Hana Ahlfeld, far left, is among the Somerset Master Gardeners who recently won an award at their annual conference. Also pictured are, from left to right, Sue Strahs of Basking Ridge, Gail Smith of North Plainfield, Anita Silkotch of Bridgewater, Judy Pfister of Hillsborough, Marsh Longshore of Bound Brook, Camille Haberle of Bridgewater, Jody Friedman of Watchung and Joe Gyurian, Rutgers Horticultural Consultant .
Photo: Kathy Chapin (Somerset Master Gardener).

A Somerset woman is among eight county Master Gardeners who are recipients of the Somerset Awards for Excellence.

Hana Ahlfeld was among those honored at the recent Master Gardener State Conference at the Cook Student Center at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

The Rutgers University Master Gardener Program, a volunteer organization of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, annually recognizes the outstanding work accomplished by members of each county organization by presenting Awards for Excellence.

For Somerset County, the Individual Award for Excellence was awarded to Jody Friedman for seven years of work developing the outreach programming at Camp Jotoni, a division of ARC. The enabling gardens Jody and her team of Somerset Master Gardeners designed and planted allow campers with special needs to experience gardening and nature through educational, sensory and hands on activities.

The New Class Team received the Team Award for Excellence. Led by Marsha Longshore and Gail Smith, the team helps to train and educate the incoming class of Somerset Master Gardeners.

Those interested in more information about the Rutgers Master Gardener program in Somerset County can contact the NJAES Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office of Somerset County at (908) 526-6293. Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.