The Master Gardener Program was developed in 1972 and is in almost all 50 states, District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces.  It's purpose is to train interested individuals to help the Cooperative Extension Service in the area of horticulture.  A large network of MSU Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences supports the Master Gardeners in the areas of horticulture, agronomy, entomology, pesticides and plant pathology.  Extension staff initiate, plan, and carry out the programs in partnerships with volunteers who relate to Extension as individual volunteers.

The Montana Master Gardener program consists of a minimum of 15 hour classroom instruction.  It includes botany, soils, fertilizers, turfgrass, woody plants, water, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, plant pathology, entomology, pesticides, and composting. After completing the program, people are asked to volunteer a pre-determined number of hours on a wide variety of activities.  Follow-up training sessions, seminars, workshops and tours, are offered regularly to Master Gardeners.

Master Gardeners may:

• Assist County Extension Office Staff
  
• Answer gardening questions
  
• Conduct school gardening programs
  
• Coordinate Master Gardener  programs
  
• Create and Maintain demonstration gardens
  
• Present lectures tours or  demonstrations
  
• Produce a newsletter
  
• Work on special events