BROOKINGS, S.D. – SDSU Extension is proud to salute its dedicated volunteers during National Volunteer Week on April 19-25, 2026.
Each year, thousands of SDSU Extension volunteers donate their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live through various programs, including physical and mental health, agricultural and livestock, 4-H, Master Food Preservers and Master Gardeners.
For Master Gardeners, there are more than 450 individual Master Gardeners and 14 clubs in South Dakota. In 2025, volunteers held 131 educational events that reached approximately 12,000 South Dakotans. They also donated 9,431 pounds of produce to Feeding South Dakota and other organizations.
“SDSU Extension offers many volunteer opportunities, and volunteers are involved in every aspect of carrying out the Extension mission,” said Prairey Walkling, SDSU Extension Master Gardener Field Specialist. “We are South Dakota’s source of unbiased and relevant new knowledge generated from research, and we rely on volunteers to help provide access to educational opportunities and programs in all South Dakota counties.”
In the SDSU Extension Master Gardener program, adults are trained in research-based horticultural practices, and then they share their expertise with the public through activities such as answering gardening questions, speaking to community groups, and assisting with demonstration and youth gardens.
In Watertown, the Coteau Prairie Master Gardeners have partnered with the local Boys and Girls Club to host a summer gardening club for students in first through sixth grade. Gerry Likness, one of the co-leaders of the club, said the youth line up each week, excited to learn about gardening, composting and harvesting.
“There’s a lot more than just harvesting the produce,” Likness said. “The kids learn teamwork, what plants are compatible in boxes. They’re learning a lot about produce and things that grow well together. They’re learning to get along.”
She said youth are encouraged to sample the produce (and to decline when they don’t like the taste). The produce grown is incorporated into the kitchen at the Boys and Girls Club, which helps the youth learn healthy eating habits, as well.
“When kids have helped grow, they’re more excited to try eating it,” she said.
The excess is put on a free produce stand in front of the building, which Likness said the youth are especially proud of. Anyone from the community can contribute or take items from the stand.
“I think that we as Master Gardeners have an obligation to instill in youth a love for home-grown, and a love for how to care for living things,” she said. “There are so many benefits, it’s definitely worth our while. We’re not just tending to the plants, we’re tending to the future.”
In Rapid City, Mary Deibert helps manage the Pennington County Master Gardeners stand at the Black Hills Farmers Market in Rapid City. Held every Saturday, the stand is open from about 8 a.m. to noon and is staffed with master gardeners who can answer gardening questions.
Volunteers also put together fun activities for children, including the annual zucchini races, where they give kits to youth to equip zucchini with wheels and then see whose creation can win in a race.
“I do it because I believe in local foods, and I love the atmosphere of the farmer’s market,” Deibert said. “It just is a lot of fun answering questions. Sometimes we don’t have the answer right away, but we help people find them.”
For more information on volunteering for any of these programs, visit the SDSU Extension website or send us an email.
