Alicia Herzog, master gardener coordinator in horticulture, is the recipient of the staff 2024 Early Achievement Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. The ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Program is one of the most impactful, popular and long-standing extension programs in the system. Over the years, it has trained a small army of horticulture volunteers who have gone on to provide great service to their respective communities. But when Herzog took over the program, she did so knowing that changes were needed to modernize and streamline operations. She set about making those changes on day one.
Herzog first embarked on a statewide tour of Extension county offices, getting to know the staff that make the Master Gardener Program work at the local level. She provides leadership, guidance and support from campus, but for the program to function properly, local leadership and cooperation is necessary. Herzog understands the importance of these relationships, and with her support, county staff have gained confidence in offering the Master Gardener Program locally.
Herzog has also updated the Master Gardener training program and provided opportunities for continuing education online. She has created and managed a social media presence for the program, and developed a web-based speaker series with an average attendance of 450 people. Herzog is also passionate about the program evolving to be more inclusive, accessible and current. She has secured funding for scholarships to help underserved audiences participate in training.
Two years after arriving and launching a substantial rebuild, Herzog has Iowa’s Master Gardener Program at the top of its game. “The program shows no signs of slowing down as the pipeline of willing, motivated and committed MG applicants seems unlimited,” states a colleague.