First Place Winner

Purdue Extension-Marion County Demonstration Garden in Indianapolis, Indiana

Category 2: 10,000-100,000 Visitors

Extension Master Gardener volunteers, in collaboration with the local Purdue University Extension office, planned, planted, and maintained the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden. The garden achieved a new daily visitor record of 1,039 people during the Indiana State Fair, with guests seeking design ideas and solutions to gardening issues. New AAS Winners like Petunia Dekko Maxx Pink and Pepper Pick-N-Pop Yellow were visitor favorites. The garden prominently featured a “Living Classroom” banner and dedicated signage to illustrate the STEAM curriculum. This included a Pi Trail (Math), an F1 Hybrid explanation (Science), a Flower Tower demonstration (Engineering), and QR codes (Technology) for plant lists and construction guides, effectively turning the display into a popular and engaging educational experience.