Tom Gill award

The annual Tom Gill Garden Winners awards were given out on September 19, by the Berlin Kiwanis Club at Camp Sawyer in Stark. It all started in 1945, when Tom Gill owner of Gill's Flower Shop in Berlin, was curious about what kind of plants would grow well in this area. Gill started a three-year program with 4-H students. The children were given different plants every year, provided by Gill's Flower Shop. They started with easy plants the first year and progressively ...The annual Tom Gill Garden Winners awards were given out on September 19, by the Berlin Kiwanis Club at Camp Sawyer in Stark. It all started in 1945, when Tom Gill owner of Gill's Flower Shop in Berlin, was curious about what kind of plants would grow well in this area. Gill started a three-year program with 4-H students. The children were given different plants every year, provided by Gill's Flower Shop. They started with easy plants the first year and progressively harder plants to grow the years thereafter. The students kept records of how their plants were progressing and reported their progress to Mr. Gill. It has been a very successful program for 4-H students since then.

Gill was a member of The Kiwanis Club and that is how they became involved in the program. Barbara Guay, Tom Gill's granddaughter is a member of the Kiwanians and has kept up her grandfather's tradition. The Kiwanians provide plagues and a dinner for the winners, and believe this is an "awesome project". According to Larry Barker, the extension educator for the 4-H and youth development, this year was a challenging year for growing with July and August being good, then the middle of August wet and cool. Barker also stated these awards are not given out lightly. The plants have to be outstanding to be included in the judging.