2023 JMG NLT Featured Speakers

This year’s Virtual JMG National Leader Training features general and concurrent GROW sessions. Confirmed speakers & sessions are posted below!

DAY 1 Opening KEYNOTE
Chris Field

Husband, Father of 4, Founder/CEO of Mercy Project, Race Director of BCS Marathon, Social Entrepreneur, Speaker, Author, Dreamer, and Status Quo Disruptor

In this session, Field will unpack the power of positive disruption to create transformation beyond what can possibly be measured during our lifetimes. Weaving his own story through the lives of other disruptors for good, Field will likely make you laugh, possibly make you cry, but certainly help you remember why your work matters so deeply and how you can stay grounded and focused on the task at hand in a world full of distractions and disappointments. Can we joyfully and purposely show up every day to plant seeds for trees whose shade we will never sit under? We can. And we do. And we will. And we must.

Chris Field has been disrupting the status quo most of his life. His most important disruption is Mercy Project, the non-profit he started to rescue children from human trafficking in Ghana, Africa. Its innovative approach earned the prestigious Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award. To date, Mercy Project has rescued nearly 250 children, returned them to their families, and provided them with education that will transform their future. At 19-years-old Field ran his first marathon, ran for mayor of his hometown (placing third out of five), and was hired to run a camp that hosted 600 inner-city kids each summer. Field has filled the years since with countless more disruptions. He ran another 25 marathons, started the #1 ranked marathon in Texas, raised millions for charities, wrote the most viral ice cream review ever, taught a business class at Texas A&M University, set four Guinness Records, and wrote two books. He lives in College Station, Texas with his wife Stacey and their four children.”

DAY 1 Closing KEYNOTE
Kjell N. Lindgren
(M.D.) NASA Astronaut

Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren was selected by NASA in 2009. He spent most of his childhood abroad and returned to the U.S. to complete his education and earn a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Colorado. He is board certified in emergency medicine. After serving as the Deputy Crew Surgeon for STS-130 and Expedition 24, he was selected as an astronaut in June 2009 as one of 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class.

Dr. Lindgren flew two long-duration missions to the International Space Station, Expeditions 44/45 in 2015, and most recently Expeditions 66/67, which landed in October, 2022. With both missions, he has logged a combined total of 311 days in space, and 15 hours and four minutes of spacewalk time.. He and his crew participated in more than 250 different scientific experiments including research in human physiology, fluid and combustion physics, Earth and space science and technology development. Their research included work with the “Veggie” experiment which represented the first time a U.S. crew has grown peppers as a crop grown on orbit. He also served as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission, which brought he and his crewmates to the International Space Station, to join Expedition 66, already in progress. And nearly six months later, their Dragon capsule returned them home safely, with a splashdown off the coast of Jacksonville, FL. Crew-4 was only the fourth crewed mission of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, returning human-rated launch capability to the U.S. Lindgren’s 2015 launch was aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.

He and his international crew will be ready for their next official assignment in April, 2023.

Welcome & Introductions
Lisa Whittlesey

Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension,
Junior Master Gardener Program Coordinator

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 and 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 additional to her work with the JMG Program, Lisa provides leadership to horticulture programming, staff development/management and as a PI 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.

2023 JMG NLT Overview
Randy Seagraves

Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Junior Master Gardener Curriculum Coordinator

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.

After-school JMG Program in Coastal Mississippi

Tammie DeDeaux-Gray & Douglas F. Welsh

Tammie is the President, The LAD Project & Doug is an Extension Horticulturist, Texas A&M University, retired

In Pass Christian, Mississippi, the LAD Project is a faith-based non-profit which empowers youth to reach their potential through activities including after-school tutoring and mentoring. Adult volunteers provide tutoring for students Monday through Thursday in the school year. This year the Junior Master Gardener program was offered and a pilot group was initiated on Friday afternoons. Here is a glimpse into this year’s JMG classroom and gardening activities, service projects and field trips.

Tammie is the founder and president of The LAD Project. She is a graduate of Pass Christian High School and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston campus. She worked in the education field for 20 years in various roles from the elementary to high school levels and recently resigned to commit full-time to The LAD Project.

