Growing knowledge, community, and impact across Missouri.
DATE
October
2-3
2026
FORMAT
Statewide Virtual Conference with Local Watch Parties
HOSTED BY
Missouri Master Gardener Association, Inc. (MOMGA)
INCLUDES
5 Education Hours, National Speakers
Annual Meeting & Awards
Learn - Gather - Grow
The 2026 Missouri Master Gardener State Conference brings gardening enthusiasts together from across the state for
education, connection, and our annual meeting
and Excellence Awards presentation.
Conference Schedule
Join Master Gardeners from across Missouri for a unique hybrid conference experience - combining statewide virtual learning with local, in-person connections.
Participation Options
Friday, October 2, 2026
Join live virtual sessions from home
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Join a Local Watch Party
Gather with gardeners in your area for a shared viewing experience. Scroll down for specifics.
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Boonville
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Columbia
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Jackson
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Kansas City
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Macon
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St. Charles
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St. Joseph
- OR -
Attend from Home
Participate virtually in all streamed sessions.
KEY DETAILS
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October 2-3, 2026
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Hybrid virtual and in-person
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Full Conference access for just $45 per attendee
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Open to Master Gardeners and the public
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Questions? info@momga.org
Friday Evening - Virtual Learning
5:15 - 8:15 | Live via Zoom
5:30 PM - Welcome & Kick-off
5:45 PM - Gardening Myths
Robert Pavlis
This session explores common gardening myths, including tree planting practices, pesticides, sun tolerance in hostas, and weed barrier effectiveness. Practical examples and visuals help separate fact from fiction and support better gardening practices.
7:00 PM - Fun Facts About Plants
Robert Pavlis
A look at surprising plant behaviors and misconceptions, including soil pH, clematis flower structure, evergreen growth habits, and seed production in dandelions. This session highlights how plants really function in everyday landscapes.
8:00 PM - Saturday Preview & Closing
Saturday - Watch Parties Across Missouri
9:00 - 3:30 | Attend locally or from home
8:45 AM - Check In
9:00 AM - Local networking & Local Introductions
9:25 AM - Opening Remarks
9:30 AM - KEYNOTE ADDRESS - Trends in Horticulture
Anna C. Ball
This keynote explores emerging trends shaping the future of horticulture, including sustainability, plant production, and the role of plants in human environments.
11:00 AM - MOMGA Annual Meeting & Awards
An important opportunity for statewide connection, governance, and recognition of member contributions. Hear a statewide update from President, Charles Grimm, vote in Officer Elections, and celebrate annual awards recognizing outstanding service and achievement across the state.
NOON - Lunch Break
1:00 PM - 3-Step Recipe to a Garden Design that Works
Amy Fedele
A practical design framework for turning plant knowledge into cohesive, functional landscapes. Learn how to approach space, structure, and plant combinations like a designer.
2:15 PM - Composting 201
Stan Slaughter
A full-circle look at composting, from foundational concepts to soil biology and emerging innovations. This session connects composting practices to soil health and living systems.
3:15 PM - Closing
Fun & Fellowship at a Local Watch Party
​Experience the 2026 Missouri Master Gardener Conference with gardeners in your area. Enjoy all the benefits of the statewide conference while connecting with local Master Gardeners and gardening enthusiasts.
Your Watch Party registration includes:
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Admission to your selected Watch Party venue
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Live streaming of all conference educational sessions
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Access to the Missouri Master Gardener Association Annual Meeting & Awards Program
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Coffee and a light breakfast
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Snacks and refreshments
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Lunch
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Opportunities to network, share ideas, and learn with other gardeners
A Watch Party combines the convenience of a local gathering with the inspiration of a statewide conference. Come learn, gather, and grow with gardeners from across Missouri - right in your own community.
Meet our Watch Party Host Chapters
Boonslick Master Gardeners
Join the Boonslick Master Gardeners at the Cooper County Extension Office in Boonville to enjoy a day of learning and connection. While you're there, take time to explore the chapter's demonstration gardens.​
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The Boonslick Master Gardeners provide education, volunteer service, and outreach across Cooper County.
Throughout the year, members share their passion for gardening by teaching plant propagation to local 4-H youth, hosting a free Build Your Own Fairy Garden event for children, organizing an annual Plant Swap, presenting Gardening Quick Bites on local radio, and maintaining public gardens throughout the community.
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One of the chapter's signature programs is the Children's Learning Garden, where young gardeners learn to plant, cultivate, and harvest vegetables while exploring pollinators, composting, and other gardening topics through weekly hands-on activities. This year, the chapter expanded the program with a native pollinator garden that earned designation as a Monarch Waystation, creating valuable habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
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The chapter also maintains the demonstration gardens at the Cooper County Extension Office and the historic Calaboose Garden, providing beautiful examples of research-based gardening and sustainable landscape practices for the community to enjoy.
