Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program

BECOME AN EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER in Whitley county

These are the steps to follow to become an Extension Master Gardener in Whitley County. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the Whitley County Extension Office at 260-244-7615, or email John Woodmansee, Whitley County Master Gardener Coordinator, at jwoodman@purdue.edu. Note that our Basic Training course is done in conjunction with Purdue Extension in Noble County in the fall each year. Click here for a general informational brochure on the Master Gardener Basic Training program and becoming an Extension Master Gardener. Price is subject to change.

Upcoming Classes

In-Person

The upcoming in-person class will take place on Monday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. during fall 2025. The first session is on September 8 (the Monday after Labor Day) and runs through December 15. This training is offered by Purdue Extension in Noble and Whitley Counties. The first half of the classes will be in Albion, and the second half will be in Columbia City. The fee is $175 per person, or $270 for a couple in the same household sharing one manual. Flyer

Virtual

The next online class offering will tentatively be February - May 2026. The offering will be a mix of weekly online classes (viewed from your home computer) and weekly or bi-weekly "local connection" meetings. Check back for developing details.

Steps to become an Extension Master Gardener

STEP 1: If you are interested in the class, please let us know! Call the number above or email John Woodmansee. We're always glad to discuss what the class will entail and what it means to be an Extension Master Gardener. If you call before class details are finalized, we'll add you to our list of prospective students and contact you directly with details, normally in early summer.

STEP 2: Access and read a copy of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program Policy Guide and preliminary schedule, if available.

STEP 3: Complete the Volunteer Application and Agreement Form and return it to the Extension office at 524 Branch Court, Columbia City, IN. Doing this in person is best because we need to verify your ID (look at your driver's license) before the application can be approved. It's simplest to do this when the application is submitted. Be alert for submittal deadlines for the class you are hoping to attend.

>IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE FALL IN-PERSON CLASS AND VOLUNTEER IN WHITLEY COUNTY AFTER YOU BECOME A MASTER GARDENER, please consider applying for a scholarship sponsored by Whitley County Master Gardeners Association. Details will be released before the Fall 2025 class.

STEP 4: After your application is approved, you will be sent a link to enroll in the local Master Gardener Basic Training class and make payment through a secure system called cvent. The enrollment deadline for the in-person class is normally in late August. If you are a scholarship recipient, you will receive separate instructions on receiving your scholarship.

STEP 5: Participate in the 15-week class (the class may be slightly more or fewer weeks in length, depending on the year), and pass the final exam with at least a 70% score. Our basic training in-person class (for Whitley and Noble Counties) is a 3-hour class once per week. Upon passing the final exam, you become an Extension Master Gardener Intern.

STEP 6: Give back to your community by volunteering at least 40 hours within the first two years to become a certified Extension Master Gardener. The local Whitley County Master Gardeners Association has many ways you can plug in and serve.

With continued volunteering, advanced Extension Master Gardener levels are available, each with a new engraved name badge and certificate awarded at a public recognition event in November. 

Come join us. We want YOU!

RELATED FILES ON UPCOMING basic training CLASSes

Preliminary 2025 class plans:

• In-person

  Noble and Whitley Counties: Monday nights, 6-9 p.m., Sept. 8 - Dec. 15, 2025

• Virtual:

  See full info at the state website - https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/master-gardener/events/2025-statewide-virtual-purdue-emg-basic-training/  

Deadlines:

• Aug. 25, 2025: Deadline for submission of application for the local in-person class
• Sept. 1, 2025: Payment deadline for state-wide virtual class (through our system called "cvent")

Files:

General Program Brochure (prices subject to change)

Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program Policy Guide

Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Application and Agreement Form

Whitley County Master Gardener Scholarship Application

2025 Preliminary Schedule

2025 Master Gardener Basic Training Flyer (Noble and Whitley County in-person training)