Spring Fever 2025

Saturday, March 1

Best Western Ramkota Hotel Rapid City

This year's theme is "Green Spaces"

Learn about tree and shrub selections suited to the challenging soils of western SD and NE

A group room rate of $99 has been established at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel for this event. Call 605-343-8550 to reserve; ask for the Master Gardener rate.

Spring Fever 2025 Schedule

8:30 – Social time & browse the silent auction & door prize

9:00 – Welcome & vendor info

9:30 – Speaker - Justin Evertson

10:30 – Break – browse the silent auction & door prizes

11:00 – Speaker - Jason Preble

12:00 – Announce MG of the Year

12:15 – Lunch catered by Minerva's

1:15 – Break – last call for silent auction

1:45 – Panel discussion: Botanical Banter With the Garden Gurus

3:00 – Wrap up & announce door prizes, pay for auction items

Lunch options

Rosa primavera manicotti (vegetarian) - served with seasonal veggie and roll/butter
Roasted apple spinach salad w/ grilled chicken (gluten-free) - served with seasonal veggie and roll/butter
Pulled pork sandwich with potato chips

Speakers

Justin Evertson

Nebraska State Arboretum

Green Space Infrastructure at UN Lincoln

Justin Evertson has worked for the Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) since 1990, serving as the Green Infrastructure Coordinator since 2010. He oversees programs that provide funding, technical assistance and educational outreach for community forestry and public landscaping efforts across the state. Justin is also involved in several tree and shrub trialing efforts to help expand the awareness and availability of underutilized species for the state. His areas of expertise are in trees, arboriculture and sustainable landscaping. Justin has authored several publications with an emphasis on woody plant selection. Justin grew up on a farm in western Kimball County where he learned an appreciation for shortgrass prairie and Nebraska’s wide-open spaces. He’s passionate about trees, the native landscape, biodiversity and sustainability. Justin lives in Waverly where he serves as a volunteer community forester planting trees across the community and working to make the community more biodiverse and sustainable.

Jason Preble

Forestry and Landscaping Supervisor

Rapid City's Urban Forester

Urban Forests & Microclimates

Jason Preble has worked in the green industry for the last thirty five years. For nine years he was the Grounds Crew leader at South Dakota Mines. The last fifteen years he has been with the Rapid City Parks Department and for the pat five years he has been the Forestry and Landscape Supervisor in Rapid City. He is ISA, TRAQ, Utility Specialist and Municipal Specialist credentialed.

ISA Certified Arborist®

ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist®

ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist®

Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

Ask the Experts Panel

Topics:

Insects – Patrick Wagner

Flowers/Vegetables – Rhoda Burrows

Native Plants – Cindy Reed

Soil – Jeff Hemenway

Trees – Justin Evertson & Jason Preble

Exhibitor/Info tables

PCMG table
Rapid City Garden Club
RC Solid Waste & Recycling
Great Plains Native Plant Society Botanic Gardens
SD Wildland Fire
Hydroponics