Join then in Boonville for a day of learning, conversation, and inspiration!
Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners
Join the Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners at the new Jefferson Farm and Garden Learning Center in Columbia for a day of learning, inspiration, and connection in the heart of Missouri.
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Completed in 2026, the Learning Center serves as the gateway to Jefferson Farm and Garden, one of Missouri's premier educational gardening destinations.
Enjoy outstanding conference programming in this state-of-the-art facility, then take time during breaks or after the conference to explore the demonstration gardens, educational displays, pollinator plantings, and scenic walking paths that make Jefferson Farm and Garden a place where gardening, agriculture, and conservation come together.
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The Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners are proud to welcome gardeners from across central Missouri, with neighboring chapters joining in the day's activities. Meet new gardening friends through fun networking activities, hear how local chapters are bringing the Master Gardener mission of Helping others learn to grow to life, and enjoy the warm hospitality that makes this region such a wonderful place to gather.
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As an added bonus, your visit coincides with Mizzou Homecoming. Columbia is proud to be the birthplace of Homecoming, a tradition that began at the University of Missouri in 1911. If time allows, enjoy the festive atmosphere around campus and admire the famous Homecoming House Decorations, one of Mizzou's most cherished traditions.
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Whether you're a longtime Master Gardener or simply enjoy learning about gardening, you'll find a warm welcome, plenty of inspiration, and new gardening friends waiting for you.
Macon-Shelby Master Gardeners
Grab your garden hat and join the Macon-Shelby Master Gardeners for a day of learning, laughter, and gardening fun! Dress comfortably and bring your curiosity. Master Gardeners are invited to share their favorite projects and accomplishments, while all gardeners are welcome to join the conversation and learn from one another. We’ll celebrate our Master Gardener emeriti and trainees with plenty of appreciation and loud applause!
​Enjoy a special Koch's box lunch, a local favorite and one more way the Macon-Shelby Master Gardeners are adding a little hometown hospitality to your conference experience.
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Expect warm welcomes, new connections, and a day surrounded by people who love gardening as much as you do. ​Every gardener is invited!​
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Make it a day in Macon! Known as the "City of Maples," with over 270,000 maple trees, Macon offers small-town charm with unique shops, local history, and beautiful outdoor spaces. After the conference, enjoy a drive through Long Branch State Park, browse antiques, stop by Ben Franklin for fabrics and gifts, or treat yourself to a world-class dinner at AJ's - famous for its onion rings.
Celebrating 26 years as a chapter, the Macon-Shelby Master Gardeners are a welcoming group of gardeners who believe the best things grow when people grow together. They love sharing plants, stories, ideas, and plenty of encouragement with gardeners of all experience levels.
​The Macon-Shelby Master Gardeners make a difference throughout their community, from the beautiful Mela Linn Healing Gardens at Samaritan Hospital to gardens at Macon Post Office and other local spaces.
Master Gardeners of Cape Girardeau County
Join the Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners in Jackson for a day of learning, inspiration, and gardening in the heart of southeast Missouri. Hosted at the University of Missouri Extension Center, the Cape Girardeau Watch Party combines outstanding conference programming with the opportunity to experience one of the chapter's signature projects.
During breaks or before heading home, take a self-guided stroll through the All-America Selections Demonstration Garden, located just outside the Extension Center. Featuring award-winning flowers and vegetables selected for exceptional garden performance, it's the perfect place to discover new plants and gather ideas for your own landscape.
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The Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners are passionate about making gardening accessible to everyone. Through demonstration gardens, seed libraries, gardening seminars, public plant clinics, and community gardens, they share research-based horticultural knowledge that helps gardeners of all experience levels grow with confidence.
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While you're in Jackson, enjoy the authentic charm of this southeast Missouri community, or take the short drive to historic Cape Girardeau and the Mississippi River. Whether you're exploring the area or simply enjoying a day of learning with other gardening enthusiasts, you'll experience the hospitality that makes this corner of Missouri feel like home.
Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City
Make it a Garden Getaway! Join us in Kansas City for the Missouri Master Gardener Conference at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Extend your visit with a self-guided stroll through the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden and the native gardens at the Discovery Center. It's the perfect blend of education, inspiration, and Kansas City hospitality.​​
You'll spend the day:
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Learning with gardening enthusiasts from across the area
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Connecting with one of Missouri's largest and most active Master Gardener chapters
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Swapping ideas with volunteers who answer hundreds of gardening questions through their Garden Hotline each year
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Discovering how Kansas City gardeners are helping others learn to grow
​Come for the conference. Stay for the gardens!
