Honoring Excellence in Volunteer Education
The David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards celebrates the outstanding work of Extension Master Gardener volunteers across the globe. Named in honor of Dr. David Gibby-the visionary founder of the Master Gardener program, the award recognizes projects that exemplify innovation, education, and community impact. In 2025, three Pennsylvania Master Gardener programs earned this prestigious recognition during the International Master Gardener Conference. This demonstrates how volunteers foster horticultural knowledge and sustainability to inspire communities across the Commonwealth.
Westmoreland County Earns 1st Place in Demonstration Gardens
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County earned first place in the Demonstration Garden category for their innovative deer management project at the Donohoe Demonstration Gardens in Greensburg. Faced with increasing deer pressure in the Daylily Garden, volunteers implemented a low-cost solution using fishing line fencing. This simple yet effective strategy eliminated the need for deer sprays and protected over 100 cultivars of daylilies, allowing them to thrive and remain on full display for visitors.
Centre County Earns 2nd Place for Innovative Pollinator Education
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Centre County captivated audiences with "Pollinators! The Musical," an imaginative approach to pollinator education. Using humorous, scientifically accurate songs and dialogue, the production introduced critical concepts of pollinator behavior and life cycles in a way that was entertaining, memorable, and accessible to all learning styles.
Designed to appeal to all ages, the show has reached 2,758 audience members, from leading pollinator researchers, to local families and schoolchildren. By blending art and science, this innovative project inspires appreciation for pollinators and encourages communities to create pollinator-friendly spaces at home and in schools.
Westmoreland County Earns 2nd Place for Youth Education
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County received second place in the Youth Category for their outstanding Poison Prevention Program. In partnership with Penn State's Pesticide Education Program, volunteers delivered the "Mr. Yuk" Poison Prevention Program to 2,198 first-grade students and 150 adults across 123 classrooms in 37 schools, reaching a total of 6,286 people through engaging take-home materials and interactive activities.
By teaching poison safety and integrated pest management in a fun, age-appropriate way, this program equips children with essential knowledge to stay safe while fostering awareness of environmental health. The initiative exemplifies how Master Gardeners combine education and outreach to make a lasting impact on public health, as children under the age of six make up 40% of all cases reported to poison control centers.
Daylily Deer Fencing at the Donohoe Demonstration Gardens in Greensburg, PA led by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County.
A 30-minute puppet show featuring pollinator stories and songs developed by Centre County Master Gardeners.
Poison Prevention Program Formula for Success: How the Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, exceeded by far their previous records for teaching poison prevention to first-grade students in the county.
