Master Gardener Orientation

“WHADDA YA KNOW?”

Eric StormerANR – Horticulture Extension AgentVirginia Cooperative Extension (VCE)

Senator Justin Morrill...• A. coined Virginia Tech’s

motto, ‘Ut Prosim’

• B. authored the land-grant college acts

• C. served as the first president of Virginia State University

• D. all of the above Sen. Justin Morrill

Senator Justin Morrill...• A. coined Virginia Tech’s

motto, ‘Ut Prosim’

• B. authored the land-grant college acts

• C. served as the first president of Virginia State University

• D. all of the above Sen. Justin Morrill

Morrill Land Grant Acts1862 -1890

Sen. Justin Morrill

Smith & Lever…• A. established the

firearms company now known as Smith and Wesson.

• B. were VT agriculture professors who started acompany known as Unilever.

• C. authored a federal law establishing a system of cooperative

extension services

Smith & Lever…• A. established the

firearms company now known as Smith and Wesson.

• B. were VT agriculture professors who started acompany known as Unilever.

• C. authored a federal law establishing a system of cooperative

extension services

Cooperative ExtensionSmith – Lever Act (1914)

Cooperative ExtensionSmith – Lever Act (1914)

Virginia Cooperative Extension is an educational outreach program of Virginia’s land-grant universities:

What is Agricultural Extension?

Extension is a pillar to community progress as a strategy of agricultural research and development. Agricultural research is an academic endeavor, unless it is informed by real problems on the ground and efforts are made to deliver solutions by appropriate forms of extension. Research institutions focus on technical aspects for generating technologies. Extension focuses on acceptance and adoption of those technologies by users.

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Organization/Program Disciplines

Programming Disciplines

The Extension Agent

• Arabic: Al-Ershad (“guidance”)• Dutch: Voorlichting (“lighting the path”)• German: Beratung (“advisory work”)• French: Vulgarisation (“popularization”)• Spanish: Capacitación (“training” "capacity building")• Thai, Lao: Song-Suem (“to promote”)• Persian: Tarvij & Gostaresh (“to promote and to extend”)

The term ”extension” was first used to describe adult education programs in England in the second half of the 19th century; these programs helped to expand - or extend - the work of universities beyond the campus and into the neighboring community. 

The Extension Agent

Extension Agent: A professional faculty member who holds the academic rank of lecturer.

Environmental Horticulture

Floriculture & Nursery

Turf

Landscape Management

Urban Horticulture/Home Gardening

Water Conservation

Sustainable Landscape Management

Habitat Conservation

Gardening

4-H Programming

Family Nutrition & Health

Partnerships

Partnerships

True or False• VCE-MGs exist to assist the local Agriculture & Natural

Resources (ANR) Horticulture Extension Agent.

One does not simply volunteer without knowing what they are volunteering for.

True• VCE-MGs exist to assist the local Agriculture & Natural

Resources (ANR) Horticulture Extension Agent.

One does not simply volunteer without knowing what they are volunteering for.

True or FalseEmployees work jobs.Volunteers work jobs.

Therefore, volunteers are employees.

TrueEmployees work jobs.Volunteers work jobs.

Therefore, volunteers are employees.

True or False• Anyone may apply to be a VCE-MG.

True• Anyone may apply to be a VCE-MG.

True or False• Anyone may become a VCE-MG.

False• Anyone may become a VCE-MG.

True or False• VCE manages its volunteer work force as unpaid staff.

True• VCE manages its volunteer work force as unpaid staff.

True or False

• Volunteering is a right.

False• Volunteering is a privilege.

True or False• Active certified Virginia Cooperative Extension Master

Gardeners (VCE-MGs) must belong to the local MG Association.

Norfolk Master GardenerAssociation

False• Active certified Virginia Cooperative Extension Master

Gardeners (VCE-MGs) must belong to the local MG Association.

Norfolk Master GardenerAssociation

True or False• VCE is an independent charity, accountable to no one.

Governance

Risk Management

Control

False• VCE is an independent charity, accountable to no one.

Governance

Risk Management

Control

True or False• VCE-MGs may represent themselves as such while

working for other interests.

False• VCE-MGs may represent themselves as such while

working for other interests.

Multiple Choice:• VCE-MG Training is:

• A. formal education• B. non-formal education• C. informal education• D. none of the above

Multiple Choice:• VCE-MG Training is:

• A. formal education• B. non-formal education• C. informal education• D. none of the above

VCE Programming Process

Extension Programming Process

True or False

Extension Master Gardener clientele consists of the general community.

True

Extension Master Gardener clientele consists of the general community.

True or False• Extension Master Gardeners are Virginia Cooperative

Extension clientele.

False• Extension Master Gardeners are Virginia Cooperative

Extension clientele.

True or FalseWhile at work for Virginia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners are provided liability insurance.

TrueWhile at work for Virginia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners are provided liability insurance.

Emergency Procedure

QUESTIONS?Eric Stormer, ANR – Horticulture Agenteric.stormer@vt.edu