Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association
WIMGA Vision -
The Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association (WIMGA) will be the collective voice for local Master Gardener Associations and individual members in active support for their horticultural projects and services; build networks to enhance outreach, share ideas and promote projects; and help extend University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture, Division of Extension Master Gardener Program's educational role to the public. WIMGA is the collective voice of 2,000 volunteers and 44 local associations and the conduit for statewide networking among MGVs.
September 2023 WIMGA Newsletter
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Check out Local Events for 2023
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2023 PDDC Plant Disease Talks
Join Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison Plant Pathology
for monthly plant disease topics
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WIMGA Background
WIMGA was formed in 1992 by MGVs from around the state after a statewide meeting in Stevens Point.
The original Extension Master Gardeners Volunteers (MGV) Program was created in Washington State as a way to help Extension handle horticultural questions from the public. In exchange for educational training by Extension, MGVs returned volunteer hours to Extension for horticultural outreach.
Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties started their associations in 1977 (Southeast Wisconsin). Brown County began in 1979 (Northeast Wisconsin), Dane County (Madison Area) in 1981, the Fox Valley Area in 1986 and Portage Co. in 1990. Other areas around the state have continued to develop their own associatioins.
In July 1999 a new position of Master Gardeners Program Coordinator was established by UW-Extension with encouragement from WIMGA to address growing needs throughout the state. Susan Mahr was selected to work with the Program and coordinate closely with WIMGA.
In October 2002 the Board was restructured because it was too large to operate efficiently with a representative from each local association. The state was divided into six districts, conforming to existing UW-Extension districts, with two District Directors from each district and three At-Large Director positions providing representation for all MGVs. One representative from each local association receives information from the Board to relay to their local association and vice versa. They and Board members participate on various standing committees.
While many local MG associations belong to WIMGA there are also active MGVs who are individual members of WIMGA but do not yet have a local association. Some active MGV groups and individuals in WI are not yet members of WIMGA.