Marketing the University of Arizona through Master Gardeners

Jeff Schalau, Agent ANRMG Coordination MtgMaricopa Co. Ext. Off.April 23, 2015

Yavapai County Master Gardener Class, Prescott, 2001

Topics Covered in the Yavapai County Master Gardener Program by Week

1. Introduction and Basic Botany2. Climate and Soils I3. Soils II and Composting4. Water and Irrigation5. Deciduous Fruit Trees6. Vegetables and Annual

Flowers7. Entomology8. IPM and Pesticide Safety9. Selection, Planting, Staking,

and Pruning10. Weed Management11. Native Plants and Ecosystems

12. Landscape Plants13. Plant Diseases14. Wildlife Damage

Management15. Master Gardener Outreach

Training16. Final Exam Review

Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival, 2004

MG Public Outreach Training Initiated in 2013

• Many Yavapai County MGs staff tables at public events

• Speaker’s Bureau reaches between 600-800 people/yr through 25-35 presentations

• We also provide educational support for public gardens, museum campuses, and school gardens

• Two offices with fully staffed helplines• These venues require volunteers to understand

the mission of Cooperative Extension and how Master Gardeners support the mission

YC Organizational Chart

YCMG Organizational Chart

Mentoring Process• Each MG is matched with a mentor• The purpose is to assist Associate MGs to

become certified and feel supported• To become integrated into the YCMG

“community”

Outreach Training Topics Covered• Extension office locations, hours of operation,

and services/programs available• Cooperative Extension Horticulture Resources

(ACE Publications, Backyard Gardener, Yavapai County Notes, YCNNPD)

• Internal Master Gardener Resources available on our county website (time reporting, project procedures, etc.)

• We’ve had to do a lot of training since we started using the current website

Outreach Training Topics Covered• Branding and marketing guidelines• When a question needs to be referred to the Agent

– livestock, pasture, municipalities, herbicides, etc.• MGs do not usually make site visits• Not to use personal e-mail addresses and phone

numbers• How to check out supplies for talks, event tables,

printing guidelines, etc.• How to “function as part of the team”• Why their outreach efforts are important to

Cooperative Extension’s overall success

Information Table Setup• Have a theme• Brochures to market programs and services• MG Banner• Reference books• Wildflower seeds• Insect display boxes• Galls, worm cultures• Eye catchers

How to Best Represent Yourself• Do homework before the event – know

something about the event or group you are speaking to

• Be prepared (may stand for long periods, wear hat, sunscreen, bring water, etc.)

• Wear MG name tag (required) on your right side

• Show respect to visitors/audience members• Have official business cards for MGs to utilize

when conducting education and outreach

How to Engage the Public• Smile & be enthusiastic• Listen attentively• Use receptive body language• If giving a talk, make it interactive• Use direct eye contact – stand up to be at eye level• Start the conversation with a question (open-ended

questions are best) – and be interested in the answer• You don’t need to have all the answers, but offer to

find out or refer them to a good resource; don’t fake it

• Maintain a sense of humor and have fun

Things to Avoid• Comments or personal views

that could be interpreted as showing religious or political bias

• Chewing gum• Eating at an information table• Talking on a cell phone or texting• Engaging in conversation while

ignoring visitors/clients• Knitting, reading a novel, etc.• Being late for your talk or shift or

leaving early• Leaving the table unattended

Documenting Contacts• After a talk, report to Speakers’ Bureau Chair– Location of talk, subject, number of attendees,

sign-in sheet (optional)• Information tables– Tally number of interactions – leave tally sheets in

Travel Tote or give to Volunteer Coordinator• Report your hours– Prep/research time, travel time, and time at event

is Volunteer time

Behavioral Styles• Controller, Analyzer, Promoter, and Supporter

and what characterizes each• Learn your style and appreciating other

people’s styles in mentor-mentee relationships

• How to best utilize skills of others working in teams

• How to support and show appreciation among teams, projects, outreach efforts, etc.

Outreach Training Summary• Integrated Outreach Training into 16 week training

in 2013• This training helps MGs understand how the UA,

CALS, statewide Cooperative Extension, and individual county offices are related and integrated

• MGs also learn about the how their contact information, volunteer service, and outreach efforts are used to promote and support Cooperative Extension

• It has improved the quality of our interactions and outreach efforts