WVEMGA Annual Conference
2026 Conference A Success!
The 31st Annual Conference of the WVEMGA wrapped up April 19, 2026 at the State Fair of West Virginia in Greenbrier County.
Saturday keynote speaker Heather Zindash, owner of The Soulful Gardener LLC and an expert in Integrated Pest Management, presented 'Creating a Backyard Oasis'. Sunday's keynoters, Rita Hennessey and Melinda Francis, both with long professional experience in promoting the use of local produce in school lunches, presented 'Connecting Our Farms to Schools in WV'.
Seventeen other presentations, some including hands-on workshops, focused on topics such as biochar, mushroom growing, native trees, soil texture, home food preservation, establishing a meadow and many more.
More than 60 registrants and guests enjoyed Friday tours highlighting historical Lewisburg, a local organization supporting environmental education and native plants, local karst and caverns, and a successful high-tunnel vegetable operation.
Plans for the 2027 Annual Conference are now underway, with a location and dates to be announced soon.
2026 Awards
Each year the WVEMGA and the WVU Extension Service present awards honoring individuals and groups for their exceptional contributions to the Extension Master Gardener Program. Awards for 2026 were:
Golden Trowel Award for Outstanding Extension Employee
- Emily Morrow, ANR Extension Agent, Jefferson County
State Master Gardener of the Year
- Elaine Austin, Fayette County Master Gardener
Honorary Extension Master Gardener
- Elaine Kapphan, Harrison County
Outstanding EMG Volunteer Projects
- Brooke County for Tri-State Master Gardeners Foraging Workshop
- Marion County for Barnes Learning Center Greenhouse and Heirloom Plant Sale
- New River for EMG Program at the Nicholas County Fair
Anniversary Years of Volunteer Service
- Eight Master Gardeners were honored for 25 years of service. They were:
- Ilene Davis of Brooke County
- Myra Simmons and Ted Jones of Putnam County
- Kaila St. Louis of Randolph-Tucker
- Tony Playtis, John Sheets and Linda Watkins of Wood County
- Ten Master Gardeners were honored for 20 years, fifteen for 15 years, fourteen for 10 years and nineteen for 5 years of service.
Congratulations!
Conference Sponsors
Sponsors help make the 2026 Conference a success. A big THANK YOU to all who contributed!
Sugar Maple Level $2,501 - $3,000
West Virginia Nursery and Landscaping Association
Golden Delicious Level $1,001 - $2,500
Rhododendron Level $501 - $1,000
Berkeley/Jefferson County Extension Master Gardeners
Riverbend Landscaping, LLC, Caldwell, WV
S.J. Neathawk Lumber Co., Inc., Lewisburg, WV
Honey Bee Level $201 - $500
Greenbrier Valley Extension Master Gardeners
Harrison Extension Master Gardeners
Kanawha Extension Master Gardeners
Monarch Butterfly Level $200 or Less
Jeff and Annie Jeffus
Marion County Extension Master Gardeners
New River Extension Master Gardeners