The History of Master Gardener

 

The Master Gardener program began in 1973, when two Washington State University Extension agents found themselves fielding more gardening questions than they could answer alone. Their solution was simple: train local volunteers in research‑based horticulture so they could help share that knowledge with their neighbors. It worked, and what began in the Pacific Northwest grew into a national program.

Kansas embraced the idea in 1980, when Johnson County Horticulture Agent Larry Stouse partnered with K-State horticulture specialists to develop a training program tailored to Kansas communities. That foundation holds strong today with active Extension Master Gardener programs across the state.