During the awards ceremony, the Fannin County Master Gardeners Association placed 2nd for their teaching site in the Redbud category. The Redbud category is for associations with 1-49 master gardener members. The FCMG Awards Committee were Treva Gibbs and Teo Hunter who submitted the entry form and impact statement.

The Backyard Garden Project highlighted the design and creation of a demonstration garden based on EarthKind principles with an emphasis on native plants, compost, and cover crops. The goal was to utilize the garden to supplement the information presented during quarterly workshops hosted at the Fannin County Texas AgriLife Extension office where it is located.

Twenty-one Master Gardeners participated in the project. A fostered learning environment was created at every stage. Members submitted their favorite plants via a survey. The survey results were presented in a committee meeting, and a final shopping list was collaboratively created. Several members went shopping at a local nursery. During planting and maintenance, members worked at will and on tasks that suited their physical capabilities. This work continues into 2026 with the addition of an arbor to trellis the climbing plants that were installed and planting of additional native perennials.

A special thanks goes out to our 2025 Programming Sponsors who supported this project: Twin Oaks Nursery; Bear Creek Country Store, Keystone Enterprises; Red Coop Feed and Seed; Fix and Feed; Green Machine Rentals; 160 Lawn and Timber; and American Legion Post 283 and our 2026 Programming Sponsors: Dadant Beekeeping Supplies - Paris; 160 Lawn and Timber-Whitewright; Community National Bank & Trust, Bonham; First United Bank, Bonham; The Nursery-Double O Seven Farms, Telephone; Legend Bank-Bonham; Red Coop Feed and Seed-Bonham; Stay Grounded Coffee Cafe, Bonham; and Twin Oaks Nursery-Denison.