Hill Country Master Gardener Anne Brown was recently recognized with the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award, under the authorization of President Biden and carrying his signature, is presented to volunteers contributing over 4000 certified hours to their local communities.
Brown received her award on Dec. 6 at the HCMG’s Annual Holiday Luncheon from Mike Morris, Kerr County AgriLife Extension Agent “Anne, who joined Master Gardeners in 2005, has many more than 4000 volunteer hours to her credit,” explained Jackie Connelly, HCMG’s Presidential Volunteer Service Awards Administrator. “However, it wasn’t until 2015 that a standardized procedure for certifying hours was established, and so her many volunteer hours during her first ten years as a Master Gardener did not count towards this honor. She is the first person in the Hill Country Master Gardeners chapter of Texas Master Gardeners to receive this honor.”
Brown is very active in the Hill Country Master Gardeners. “Besides serving as president of the group for three terms, she currently orchestrates the purchase and care of plants for the annual Blooms and Barrels Sale each spring,” said HCMG President Dave Kinneberg. “In addition, she speaks to garden clubs and homeowner associations on fire-wise landscaping and oak wilt disease, makes home visits to assist residents with horticultural problems and manages the Research Desk, a resource for providing answers to residents on horticultural problems. She is also an expert on rainwater collection and oversees the sale of rain barrels to benefit the Hill Country Master Gardener scholarship fund.”
Brown received her award before a cheerful crowd of fellow volunteers who gave her a standing ovation.
The mission of the Hill Country Master Gardeners is to assist the AgriLife Extension service by providing research-based information and education to the community.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, visit their website at www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org or call 830-257-6568.
