In addition to growing vegetables and other plants, Fort Bend County Master Gardeners encourage young men and women participating in Scouting to develop their skills in gardening-related programs and activities.
For their efforts, the Texas Master Gardeners of Fort Bend County, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the nonprofit Youth Activities Committee (YAC) recently received a certificate of appreciation from the Coastal Plain District of the Sam Houston Area Council for their “continued support of Scouting.”
“We present awards to community organizations and individuals who have collaborated and supported our programs,” said Dr. Greg Stevens, chairman of the Coastal Plains District Development and Awards Committee.
Stevens said the award recognizes Master Gardener Everett Blanton and three other Master Gardeners who have worked with Eagle Scout Projects to support the district's Eagle Scout program, in this case Boy Scout Christian Mayorga, who created a “Little Free Library,” one of three libraries Christian created for the project.
“We are very pleased that as of August 2023, a wonderful Little Free Library will be built in the Demonstration Garden,” said Blanton, citing the project as an example of FBMG's Boy Scout work. “This was a project FBMG wanted to create as a way to memorialize our members,” he said. The association accepted Christian's design and plans.
For the second year in a row, Christian’s family and Stevens nominated FBMG and YAC for the certificate award.
“We wanted to express our gratitude to the Master Gardeners who sponsored the Merit Badge class,” Stevens said, adding that the district stretches from Sugar Land to the Gulf Coast. “The Certificate of Appreciation is the highest honor the district can bestow upon those who unselfishly serve Scouts when they are not a Scout. We look forward to continuing the relationship.”
And based on Master Gardener comments, that relationship is likely to continue.
“Throughout all of our start-up efforts, we have had the help and support of a fantastic organizational partner and scout, Dr. Greg Stevens,” Blanton said.
Donna Blackburn, director of youth activities, said scouting is one of many activities the YAC is involved in. A subcommittee works with the Boy Scouts and another works with the Girl Scouts. “They both actively provide opportunities for scouts to earn merit badges,” she said. “We work closely with our parent organizations to make sure all the requirements are met so scouts can earn merit badges.”
Only 4 percent of all Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Blackburn said the Boy Scout YAC team is made up of four master gardeners who have met the requirements to become Boy Scout leaders. Blanton said the YAC began with Ed Plant, Murugalakshmi Tirumalia, Clarence Gray and himself in leadership roles.
“We plan, implement and follow up on badge requirements to ensure all Boy Scouts have the opportunity to earn a badge. To date, we have focused on the Horticulture Merit Badge,” Blackburn said.
Typically, the Boy Scouts meet for an entire day on a Saturday to complete many of the initial requirements, she said. So far, the day has been held once a year, but there are plans to expand the program to allow Boy Scouts to earn other gardening-related badges.
“Our YAC Boy Scout team spends a lot of time planning the Boy Scout Gardening Merit Badge,” Blackburn said. “They are committed to providing this opportunity for our scouts, and the honor and recognition they receive is well-deserved,” she added.
“In 2022 and 2023, with the support of the FBMG Greenhouse Team, FBMG Entomology Team, YAC volunteers and Boone Holladay, FBC County Extension Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the YAC Boy Scout team was able to provide the Gardening Merit Badge Program to over 25 scouts,” Blanton said.
