VMGA entered into an agreement with Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension to endow the State Master Gardener Coordinator’s position and provide support for the EMG program in Virginia.  Through contributions made to The Virginia Tech Foundation, donors ensure that there will always be funding for the Extension Master Gardener program.  The funding can provide salary for a faculty-level position, salary for other staff, and any funds for other needed support to maintain or enhance EMG programs and services.

The Virginia Master Gardener Association (VMGA) is accepting nominations for the Diane Relf Extension Master Gardener College (EMGC) 2025 Scholarship. 

The Scholarship recognizes volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional potential in their local Units, and it is part of VMGA’s educational mission. It’s awarded to deserving Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) to help them in their continuing education efforts through attendance at EMGC and to increase the number of EMGs able to attend the conference. Any interested active EMG is eligible for nomination; financial need is not a required criterion. (Trainees, interns, and prior VMGA Scholarship recipients are not eligible.) This year’s Scholarships are intended to cover most of the costs to attend EMGC. 

Since the turn of the century, the VMGA Education Committee has focused on conducting advanced continuing education events around Virginia. By conducting events around the state each year, VMGA showed units how to effectively provide advanced continuing education. As of 2020, we have been so successful that local units provide sufficient, high quality, advanced continuing education accessible to every Extension Master Gardener.

To reinforce this success, VMGA plans to provide financial support to units conducting advanced continuing education for Extension Master Gardeners in their area. To apply for VMGA Education Sponsorship for your event, read the Cover Letter, fill out the Application and send it and any attachments to the Chair of the Education Committee at Education@VMGA.net.

We understand that each continuing education event is unique, so when communicating with us, focus on how your event will satisfy continuing education needs for the Master Gardeners in your area. Also, please validate that VMGA can use the event, like every other sponsor, to promote its benefits and the value of membership.