Marketing the University of Arizona through Master Gardeners Jeff Schalau, Agent ANR MG Coordination Mtg Maricopa Co. Ext. Off. April 23, 2015 Yavapai County Master Gardener Class, Prescott, 2001

Topics Covered in the Yavapai County Master Gardener Program by Week 1.Introduction and Basic Botany 2.Climate and Soils I 3.Soils II and Composting 4.Water and Irrigation 5.Deciduous Fruit Trees 6.Vegetables and Annual Flowers 7.Entomology 8.IPM and Pesticide Safety 9.Selection, Planting, Staking, and Pruning 10.Weed Management 11.Native Plants and Ecosystems 12.Landscape Plants 13.Plant Diseases 14.Wildlife Damage Management 15.Master Gardener Outreach Training 16.Final Exam Review Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival, 2004

MG Public Outreach Training Initiated in 2013 Many Yavapai County MGs staff tables at public events Speaker’s Bureau reaches between people/yr through presentations We also provide educational support for public gardens, museum campuses, and school gardens Two offices with fully staffed helplines These venues require volunteers to understand the mission of Cooperative Extension and how Master Gardeners support the mission

YC Organizational Chart

YCMG Organizational Chart

Mentoring Process Each MG is matched with a mentor The purpose is to assist Associate MGs to become certified and feel supported To become integrated into the YCMG “community”

Outreach Training Topics Covered Extension office locations, hours of operation, and services/programs available Cooperative Extension Horticulture Resources (ACE Publications, Backyard Gardener, Yavapai County Notes, YCNNPD) Internal Master Gardener Resources available on our county website (time reporting, project procedures, etc.) We’ve had to do a lot of training since we started using the current website

Outreach Training Topics Covered Branding and marketing guidelines When a question needs to be referred to the Agent – livestock, pasture, municipalities, herbicides, etc. MGs do not usually make site visits Not to use personal addresses and phone numbers How to check out supplies for talks, event tables, printing guidelines, etc. How to “function as part of the team” Why their outreach efforts are important to Cooperative Extension’s overall success

Information Table Setup Have a theme Brochures to market programs and services MG Banner Reference books Wildflower seeds Insect display boxes Galls, worm cultures Eye catchers

How to Best Represent Yourself Do homework before the event – know something about the event or group you are speaking to Be prepared (may stand for long periods, wear hat, sunscreen, bring water, etc.) Wear MG name tag (required) on your right side Show respect to visitors/audience members Have official business cards for MGs to utilize when conducting education and outreach

How to Engage the Public Smile & be enthusiastic Listen attentively Use receptive body language If giving a talk, make it interactive Use direct eye contact – stand up to be at eye level Start the conversation with a question (open-ended questions are best) – and be interested in the answer You don’t need to have all the answers, but offer to find out or refer them to a good resource; don’t fake it Maintain a sense of humor and have fun

Things to Avoid Comments or personal views that could be interpreted as showing religious or political bias Chewing gum Eating at an information table Talking on a cell phone or texting Engaging in conversation while ignoring visitors/clients Knitting, reading a novel, etc. Being late for your talk or shift or leaving early Leaving the table unattended

Documenting Contacts After a talk, report to Speakers’ Bureau Chair – Location of talk, subject, number of attendees, sign-in sheet (optional) Information tables – Tally number of interactions – leave tally sheets in Travel Tote or give to Volunteer Coordinator Report your hours – Prep/research time, travel time, and time at event is Volunteer time

Behavioral Styles Controller, Analyzer, Promoter, and Supporter and what characterizes each Learn your style and appreciating other people’s styles in mentor-mentee relationships How to best utilize skills of others working in teams How to support and show appreciation among teams, projects, outreach efforts, etc.

Outreach Training Summary Integrated Outreach Training into 16 week training in 2013 This training helps MGs understand how the UA, CALS, statewide Cooperative Extension, and individual county offices are related and integrated MGs also learn about the how their contact information, volunteer service, and outreach efforts are used to promote and support Cooperative Extension It has improved the quality of our interactions and outreach efforts