Parker County Master Gardener History
Neil Collins is the person to whom we owe our thanks for the Parker County Master Gardener Association being in existence today. In 2000, Neil discussed organizing the PCMGA with Jon Green, Parker County Extension Coordinator.
With a persistent attitude, Neil and others would be Parker County Master Gardeners convinced Mr. Green to allow the organization to form. Neil also checked with members of Tarrant County Master Gardener Association who lived in Parker County to see if there was interest in either being PCMG members or keeping a dual membership of the two chapters. Neil Collins and eleven others banded together to charter new Master Gardener chapter. These twelve original members are lovingly called “The Dirty Dozen”.
| The Dirty Dozen | |||
| Ann Anderson | Bill Newhart | ||
| Neil Collins | Alyce Preble | ||
| Marlene Deaton | Jo Ann Glenn | ||
| Jackie Hoover | Esther Proctor | ||
| Gay Larson | Jim Saunders | ||
| Debra Limbocker | LaDonna Stockstill | ||
Parker County Master Gardener History
With a persistent attitude, Neil and others would be Parker County Master Gardeners convinced Mr. Green to allow the organization to form. Neil also checked with members of Tarrant County Master Gardener Association who lived in Parker County to see if there was interest in either being PCMG members or keeping a dual membership of the two chapters. Neil Collins and eleven others banned together to charter new Master Gardener chapter. These twelve original members are lovingly called “The Dirty Dozen”.
| The Dirty Dozen | |||
| Ann Anderson | Bill Newhart | ||
| Neil Collins | Alyce Preble | ||
| Marlene Deaton | Jo Ann Glenn | ||
| Jackie Hoover | Esther Proctor | ||
| Gay Larson | Jim Saunders | ||
| Debra Limbocker | LaDonna Stockstill | ||
| Leadership Thorough The Years | ||||||
| Year | President |
Vice-President | Treasurer |
Secretary | Immediate Past President | Directors |
| 2000 | Neil Collins |
Jackie Hoover | Alyce Preble | |||
| 2001 | Neil Collins | Jackie Hoover | Alyce Preble | |||
| 2002 | Jim Saunders | Jackie Hoover | Bill Newhart |
Catherine Hill Debra Limbocker |
||
| 2003 | Jim Saunders | LaDonna Stockstill | Bill Newhart | Debra Limbocker | ||
| 2004 | LaDonnaStockstill |
Melanie Anderson | Sue Swanson | Kate Measure | ||
| 2005 | Homer Babbitt | Dianne Bleau | Iola Messinger | Gloria Young | La Donna Stockstill | |
| 2006 | Homer Babbitt | Jerry Parr | Iola Messinger | Judy Schmidt | La Donna Stockstill |
Grenetta Bledsoe,Lee Ann Nave, Susan Showalter, Carol Ann Stroud |
| 2007 | Kate Ebbs | Darlene Chapman | Dorothy Babbitt | Kathy Feagan | Homer Babbitt |
Grenetta Bledsoe,Karen Brown,Susan Showalter, Jean Lane |
| 2008 | Judy Schmidt | Karen Brown | Jerry Parr | Karen Floyd | Homer Babbitt | Melanie Anderson,Dianne Bleau,Jean Lane,Charlsie Colvin, Iola Messinger |
| 2009 | Kathy Feagan | LaDonna Stockstill | Jerry Parr | Teresa Blackburn | Judy Schmidt | Dianne Bleau,Linda Fewell, Karen Floyd, Iola Messinger |
| 2010 | Judy Schmidt | Cynthia White |
Helen Sisney Catherine Miller |
Charlsie Colvin | Kathy Feagan | Foster Clayton, Linda Fewell, Karen Floyd, Gloria Young |
| 2011 | Patti Lankford | Cynthia White | Catherine Miller | Karen Lail | Judy Schmidt | Foster Clayton, Becky Johnson, Iola Messinger, Gloria Young |
| 2012 | Karen Lail | Becky Johnson | Barbara Calderon | Deborah Corcoran | Patti Lankford | Jacque Brock, Linda Fewell, Dianne McMahan, Iola Messinger |
| 2013 | Karen Lail | Terri Stokes | Kimberly Dietz | Joan Lipscomb | Patti Lankford | Jacque Brock, Cheryl Cox, Cyndi Goodwin, Dianne McMahan |
| 2014 | Jerry Parr | Terri Stokes | Karen Lail | Iola Messinger | Karen Lail | Cheryl Cox, Cyndi Goodwin, Pat Posener, Sue Swanson |
| 2015 | Jerry Parr | David McClellan | Karen Lail | Liz Street | Karen Lail | Pat Posener, Sue Swanson, Lee Ann Nave, Iola Messinger |
Growth Throughout the Years
2000
The first year the association was formed the Master Gardeners donated funds to have an operation budget. Projects were started at Aledo, and Chandor Gardens. Master Gardeners would work the phones answering questions from the public concerning horticultural issues. Twelve active members got the organization off the ground.
