Master Gardeners announce Yard & Garden Contest

The NMSU Valencia County Extension Master Gardeners and the Valencia County News-Bulletin are sponsoring a Yard and Garden Contest as a way to reward the efforts of local gardeners and to make the community more beautiful. The first contest will be Saturday, June 28.

Entries and nominations may be made of any yard or garden in Valencia County with the monthly winner receiving a $100 prize and showcased in the News-Bulletin.

The deadline for the first monthly contest is 12 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, and the winner will be announced in the July 3 News-Bulletin. There will also be a contest in July and one in August.

“We are happy to be joining with the News-Bulletin to feature some of the nicest yards or gardens in the county. This will be the third year we have had the contest,” said David Cooley, volunteer program coordinator of the Valencia County Extension Master Gardeners.

Nominations must include:

• The name and telephone number of the yard/garden owner;

• The address of where the yard/garden is located (all nominated yards/gardens must be in Valencia County);

• A brief statement of why the yard/garden deserves the award;

• Nominations are due 12 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, 1and must be submitted via e-mail to Cheri Montoya at montoyacheri@yahoo.com;

• Nominators may also submit up to two photos of the nominated yard/garden via e-mail.

If no photographs are submitted with the nomination, members of the Valencia County Extension Master Gardeners will photograph the winning yard/garden.

The Valencia County Extension Master Gardeners is a community service program of the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, which provides courses and information to help community members improve their gardening skills.