Coteau Prairie Master Gardeners Receive Grant, Expand Youth Garden Program; Plant Sale Set for May 16
- Steve Jurrens
- May 2
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Coteau Prairie Master Gardeners have been awarded a 2026 Earl Dailey Memorial Endowment Grant totaling $377, supporting the continued expansion of their youth gardening program at the Watertown Area Boys & Girls Club.
According to SDSU Extension, the group currently maintains seven 4x8 garden boxes used by more than 50 students in grades 1–6 from May through September. With the new grant, the Master Gardeners are adding two garden boxes, allowing more children to participate and enhancing the program’s overall capacity.
Volunteers play a key role in the effort. Each week, 6–10 Master Gardeners visit the Boys & Girls Club to mentor young gardeners, teaching hands‑on skills in planting, tending, and harvesting. The expansion also ties into the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, with plans to create two themed “Celebration” garden boxes and new sensory herb boxes.
The Building Trades students at Lake Area Technical College have already constructed the two new boxes. Grant funds will be used for soil, soil amendments, plants, and other materials needed to prepare the expanded garden space. Any extra produce grown throughout the season is placed in the “Club Fresh” stand outside the Boys & Girls Club and made available to the community at no cost.
In addition to the youth garden expansion, the Coteau Prairie Master Gardeners will host a public plant sale on Saturday, May 16, at the Codington County Extension Complex in Watertown. The sale begins at 9 a.m. and continues until sold out. Available plants will include annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, and houseplants, all grown or donated by club members. Proceeds support the group’s local education projects and scholarships.
The event is open to the public.
