By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Master Gardeners are looking for community support in hosting the 2019 Alabama Master Garden Association Spring Conference.

The conference will be held at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center May 8-10.

Sondra Henley of the Chilton County Master Gardeners said there are a variety of ways residents and local businesses can assist in making the state conference a success.

The biggest way is through sponsorships. Sponsorships are available at the Hickory ($2,500), Oak Leaf ($2,000), Dogwood ($1,000) and Maple ($500) levels.

Each of the sponsorship levels, except for Maple, includes an ad in the conference program, a vendor space, recognition in the AMGA newsletter and website as well as multiple conference and banquet tickets. The Maple level includes recognition in the AMGA newsletter and website, admission to the conference and a banquet ticket.

There are vendor booth spaces available also.

“We have 44 spaces available, so we are looking for a wide variety (of vendors),” Henley said.

Organizers are expecting 400 attendees, the majority of whom will be women.

Vendor opportunities are open to a variety of items, however, food vendors will be limited to those selling prepackaged items, such as soup mixes.

“We always like vendors that have something to inform Master Gardeners,” Henley said.

Anything relating to plants, gardening and the outdoors would be especially appropriate, she said.

The 8 foot by 20 foot spaces are $250, while the 8 foot by 10 foot spaces are $125.

This includes a boxed lunch on the second day of the event and snacks along with recognition on the event program, AMGA website and newsletter.

The deadline to sign up as a sponsor or vendor is March 1.

Donations of auction items and door prizes are also being collected.

“The silent auction raises money for our projects and may even go toward our scholarships,” Henley said.

Those interested in becoming a sponsor or donating an item should call the Chilton County Extension Office at (205) 280-6268.

Henley said the organization can also schedule to pick up an item if need be.

The deadline to donate is April 29.

County residents, regardless of whether they are a Master Gardener, are welcome to register.

To register or for more information, visit alabamamg.org.