Doug is a retired horticulture professor from Texas A&M University where he coordinated the Texas Master Gardener program, provided weekly garden shows on television and radio, authored Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac, and concluded his 37-year career by coordinating the design and fundraising for a 40-acre teaching garden on campus. He now lives in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

JMG Nevada
Youth Horticulture Education Program
Dr. Tricia Braxton Perry

Coordinator, Youth Horticulture Education Program

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

JMG Indiana
Youth Horticulture Education Program
Dr. Kathyrn S. Orvis

Associate Professor
Dept Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Purdue University

Kathryn is an educator and extension specialist in plant science and horticulture, and focuses on science-based educational programming for all educational settings, with emphasis on teaching plant science in the context of Agriculture. Teaching science is her passion, and Dr. Orvis contributes to both undergraduate and graduate education at Purdue. She provides leadership and primary instructional role in HORT 101, Fundamentals of Horticulture, as well as HORT/ASEC 21200 Greenhouse and Landscape Fundamentals for Educators. Involvement with undergraduate freshmen Learning Communities for both Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, as well as Agriculture Education affords Dr. Orvis opportunities to genuinely interact with incoming undergraduate students in both Horticulture and Agricultural Education. Her role as Extension Specialist affords opportunities for educating about youth gardening, projects in urban agriculture, and she often serves as an evaluator on education and outreach project related to plant science education.

JMG San Antonio
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Andres Villagran

Youth Gardens Coordinator
Bexar County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Andres Villagran is the Youth Gardens Coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bexar County. He has his Bachelor’s in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University, along with almost a decade of experience in conservation education through work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the San Antonio Zoo, and more. As the Youth Gardens Coordinator, he implements youth centered activities at various outreach events and hosts Youth Garden Educator Trainings to give youth garden leaders the tools they need to see their gardens thrive. All of his work would not be possible without the help of his Youth Garden Buddies, a select group of Bexar County Master Gardener volunteers specialized in youth-centered activities.

JMG Hawaii
Becky Settlage

County Extension Agent, University of Hawaii – Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources,  State Coordinator for the Hawaii Junior Master Gardener Program.

Becky is a County Extension Agent at University of Hawaii with  Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, located on the Big Island of Hawaii in Hilo. She serves as the State Coordinator for the Hawaii Junior Master Gardener Program. In 2021, Becky was awarded the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Extension for her implementation of JMG/gardening programing at-a-distance during COVID.

Get Growing Houston
Marcus Glenn

Houston ISD Area Manager Nutrition and Agriculture

AT THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE LITERACY CENTER AT MYKAWA FARM We believe it’s important to go beyond the plate. We want students to learn about the importance of nutritious food and living a healthy lifestyle. We want them to feel empowered by their food choices and the impact they have — not just on themselves, but on their families and communities. We focus on these principals at the Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm — a working educational farm that integrates nutrition and food science with core curriculum to provide students with hands-on learning experiences. Mykawa aims to provide students with a foundational knowledge of food and where it comes from by giving them the opportunity to plant and grow a garden, harvest and prepare produce, and share the bounty. The program does this through a special emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts, agriculture, and math — sometimes referred to as STEAAM subjects.

Marcus Glenn leads the Get Growing Houston agriculture education program for Houston ISD-Nutrition Services. Mr. Glenn has an extensive background in urban agriculture education serving as a 4-H Extension Agent in Harris County for 6 years and developing and funding gardening programs for non-profits. With Nutrition Services Mr. Glenn oversees an agriculture education program reaching 20 schools, 16 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high schools and a 6.5 acre educational farm.

Growing Good Kids & Research/Evidence-based Learning
Lisa Whittlesey

Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension,
Junior Master Gardener Program Coordinator

JMG Research Session Descriptor

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 and 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 additional to her work with the JMG Program, Lisa provides leadership to horticulture programming, staff development/management and as a PI 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.

HANDS ON with JMG Teacher Guide & Youth Handbook
Randy Seagraves

Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Junior Master Gardener Curriculum Coordinator

This session will include everything you wanted to know about the elementary level JMG Teacher/Leader Guide & JMG Youth Handbook, The session will give you in-depth working knowledge of the comprehensive, JMG “Core Curricula,” you’ll get a chance to become familiar with many of the popular, proven JMG lessons you could use with a group of kids next week, YOU will have an opportunity to take part in a LIVE HANDS ON activity during during the session, AND before the session closer there will be a drawing (from attendees in the room) for a  FREE JMG Teacher/Leader Guide & JMG Youth Handbook 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.