2001
With Neil Collins president, by laws were written and and the first plant sale was held. We lost a few along the way and our numbers were down to 9 active members.
2002
With the numbers moving downward, president Neil Collins and Jon Green held the first Intern class with 26 signing up for training. A Speaker’s bureau was formed and programs were now going out to the public. The first scholarship were given out to individuals attending specialist training.
2003
Under Jim Saunders leadership a second Intern Class of 15 was held. Meeting were held one a month and things started to take off.
2004
LaDonna Stockwell was elected president. Our numbers were such that committees were formed. An association handbook was written. The website was established and an Advisory board established. Clark’s Garden was added as a project. In the spirit of giving back to the community a yearly collection was establish to donate gifts and essentials to the residents of Park View Apartments. A large intern class was held that year. Awards were giving out at the end of the year. Master Gardener of the Year was LaDonna Stockstill, Sprecial Merit to Neil Colins, Extra Mile Award went to Lee Ann Nave, and the first state award, a first place in ‘Botanical Guide for Chandor Gardens.
2005
Homer Babbit was voted president and new bylaws were written. With 27 active members, an executive board was established and new project at Springtown was set up. Willow Park was reestablished and The Real Dirt was published. An open house was held at the Extension office demonstration gardens. Plus, an intern class of 39 was held. The board voted to add Immediate Past President to board. Awards for the year were: Master Gardener of the Year: Kate Lake, Intern of the Year: Dorothy Babbitt & Leslie Grady, Extra Mile Award and Volunteer of the Year: Lee Ann Nave, Special Thanks Award: Jerry Parr, Special Merit Award: Gay Larson.
State Awards: 3rd place Project Award “Water-wise Demonstration Garden”, 1st place Publication Award “The Real Dirt”-a
Gardening Handbook for Parker County, 1st place “Successful Gardening in Parker County”
2006
Homer Babbitt remained on as president. A new project called the Literary Garden at the Weatherford Public Library was established. With our numbers at 59, another intern class was set up. An Intern Coordinator’s position was created to assist Jon Green and help with training. With a rain water tank installed for rain water harvesting classes on rain water collection were held. The board added four director positions to the board. Awards for the year: Master Gardener of the Year: Homer Babbitt. State Awards: 1st place Educational Program “Rainwater Harvesting Seminar”
2007
Kate Lake become our new president and the Administrative Procedural Manuel (APM) was written replacing the older documents. The National Vietnam War Museum became a new project. With 53 active master gardeners, a small class was held with 13 interns. Master Gardener of the Year: Linda Fewell and Intern of the Year: Ron Jackson. State Awards: 2nd place Graphic Award- “The Real Dirt” on Landscape Design
2008
President was Judy Schmidt. A Herbarium retreat was held and the Herbarium began.
Phone duty 3 days
First fall plant sale
First annual gardening calendar began
Master Gardener of the Year:
Judy Schmidt
State Awards:
2nd place Medium Association, 2nd place Project City of Azle Central Park, 2nd place Publication Award-Calendar
64 Active Master Gardeners