Receive Project Recognition with the 2020 Search for Excellence

Looking to showcase the amazing projects happening in your county? The Search for Excellence (SFE) competition guidelines for the 2020 UC Master Gardener Conference are now available. Application submission will begin on January 7, 2020 and close on April 28, 2020. The conference is scheduled for September 28- October 2, 2020 at Granlibakken Tahoe.

UC Master Gardener volunteers, program coordinators and advisors from around the state are invited to start planning to submit their innovative educational and outreach projects now. The Search for Excellence guidelines and submission guide are available online to help with the planning stages.

Photo/ Los Angeles County

Search for Excellence Recognition and Prizes

The top three winning submissions are individually recognized and celebrated at the conference during the awards banquet dinner. Winners are given the opportunity to present their project to fellow UC Master Gardener volunteers from across the state during the Search for Excellence Session at the 2020 Conference. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three highest-scoring entries among seven counties.

1^st place = $1500 GRAND PRIZE
2^nd place = $1000
3^rd place = $500

Search for Excellence Categories

Search for Excellence gives county programs the opportunity to share successful and innovative projects in the following seven categories:

Community service
Demonstration garden
Innovative project
Research (applied scientific methodology)
Special needs audience
Workshop or presentation
Youth program

Outreach and making an impact in local communities should be the focus of the entries, which will be judged by a team of gardening and horticultural experts selected from throughout the state. Projects eligible for consideration must take place in California, be connected to the UC Master Gardener Program and have been completed between 2017-2019.

All applicants, regardless of award status, are strongly encouraged to submit a poster for display at the conference as an opportunity to share their ideas with other county programs. Winners to be announced July 2020.

For questions about submitting a project, contact your local program coordinator or advisor to discuss and get approval. Additional information and forms can be found on the conference website under the Search for Excellence tab, ucanr.edu/sites/2020MGConference/Activities/Search_for_Excellence/

We look forward to learning about the creative and impactful projects from counties big and small!

Important Dates