Edward Olsen
- Extension Master Gardener Director
407 Saunders Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Overview
Ed Olsen is the Consumer Horticulture Specialist and Extension Master Gardener Director with a 100% Extension appointment. He began with Virginia Cooperative Extension in January 2016 and served as the Henrico County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent until January 2024 before joining the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. Before joining VCE and VT, Ed taught horticulture and agriscience classes and was co-advisor of the FFA Chapter at Powhatan High School in Powhatan County, VA. Ed has won several awards during his time with Virginia Tech; most recently being honored with the 2021 VCE Excellence Award: Programmatic Courage-Southeast District and State Winner. He has been elected to the offices of Vice-President, President-Elect, President and Past-President of the Virginia Association of Agriculture Extension Agents, from 2022-2026, respectively. Ed also was elected in 2022 to the office of Senator for the Virginia Tech Administrative/Professional Faculty Senate, representing Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Expertise
- Consumer Horticulture
- Extension Master Gardener Program
Education
- M.S. Ed, Virginia Tech, 2010
- B.S. Horticulture, Virginia Tech, 1990
Consumer Horticulture Specialist | 2024-Present
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Extension Master Gardener Director | 2024-Present
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Extension Agent | 2020-2024
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Associate Extension Agent | 2016-2020
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Teacher | 2006-2015
Powhatan High School
Greenhouse Manager | 1999-2005
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Crop Production Grower | 1991-1994
Jolly Greenhouses
Research Assistant | 1990-1991
Department of Horticulture
Louisiana State University
- Virginia 4-H Innovative Programming Award for AGventure Days Project; Virginia 4-H Foundation. 2023
- 2022 Program Excellence Award for Program Impact with Virginia Household Water Quality Program provides water testing and education to empower Virginia’s well and spring users; State and Division Winner; Virginia Cooperative Extension 2023.
- 2021 Program Excellence Award for Programmatic Courage with Native Tree Walk; State and Northeast District Winner; Virginia Cooperative Extension. 2022.
- CVNLA Symposium and Short Course Pesticide Recertification Program; First Place Pesticide Safety Education Program; Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 2021.
- Communications Award: Learning Module or Notebook; Regional Finalist; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2021.
- Communications Award: Bound Book; National Finalist; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2020.
- Communications Award: Program Promotion; State Winner; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2020.
- Communications Award: Newsletter by Individual; State Winner; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2020.
- Less than 5 Year Award; Epsilon Sigma Phi – Gamma Chapter. 2019.
- 2018 Program Excellence Award for achieving excellence in “Program Marketing” with SMART Lawns 2018 Marketing Campaign; State and Southeast District Winner; Virginia Cooperative Extension. 2019.
- 2018 Program Excellence Award for achieving excellence in “New Initiatives” with Henrico 4-H Horticulture SPIN Club; Southeast District Winner; Virginia Cooperative Extension. 2019.
- Poster Session: Extension Education; State Winner and National Finalist; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2019.
- Communications Award: Learning Module or Notebook; State Winner and Regional Finalist; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2019.
- Communications Award: Video Recording; State Winner; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2019.
- Communications Award: Newsletter by Individual; State Winner; National Association of County Agricultural Agents. 2019.
- 2017 Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification; First Place Pesticide Safety Education Program; Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 2018.
Future publications located here