, nurture, and mentor children and young adults. Ms. Scott exhibits compassion and excitement to serve the community by developing programs conducive to optimal growth for all community stakeholders. In addition, Arvitta believes that Everyone can be Empowered, Educated, and Engaged to Excel. Failure is not an option and excelling is obtainable no matter what an individual’s struggle is.