Norfolk Master Gardeners at the Virginia State Fair 2023

Monday, September 25 was a lovely day for the Norfolk Master Gardener contingent to staff the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners booth at the Virginia State Fair in Doswell, Virginia. The booth and activities were provided by and set up by the Hanover VCE Master Gardeners and the VMGA State Fair Committee. Master Gardeners from across the state participate on different days during the Fair.

Our Norfolk Master Gardener group was nine strong under the fearless well-organized leadership of Blanch Wise. Our team of NMGs included: Harriette Frost, Dan Haworth, Beatrice Hovey, Deborah McGowan, Vickie Reid, Monica Shephard, Laure Ferguson and me. We were assigned different tasks, one which included working in shifts with Jimmy Johnson, the State Fair Horticultural Tent Supervisor.

More than 550 visitors to the Fair stopped by to explore our creative interactive MG display in the horticultural tent. Young and old were intrigued with this year’s theme: Good bug or bad bug – how can you tell the difference? 

Folks discovered the characteristics that determine whether each is beneficial to our environment or harmful and needs to be contained. Interested visitors also were offered information on ways to create habitats supporting good bugs, which help pest control and pollinate our farms and gardens. 

The central feature of our booth was six flip-door activities, each representing one of the following six insects: three beneficial (wheel assassin bug, firefly, blue mud dauber) and three harmful (spongy moth, spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer).

Useful display materials, activities, teaching aids, and lesson plans were available with QR code downloads as well as handouts. Of course, many soil sample test kits were distributed. 

The State Fair has something for everyone with its usual food vendors, education and performing tents, colorful rides, horticultural contests, displays, activities, and the perennial favorite—pig races! And we are sure the contributions of VCE Master Gardeners from across the state benefit many!