Wichita County Master Gardener intern applications due by Jan. 28
The Wichita County Master Gardener Program is requesting applications by Jan. 28, 2019, for the next intern class, which will run from March 5 to April 30 in Wichita Falls.
The training will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. Locations will include Rolling Meadows Retirement Community, 3006 McNiel Ave.; Smith’s Gardentown, 4940 Seymour Highway; Martin Luther King Center, 1100 Smith St.; or River Bend Nature Center, 2200 3rd St.
Applications can be obtained by calling 940-716-8610 or emailing [email protected]. They should be mailed to: Wichita County Master Gardeners, ATTN: Intern Class Coordinator, 600 Scott St., Suite 200, Wichita Falls, TX 76301.
All interns must pass a background check. The prerequisite for acceptance into the Master Gardener program is submission of an application and a $200 tuition fee—$100 deposit with the application and $100 at the first class.
With the limitation of 30 interns in this year’s class, applications should be completed as quickly and thoroughly as possible, said David Graf, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture and natural resources agent in Wichita County. He suggested a follow-up call to the office to be sure it was received.
Interns will receive a resource manual and are required to attend 50 hours of classroom instruction and to volunteer 50 hours of service the first year to earn the title of Master Gardener. That title may be used only by individuals trained and certified in the program.
The intent of the Master Gardener program offered through AgriLife Extension is to help train better gardeners, and in the process, Master Gardener volunteers, Graf said.
“Master Gardeners extend our ability to provide horticultural, gardening and small-scale food production information and participate in horticultural projects throughout the community,” he said.
In Wichita Falls, the program has sponsored various projects, such as the MG Farmer’s Market Presentations, Home and Garden Festival activities, Faith Refuge, Friendship Park Gardens at Burkburnett, JMG@Notre Dame Elementary and the Kelly House Museum.
For additional information, please contact Mary Rhoads at 940-704-5606 or Jean Payne at 940-691-9168, both with the Wichita County Master Gardener Program.
