Dear JCMGA members and friends:

As you may have learned by now, the 2021 Spring Garden Fair has been cancelled. This action was taken by the Board of Directors’ Executive Committee for several reasons, foremost of which was our moral responsibility to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

There were practical reasons as well. Although it is possible that the prohibition on gatherings of more than 250 people may be lifted by May 1, we will not know for certain until much closer to that date. If we were to continue planning for the event and then had to cancel, both we and our vendors would be in an especially difficult situation, financially and otherwise.

We are confident that the Jackson County Master Gardener Association can weather this. Although there will be some financial loss, we hope to make up part of this loss by holding “pop up” sales later in the spring and summer. We have suspended all non-essential purchases. And, thanks to the foresight of past Boards, JCMGA has reserves in the bank.

We hope that the actions being taken by all of us in Oregon to slow the progress of COVID-19 will be successful and we will be able to resume our usual activities later this spring and into the summer and fall. Planning is already underway for our Winter Dreams Summer Gardens educational event the first Saturday in November. Mark your calendars. And we trust that by this time next year we will be looking forward to a successful 2021 Spring Garden Fair.

Ronnie Budge, JCMGA President