Uncovering the Motivations of Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Program Volunteers

The Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Program (KEMGP) began in the late 1980’s and was initially active in a few urban counties. Today the program is active in 42 Kentucky counties (35% of all counties) and averages over 1,400 active volunteers each year who contribute in excess of 42,000 volunteer service hours and provide research-based horticultural information to over 82,000 direct contacts with Kentucky citizens. The KEMGP volunteers play a vital role in addressing local Extension clientele lawn and garden issues by phone and/or at Extension offices, assist with teaching horticulture to beginning gardeners, and help clients explore environmental options. This study sought to determine how long KEMG volunteered for the program and their motivations for volunteering. A survey instrument was adapted with permission from Clary and Snyder’s Volunteer Functions Inventory to measure the KEMGP volunteer motivations. The instrument consisted of 50 questions which measured various motivational functions for volunteering and 14 questions pertaining to their level of volunteer service, initial/continuing subject matter preferences with the KEMGP training, and demographics. Surveys were distributed to 675 volunteers with a 44% response rate. The respondents were mostly female (82%), Caucasian (96%), married (75%), and age 56-70 or older (83%), with 56% of the respondents retired. Thirty-five percent of the respondents had been a KEMGP volunteer for one to two years while 19% had been a KEMGP volunteer for nine or more years. Ninety-four percent of the respondents stated they are presently volunteering as a KEMG, with 32% volunteering an average of three to five hours a month. The highest motivations for volunteering with the KEMGP was related to the Values Function (altruism and humanitarianism matters) (mean=5.13 on scale of 1=not at all important/accurate, 7=extremely important/accurate), followed by the Understanding Function (to gain new experiences and skills) (mean=4.95). The least motivational reason for volunteering with the KEMGP was for the Career Function (to gain career-related information) with a mean of 1.75. Results indicated KEMGP volunteers mostly choose to volunteer with KEMGP because they value helping people through the program and believe in the mission of the KEMGP. These data will be useful for county MG coordinators to understand why new individuals may wish to participate in the KEMGP and what factors are most important in training and retention.