When I retired as a school principal after 45 years of working with children, the first thing I did was enroll in Master Gardener class. I expected to learn a lot, and I did. Will Afton, our county agent who teaches the class, is an outstanding teacher and a great guy. What I didn't expect to find was the amazing friendships that I made along the way. Our Master Gardener organization is a class act. With over 25 community projects, we make a huge difference in the parish we live and garden in. Our meetings, events and field trips expose us to a vast world of all types of gardening. The Vegucators group is like one big family sharing gardening ideas and collecting data on what works and does not work well in our climate. The scholarships we provide to local students help them move toward a degree in gardening-related areas. My experience serving on our board for several years showed me the dedication and integrity of the leaders of the organization. Leading our gardening project at the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center has made a huge difference in my life, and I suspect we have made a huge difference in the lives of our students there.

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Melanie Edwards

STMGA Class of 2018