Master Gardeners honored for 2024 service
Kent and Sussex Master Gardener volunteers celebrated an impressive 2024 at their 38th annual banquet.
Tracy Wootten, horticulture extension agent for Sussex County and Sussex County Master Gardener program coordinator, acknowledged Ana Dittel, Class of 2001, as the 2024 Sussex County Master Gardener of the Year.
Dittel began her volunteer service spending most of her time in the county’s educational demonstration garden located in Georgetown. A resident of Lewes, Dittel lives part of the year in her native Costa Rica. Her volunteer hours rapidly accumulate when she is in Delaware providing personal attention to the demonstration garden, particularly in the vegetable garden area where she has assumed leadership for many years. Dittel teaches formal workshops, provides hands-on demonstrations to garden visitors, and is a strong presence at numerous information tables throughout the county. Dittel lends her bilingual skills to numerous resources, providing a greater and much-needed outreach in Sussex County.
”Ana has been described as a splendid person, always willing to share her expertise in a humble and cooperative manner,” Wootten said. “She exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding Master Gardener, working tirelessly and generously.”
Sussex and Kent counties officially welcomed 26 new Master Gardeners from the class of 2023, all of whom have successfully completed their initial 40 hours of volunteerism and five hours of advanced training. At the banquet, they became official, gleefully trading in their paper IDs for the real deal – their permanent white ID badges engraved with their name and class year. Two Master Gardeners, one per county, transferred from other states, totaling 28 in all.
When Master Gardeners reach 500 volunteer hours, they exchange their white badges for silver ones. Once they reach 1,000 hours of service, they earn a gold badge. Three individuals earned their gold in 2024: Kate Ruffer for Kent County, and John Ferrell and Marian Reedy for Sussex County.
To learn more, go to udel.edu/0010264.
