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Major Program and Career Highlights of David Goforth David Goforth conducts a horticulture education program in Cabarrus County North Carolina. He targets three major audiences. They are non-commercial homeowners, commercial fruit and vegetable growers, and the commercial ornamental industry. Because of his program homeowners have learned to install and maintain their gardens and landscapes. The commercial, ornamental industry has become more professional. Commercial fruit and vegetable growers have improved their profitability. Horticulture education for homeowners started in 1.986 and is ongoing. During this time, the population of Cabarrus County expanded from 86,000 to 130,000. Many of these new homeowners needed information on landscapes and lawns. David has met .that need using several educational methods. He has written over 670 published news articles. Some of these were published in three different newspapers and at least one in a national magazine. He has used radio and has made regular appearances on Making it Grow, a Clemson Educational TV program aired across South Carolina and in the Charlotte market. David started and developed the Cabarrus Counties Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Since 1990 he has trained over 250 master Gardeners. Master Gardener Volunteers conduct plant clinics, workshops, county fair booths and help answer office inquiries. The Cabarrus County Master Gardeners also conducted the State Master Gardener Conference in 1997. Master Gardener Volunteers planted over 100 plants in a woody ornamental demonstration. Educational classes and successful gardening cable TV segments have been taped at this demonstration. David developed the Master Gardener Decision Support Guide. This is a hyperlinked diagnostic key to assist homeowners, Master Gardeners, and horticulture professionals diagnose plant problems for common ornamentals. The CD version has been distributed to Master Gardeners in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virgin/a. The web version has had over 1/4 million hits. As a result Master Gardeners and horticultural professionals have helped clients diagnose plant problems more effectively. David has been on the Successful Gardener team for four years. This team of county agents teaches horticulture to homeowners. As a member of. this team, David has conducted eight county successful gardening workshops. He has given presentation at regional workshops and has contributed 40 articles to the Successful Gardener newsletter. Over 5000 copies of this National award winning newsletter are distributed state wide I0 times a year. David has taped 30 successful gardening segments for the local cable channel in Cabarrus County.