Extension Master Gardeners

Extension Master Gardener (EMG) is an educational volunteer program sponsored by K-State Research and Extension.

EMGs come from all walks of life but their common bond is a love of gardening and sharing information throughout the community. EMGs receive a basic training in the disciplines of horticulture. They then volunteer in projects to help Extension promote its educational mission.

Educational Projects include:

Mission Statement
Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners volunteer to preserve and beautify the environment and improve the quality of life in the community by providing current research-based horticultural information to the public. EMGs promote horticultural practices, sustainability, and environmental initiatives supported by K-State Research and Extension. The organization embodies the horticultural education objectives of the Johnson County Extension Council cooperating with Kansas State University and the United States Department of Agriculture.

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Learn more about the International Master Gardener Conference in 2023.

Learn more about our Public Events and purchase tickets here.

2022 Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Annual Statistics

Total on Roster: 515
Volunteers submitting Hours: 437
Total Number of Hours: 53,204
Average per EMG: 121
FTE (Full Time Employees) equivalent: 25.3
Value of volunteer time @$29.95/hour = 1,593,459.00 (2022 Independent Sector)

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Donations

Total Amount of fresh vegetables and fruit DONATED 4746.3 lbs to local food pantries.

Backyard Garden donated 3,465 lbs, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead donated 985 lbs, Shawnee Indian Mission donated 200 lbs and West Flanders donated 96.3 lbs of fresh vegetables and fruits to local food pantries.

Contacts: EMG contacts with the public

Community Outreach: 1,200 (estimated)
EMG Contacts: 14,327 self-reported from website
Hotline: 4,465 contacts
JMG Program School: 127 students (5 schools, plus Girl Scout project)
Speakers Bureau: 40 presentations reaching 644 attendees; with $1,070.00 honorariums received for presentations
Wildlife Habitat Committee: 1500 (estimated)
Total contacts = 22,263

2021 Extension Master Gardner Annual Statistics

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG)

Total on Roster: 492
Volunteers submitting Hours: 412
Total Number of Hours: 46,107
Average per EMG: 112
FTE (Full Time Employees) equivalent: 22.10
Value of volunteer time @$28.54/hour = $1,315,894

Vegetables Donated

5040 pounds of fresh produce = 15,120 servings of fresh fruits and vegetable from demonstration gardens to those in need (1 pound = 3 servings). Deanna Rose1129 lbs, Shawnee Indian Mission (SIM): 710 lbs and Backyard Garden (BYG): 3201 lbs
Food Pantries Receiving Food Donations
- Catholic Charities
- Free Hot Soup
- Mission Southside, Olathe
- New Hope Presbyterian Church
- Overland Park Christian Church
- Roeland Park Methodist Church
- Village Presbyterian Food Pantry

Contacts: EMG contacts with the public

Community Outreach: Committee Not active due to Covid
EMG Contacts: 20,733 self-reported from website
Hotline: 4,300 contacts
Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program School: 42 youth, 3 of the 5 programs not active due to COVID
Speakers Bureau: 41presentations reaching 1,514 attendees in the community with $755 honorariums.
Wildlife Habitat Committee: 1200
Total contacts = 26,275