Master Gardeners to hold State Conference

The Missouri Master Gardeners invite all members and gardening enthusiasts to the 2026 Missouri Master Gardener State Conference, to be held in Springfield on June 4 through 7 at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center. 

The conference is open to the public; certification as a Master Gardener is not required in order to attend. With the theme “Seeds to Table,” there will be many events to choose from: 

• Full-day private garden tours; 

• A field trip to Baker Creek seed packing facility near Mansfield; 

• A guided trip to the Ozarks Food Harvest Full Circle Gardens; 

• Tours of Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens and city parks. 

Keynote speaker is Mitch McCulloch, a London-born former chef turned gardener, author and “seed hunter.” Dedicated to preserving rare and endangered heirloom vegetables, he is widely recognized for his work in regenerative agriculture and his efforts to protect global food biodiversity. His latest book, “The Seed Hunter,” will be available for purchase and signing before and after the keynote address.  

Breakout sessions will include vegetable gardening, herb gardening, pollinators and native plants, nature-scaping, home landscapes and more. And of course, the conference is a wonderful time of networking and sharing ideas with Master Gardeners statewide. 

The hotel and conference center are conveniently connected, and shuttle service will be provided to all off-site tours and classes. 

Check out the Master Gardeners of Greene County page on Facebook for more details and updates. Registration is now open at https://pears.io/events/mu/5436/, and hotel reservations may be made at https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/KO04S9.