HANDS ON with JMG Learn, Grow, Eat & GO!
Randy Seagraves

Junior Master Gardener Program Team, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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.

HANDS ON with the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go curriculum
Julie Hamilton

Head Start Teacher, College Station ISD

This session will help you to grow a classroom of thriving students, 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!

HANDS ON with Literature in the Garden and the Wildlife Gardener curriculum
Lisa Whittlesey

Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension,
Junior Master Gardener Program Coordinator

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 and 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 additional to her work with the JMG Program, Lisa provides leadership to horticulture programming, staff development/management and as a PI 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.

HANDS ON with JMG LEVEL 2
Melinda Dillon

8th Grade Science Teacher,
Elysian Fields Middle School

This session will include 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 the engaging format and many of the lessons that make up this novel, “Mission Impossible” inspired curriculum, 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 JMG Operation Thistle and a FREE JMG Operation W.A.T.E.R. curriculum DOOR PRIZE.

Melinda is an enthusiastic garden leader and 8th Grade Science Teacher at Elysian Fields Middle School located in Elysian Fields, Texas.

Skip’s Tips for a Thriving School Garden
Skip Richter

County Administrator & Extension Agent, Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Raised bed gardens provide many advantages over in-ground gardens. With a raised bed you can garden anywhere the sun shines, even on a parking lot! Learn the key elements of creating a raised bed from planning to first production to help ensure years of success. Just like a good foundation is critical to building a home, starting off right can make a difference between success and failure in the garden. Skip will discuss site selection and preparation, soil blends for raised beds, time saving irrigation setup, plant selection and sources, timing your plantings, and easy, low toxicity weed and pest management options.

Skip received his master’s degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University, “the source of all earthly knowledge.” He has served as a county horticulturist with Texas AgriLife Extension for 33 years in Montgomery, Travis, Harris, and Brazos County. He has served as the National Gardening Association’s regional horticulturist for the southeastern U.S. and is a contributing editor to Texas Gardener magazine. His “Gardening with Skip” YouTube channel features over 120 brief gardening videos. Skip’s writes a weekly gardening column for The Eagle newspaper, and his Garden Success radio show, which airs on KAMU-FM on Thursdays at noon, is also available by podcast. Skip’s happy place is sitting in his garden observing and learning about the interactions of plants, insects, and the soil. Okra is the latest in a long list of his horticultural obsessions.

Gardening After Your First Season
David Rodriguez

Extension Agent, Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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 is deeply rooted in the Texas gardening and landscape plant world. He 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 then went off to Texas A&M University and earned bachelor and master’s degrees in horticultural sciences. Before and during these formal educational years, he often worked seven days a week to save up money for his educational and living expenses. 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. It also teaches them responsibility, teamwork, and leadership in addition to many aspects of earth science.

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

Food and Agriculture Literacy Chef, Nutrition Services, Houston Independent School District

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.

Attracting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects to the Garden
Molly Keck

Extension Agent, Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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.

Herb Gardening with Kids
Stephen Brueggerhoff

Extension Agent, Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

You’ll love growing herbs to with your kids in a 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 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. Stephen manages and proudly supports the Galveston County Master Gardeners Association, providing coordination to consistently deliver quality research-based regional programs. He has supported the environmental community as 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. Galveston County. Stephen furthers the Extension mission of education and community service, offering horticultural consultation to residential clients, business owners and green industry.

Roots, Shoots, & Mud in Our Boots
Michele Scaife

Extension Agent, Better Living for Texans
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

When you step into a garden with a child, you never know what wonders await you. Gardening sparks children’s natural curiosity lending itself to a diverse learning environment that engages different learning styles. In Montgomery County, Extension is reaching kids through partnerships with school/parent liaisons and communities in schools, early bird and after-school clubs, a literacy outreach center, children’s protective services sites, a juvenile justice location, a women/children’s shelter, and youth/adult with disabilities programs hosted at a specialized school and one hosted at the county Extension office. Let’s take a walk together through the gardens of Montgomery County seeing, through the eyes of a child, how we can open the pathway of learning together.

