Master Gardener Program History

Agent/Faculty History. In 1986, Paul Rauen, a full-time Home Horticulture Agent, taught the first Master Gardener™ course in Yamhill County. He taught the course for the next several years, and then retired in 1989. From 1989 to 1991, half-time agent Dona Allison taught the course, organized the OSU Extension Master Gardener™ Program in the county, and published an occasional newsletter. From 1991 until 1998, Gail Gredler took over as agent for Home Horticulture, working part-time until she took a job as Education Director for The Oregon Garden in Silverton. From the time of her resignation until hiring of a new Horticulture Agent, trained OSU Master Gardeners™ Gail Larkin and Diane Lockwood filled the position temporarily. In September 2000, Linda McMahan became Faculty for Community Horticulture as well as Staff Chair for the county office, a post she still holds.

The Yamhill County Master Gardener™ Class of 1991 decided that it was time for Yamhill County Master Gardeners™ to form an official chapter of the Oregon Master Gardener™ Association (OMGA). An organizational meeting was held at the home of Cliff and Doris Thayer, and the Yamhill County Master Gardener™ Association (YCMGA) was born. Since then, the YCMGA has grown from a small membership to more than 110 members (Here's the YCMGA Website).