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Since 1987, the Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City have been helping our communities grow through education, service, and a shared love of gardening. Today, more than 270 active volunteers make a remarkable impact across Jackson County - answering gardening questions, maintaining demonstration gardens, supporting community gardens, teaching educational programs, and donating thousands of pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries.​
Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners
Join the Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners at the beautiful Remington Nature Center, overlooking the Missouri River in historic St. Joseph, for a day of learning, inspiration, and connection with area gardeners.
Make a day of your visit to St. Joseph with a self-guided tour of the Remington Nature Center, a stroll along the Missouri River trails, or time exploring historic downtown, museums, parks, restaurants, and more.
Come spend the day with the Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners - we're excited to welcome you!
​We grow plants. We grow gardeners. We grow a community of gardeners.
​We are a group of passionate gardeners who will never have clean fingernails
or a lack of enablers at a nursery or plant sale!
​If it has roots, we plant it. We grow it. We harvest it.
We make it into pretty arrangements. We make it into tasty dishes.​​
The Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners have grown from a small group of gardeners into a thriving chapter of nearly 50 members who love sharing their passion for plants, education, and community.
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​​From their annual plant sale featuring heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and milkweed to maintaining public gardens like the Purpose Garden, this creative and welcoming group is always finding new ways to help gardens - and gardeners - grow.
St. Charles Master Gardeners
Join the St. Charles Master Gardeners at the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center in St. Charles for a day of learning, connection, and gardening inspiration.
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Enjoy conference sessions, meet area gardeners, and experience the warm hospitality of the St. Charles Master Gardeners. After the conference, take time for a free self-guided tour of the Native Gardens at the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center where you'll discover native plants, sustainable gardening ideas, and inspiration for your own landscape.
What started 26 years ago with a vision for a small perennial flagpole garden has grown into one of Missouri's largest Master Gardener chapters. Today, St. Charles Master Gardeners share their passion through demonstration gardens, public education programs, a hands-on Pantry Garden, and community outreach throughout the region.
Their gardens do more than inspire - they make an impact. Each year, members grow and donate more than 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to a local food pantry while helping gardeners of all experience levels learn and grow.
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Come see how the St. Charles Master Gardeners have grown a garden - and a community - from one small idea.
Meet our Speakers
Anna C. Ball
Anna Caroline Ball is Chairman and CEO of the 120-year-old Ball Horticultural Company, which specializes in all aspects of horticulture, including breeding, biotechnology, production, and marketing of hybrid flower seeds and other floriculture
crops. Privately-held and now in its fourth generation of family management, Ball Horticultural Company operates in over 20 countries worldwide.
Anna received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and her M.B.A. from Northwestern University. She is a Trustee of The Morton Arboretum and head of the G. Carl Ball Family Foundation. She is the Chairman of Career Vision, an organization focused on the discovery and development of human potential through the development and delivery of aptitude testing and career exploration. Anna lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Amy Fedele
Amy Fedele is the founder of Pretty Purple Door and a garden designer who has been helping home gardeners create landscapes that are “uniquely you” since 2014. She holds a diploma in Garden Design and Maintenance and has worked as a professional graphic designer since 2005. Amy blends color, composition and practical design principles into a simple framework that makes garden design feel approachable and fun.
She specializes in four-season landscapes that reflect a homeowner’s personality, lifestyle, and maintenance comfort level.
Based in Northeast Pennsylvania (USDA Zone 7A), Amy teaches online garden design courses and has helped over 2,000 students learn to design with confidence. She creates easy-to-follow resources that help gardeners stop guessing and start designing with confidence. Her mission is to make garden design simpler, more personal, and more enjoyable.
Robert Pavlis
Robert Pavlis is a well-known speaker, educator, and gardening myth-buster with over 40 years of experience. He is an award-winning author of several books, including Soil Science for Gardeners, Compost Science for Gardeners, Plant Science for Gardeners, Microbe Science for Gardeners, Food Science for Gardeners, Building Natural Ponds, and Garden Myths.
He also publishes the popular gardening blog GardenMyths.com and hosts the Garden Fundamentals YouTube channel, where he shares science-based, practical gardening advice.
With a background in chemistry and biochemistry, Robert focuses on helping gardeners understand the “why” behind what they do. He is the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden featuring more than 3,000 varieties of plants, and encourages gardeners to keep things simple, learn from nature, and enjoy the process.
Stan Slaughter
Stan Slaughter has been teaching composting nationally and internationally since 1991. From compost toilets, to worm bins to tons of food waste, Stan has been there, done that. From a long list of statewide and National honors for his work to the 27 states and 5,100 schools he’s visited, Stan sings, teaches and lives compost. His workshops have been appreciated by audiences from schools to Master Gardeners to HRH Prince Charles.
Our Sponsor
Family owned and operated garden center and nursery located in Moberly, Missouri. Providing a convenient one-stop shop for all your gardening needs. Visit them at rittersllc.com