Michele began work with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension as a Texas Grow Eat Go Project Specialist in Montgomery County in July of 2013 providing leadership to the research project Montgomery County. When the funding for the research came to an end, Michele continued her employment with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension as an Extension Agent with the Better Living for Texans program. She is an active volunteer with the Montgomery County Master Gardener program and serves as a 4-H Junior Master Gardener and Food & Nutrition project leader. While she loves her life on her family farm, Michele finds joy in teaching and helping others find ways to bring food from the garden to the table.

Grandfriends: Partnering with Senior Centers in JMG programming
Deb Ivie

Utah State Extension STEM Faculty/JMG Coordinator

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 front-seat insight into both our successes and our challenges in this unique partnership.

Deborah Ivie received her M.S. from Brigham Young University in Family Life Education with an emphasis in Human Development and Early Childhood Education certification. One of her areas of specialty is Service Learning programming, including community gardening efforts. She currently serves as Utah State University Extension Youth Programs/4-H Faculty and STEM Program Leader. She is the state JMG coordinator. She resides in Salt Lake County. She is the mother of seven children, and enjoys reading, trips to the mountains and playing guitar in her spare time. Morgan Hoffman will be co-presenting with Deborah. Morgan graduated from Cornell College in archaeology and classical studies. She previously worked at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg as an education coordinator. Morgan began work at Thanksgiving Point Institute as an education coordinator, running adult and horticulture programming. She now serves as the community experiences manager, overseeing multiple 4-H programs, including Junior Master Gardener and the Thanksgiving Point Makerspace, along with event, family, and adult programming. Morgan will implement grant programming at the Thanksgiving Point site and will help develop the teen leader mentorship program.

JMG Learn, Grow, Eat & Go at YMCA and
Boys & Girls Clubs
Katherine Ponce & Jasmine Carey

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents, Houston, Texas

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. Through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club and The YMCA, AgriLife Extension has played a supportive role in the implementation of the Learn, Grow, Eat, & Go! curriculum at sites throughout the Greater Houston area. We will discuss different aspects in which Extension can assist partnering sites to further strengthen programming efforts.

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.

“Crazy” Boot Camp Gardening
Connie Packer

Utah National Guard Lead Child Youth Program Director

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

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

Community Based Instructor IV, UNR Extension, Southern Area, Youth Horticulture Education Program

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.

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

Growing Partners and Sustainability at Your School Garden Programs. Garden Club, Curriculum Based Classes, Entrepreneurial and Philanthropic Initiatives
Rolando Román M.Ed.

Health/Physical Education/Gardening Teacher, Madison ISD, Mannsdale Upper Elementary

This presentation will share the step-by-step on how to pilot and implement a curriculum based Junior Master Gardener Program, and/or a School Garden Club how to maintain and support your schools beatification initiatives, incorporate STEM curriculum, add entrepreneurship and a philanthropy pillar to your schools offerings/programing. During the session we will discuss to partner with community stakeholders, parents, teachers, administrators and district in order to make your program successful.

Rolando Rolando (Coach Ro) is an expert in the exercise science, health, fitness, and wellness industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Puerto Rico, where he was a student athlete (Wrestling & Judo), and a master’s degree in exercise science/physical education from Southwest Texas State University. Coach Ro’s past experiences involve being a Health & Wellness Program Manager Worksite for the University of Texas System, Office of Employee Benefits and Corporate Health & Wellness Manager for Applied Materials in Austin, Texas, and serving as an Executive Health Coach for many business leaders across the country. He is the developer and program facilitator for Mississippi Cyclocross Project, a youth cycling outreach program that collaborates with communities, parents, and other stakeholders to transform and empower youth. It provides free clinics and training sessions around September-December. Coach Ro has collaborated with Univision (Spanish TV Channel) with their morning show “Good Morning Austin” or “Despierta Austin” together they have established a weekly segment called “To Your Health” or “A Su Salud”.  He’s very blessed to have an awesome family that he enjoys spending time with them because they are A LOT of fun!

Tips for Working with Volunteers in Garden Programs
Jayla Fry

Texas Master Gardener Coordinator, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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.

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

Director of Garden Programs/JMG Coordinator, Harvest House Community
Learning Center

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 Dailey, 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.

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

CEA – 4-H & Youth Development Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Gregg County

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 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.