Recently, Braxton/Clay Master Gardeners were recognized for their volunteer service over the past year. The 17 Extension Master Gardeners provided 817 volunteer hours on 30 projects in Braxton and Clay counties. The total value of their volunteer service was $33,873.45. Some of the major projects of the group included: educational workshops; several beautification projects at local churches, community buildings and parks; work at the native plant garden at Sutton Dam; development of plant beds at Big Otter; and the Adopt-a-Spot cleanup at Duck.
Each year, Braxton/Clay Master Gardeners recognize the Outstanding Master Gardener of the Year. For 2022, the group selected Dawn Lucas for the honor. Dawn became a certified Extension Master Gardener in 2014 and has given over 475 volunteer hours to the program since then.
Dawn has been generous with her time, gardening skills and knowledge. She has conducted workshops at Master Gardener educational events, and hosted farm tours. She has grown vegetables with a community garden that she harvested, donated and delivered to senior citizens and families in need. Dawn has donated and packaged seeds for various Master Gardener projects and giveaways. She has been a grower for variety trials for WVU Extension. Most recently Dawn served as a mentor for a new high tunnel grower and has worked at the Braxton/Clay Master Gardener Adopt-a-Spot location at Duck.
The Braxton/Clay Master Gardeners area residents to join them in thanking Dawn for her outstanding contributions. “Congratulations to our 2022 Outstanding Master Gardener for Braxton and Clay counties, Dawn Lucas,” says a representative.