June 1, 2021
Master Gardeners virtual auction offers gardening supplies and more
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- 200+ items up for grabs in Master Gardeners online auction
- Auction open June 4-11; no charge to participate
- Access auction athttps://county76auction.uada.edu
- Proceeds benefit Master Gardener programs
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LITTLE ROCK — You don’t need a green thumb to attend the Arkansas Master Gardeners auction this year. It’s online, open to all, and free to attend.
The online auction will be open June 4-11 with more than 200 items available at https://county76auction.uada.edu.
Gardeners of all abilities will find plenty of items, from tools and seed to rain barrels and garden gnomes. Ferns, hanging baskets, succulents and more will be available as well.
Plenty of items for non-gardeners are also available, including spa services, salon hair products, James Hayes glass art, autographed books, tickets to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and homemade goat soap. A few edibles‚ such as honey, jams, jellies and fresh eggs will also be available.
The auction coincides with the Master Gardeners annual conference, which will be virtual this year. The online auction is open to the public at no charge. Auction items can be viewed in advance, but bids will not be accepted until the auction opens at noon on June 4.
Bidders must register and provide a credit card for purchases. Purchases will be by credit card only. Winning bidders’ credit cards will be charged when the auction ends at noon on June 11.
Winners will pick up items at designated locations and times:
- Little Rock: June 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Jonesboro: June 12, 1 – 3 p.m.
- Fayetteville: June 16, 3 – 7 p.m.
County 76 Master Gardeners, the statewide advisory group for the Arkansas Master Gardener program, organizes the auction each year.
“The online auction is a new venture for County 76,” said Linda Soffer, auction co-chair and a member of Jefferson County Master Gardeners. “Due to the pandemic and not being able to meet in person, we missed several opportunities where we would typically have had a silent auction to raise funds to support our programs.”
Proceeds support the Janet B. Carson County Scholarship Fund, which awards funds to counties for innovative and educational projects, and provides scholarships to college-bound high school students. Proceeds also help offset the cost of the Master Gardeners annual leadership conference.
More than 3,100 volunteers are active in Arkansas Master Gardeners. The program is administered by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Their mission is to extend research-based information through demonstration and educational programs to strengthen local communities and families throughout Arkansas.
To learn more about Master Gardeners in Arkansas, visit https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/master-gardeners/ or contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu