MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's Junior Master Gardener program has gone from an idea introduced two years ago to one that involves more than 1,200 youth in horticulture-related fun, service and learning opportunities.

Lelia Kelly is the state coordinator for the Mississippi State University 4-H Junior Master Gardener program. JMG, as it is known, targets young people in grades three through eight, but it is for any group of youth, not just school classes.

"What makes this program so effective is the children learn teamwork, leadership and community service, while increasing their knowledge of horticulture and the environment," Kelly said. "We have church groups, schools, home schoolers and after-school programs of all grade levels using the curriculum."

Like any other 4-H program, Junior Master Gardener activities provide hands-on learning. The program was created at Texas A&M University, and was introduced in Mississippi in 2000. The original curriculum covered grades three through five, but a new curriculum for grades sixth through eighth is being introduced.

"We have keyed all the activities in the first curriculum to educational benchmarks established by the Mississippi Department of Education in four subject areas," Kelly said. "We hope to correlate the appropriate benchmarks to the second curriculum next summer."

JMG youth do a variety of projects as they learn about a wide range of horticultural topics. Kelly said two of the more popular activities are Suck a Bug and Plant Heads. Suck a Bug is an apparatus the youth make using a film canister, netting and some tubing.

"You suck on one tube and it pulls the bug into the canister. You don't have to touch the bug and you don't get the bug in your mouth, either," Kelly said.

Youth make Plant Heads by putting ryegrass seed in the toe of a stocking. They add dirt, tie off the stocking to look like a head, and decorate their "plant person." After watering the head and placing it in sunlight, the grass grows and their Plant Heads have hair.

There are 39 registered JMG groups in Mississippi scattered across 23 counties. Each Junior Master Gardener is a 4-H member, as the local county 4-H agent coordinates the program. New groups can form anywhere there are interested youth and an adult volunteer to lead the club.

The Water Valley Soil Scientists, a JMG group in Yalobusha County since 2001, was featured in the national JMG newsletter in July. Errin Dunbar leads that group, with the assistance of 4-H agent Christine Fielder.

"The lessons learned through this program far exceed the basics of when and what to plant and how to nurture living things," Dunbar said. "We are planting the seed of self worth, community pride, city beautification and civic involvement in the future generation of our town. It is amazing that all this can be taught with a handful of volunteers in just a few hours a month."

More information for 4-H Junior Master Gardener program or visit any county Extension office.