BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension will celebrate gardens of all kinds with its inaugural South Dakota’s Greatest Gardens contest.
This new contest is for adults age 18 and up and is free to enter. There are four categories: vegetable/edible garden, pollinator/native garden, container garden and patriotic garden. Participants can enter multiple categories, but only once per category. Entrants cannot be commercial businesses or anyone who sells produce or flowers.
To enter, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and submit photos of your garden. Download the “South Dakota Greatest Gardens Contest” sign and snap a photo of yourself holding the sign in your garden. This image must be included as one of your official submission photos.
The contest is open for submissions from July 1 to Aug. 23, 2026. Winners will receive a yard sign with their category name and a McCrory Gardens package (includes an annual membership to McCrory Gardens and free general admission to nearly 400 botanical gardens and arboreta across North America).
Once selected, the winner from each category will be on display from Sept. 2-7, 2026, at the Master Gardener Booth in the Horticulture Building at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. People can vote on their overall favorite garden, and the winner will be crowned the 2026 People’s Choice South Dakota’s Greatest Garden.
"We thought this contest would be a great way to encourage gardening in South Dakota, and to celebrate the beautiful gardens we have across the state,” said Prairey Walkling, SDSU Extension Master Gardener Field Specialist.
Each of the four categories was chosen carefully to highlight various aspects of horticulture and gardening. For the vegetable/edible garden category, Walkling said SDSU Extension wants to encourage South Dakotans to produce healthful, nutrient-rich produce for themselves and those they care about.
“For the pollinator category, we recognize that pollinators are facing declines in South Dakota and beyond. Successful pollinator gardens will often include native plants. These gardens can help provide local habitat and biodiversity,” she said.
Walkling said they also want the contest to be accessible to everyone, which inspired the container garden category. Those who have community garden plots are also welcome to enter.
“You absolutely do not need a yard or land to garden. We are looking for creative gardeners who maximize planting in small spaces such as decks and patios,” she said.
Walkling and Sydney Paulsen, McCrory Gardens Education Coordinator and SDSU Extension Horticulture Assistant, said the patriotic garden category was inspired by America's 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, which includes official flowers from every state being showcased at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.
“We wanted to showcase a variety of different gardens so that everyone could participate, whether you have a container, a raised bed or a whole yard. I am excited to see everyone's creativity for this contest, especially to see the different patriotic gardens for America's 250th celebration,” Paulsen said.
Paulsen added that McCrory Gardens is already fitted with festive decorations for the celebration, including U.S. flag-themed bunting on the fence outside the gardens; red, white and blue lighting on the outside of the Education and Visitors Center; and all the building’s front containers planted to fit the theme.
“We are going all out for this theme at McCrory Gardens,” she said.
For those who have questions or need inspiration, Walkling recommends visiting the SDSU Extension Garden and Yard page, where people can submit questions on the Problems and Solutions page, find research-based information and sign up for upcoming events and information.
“Plant problems come up every season, even in the most beautiful yards. Our website has lots of resources, including a Garden/Yard newsletter and our weekly Garden Hour webinar series for South Dakotans to learn more about horticulture,” Walkling said.
For more information, contact Prairey Walkling, SDSU Extension Master Gardener Field Specialist, or Sydney Paulsen, McCrory Gardens Education Coordinator and SDSU Extension Horticulture Assistant.
