K-State Research and Extension Johnson County

Kansas Healthy Yards Expo

Make greener choices for your yard and home at the Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo — a FREE Earth-friendly lawn and garden event.

This will be held on March 29th, 2025.

Vendors, please use this application. To participate as a vendor in this expo, we ask that you showcase your business or organization’s environmentally friendly services, products or practices. Expo management will review vendor applications beginning Dec. 15, 2024 and notify approved vendors in January 2025. Note that there are more interested
vendors than there are available spaces, so apply early.

To learn about being a vendor in 2025, contact Lesley Rigney, Johnson County Stormwater Management, at lesley.rigney@jocogov.org or 913-715-8316.

Location:

Shawnee Civic Centre
13817 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66216

Discover simple, easy Earth-friendly practices for achieving a nice yard while still protecting our water, air, and healthy soils. The Healthy Yards Expo features businesses, non-profits, seminars, and tips to help residents become greener in their lawn and garden care. It’s a one-stop learning event on green ideas and services.

Speakers:

Watch this space for a speaker schedule for 2025! We have free seminars throughout the day.

Be sure to:

  • Register for door prizes!
  • Free Tree Seedling: First 100 visitors get a free tree seedling, courtesy of the City of Overland Park.
  • Visit with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners, Extension Master Naturalists, nonprofit organziations, and local plant societies for expert advice.
  • Talk with city representatives to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about cost share programs for establishing rain gardens and rain barrels
  • Listen to informative speakers on topics such as native plants, pollinators, vegetable gardening and landscaping
  • Choose from a wide selection of locally grown, organic native plants specially selected to thrive in your garden.
  • Johnson County Extension will sell DIY Radon Kits and experts will show you how to test your home here in Johnson County.
  • Learn about green house cleaning and cooking with herbs from Extension Master Food Volunteers.

Kid Fun

Enjoy a free puppet show by StoneLion Puppet Theatre. Performances are at 10:30 AM and 12 PM.

Kiddos will also enjoy a traveling museum that brings soil to life, in the Soil Tunnel Trailer. It illustrates the natural history of soil with 3-D worms, roots, and other organisms and the underground interactions of our natural resources.

Concession Stand

Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase during the Expo provided by a local Boy Scout Troop.

Johnson County Residents: Get a FREE soil test

Johnson County residents can get a free soil test, compliments of Johnson County Stormwater Management and Johnson County Extension. A soil test will provide you with the fertility needs to grow healthy plants while protecting our soil and water. Bring your soil sample to the Expo to receive the free testing. Learn how to take a soil test.

About the Expo

Johnson County K-State Research and Extension is teaming with Johnson County Stormwater Management and the cities of Lenexa, Overland Park, Shawnee and Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City to present the Expo, now in its 12th year. The event is free and open to the public.

Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities (KHYC), developed by K-State Research and Extension, helps homeowners make better choices on environmentally conscious lawn and garden care techniques.

Vendors (2024 list-watch for updates)

To learn about being a vendor in 2025, contact Lesley Rigney, Johnson County Stormwater Management, at lesley.rigney@jocogov.org or 913-715-8316.

Printable Flyer

Help spread the word about this free community resource.

Cost: Free

Location:
Shawnee Civic Centre
13817 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66216 Get Directions

Concession Stand: Breakfast and Lunch will be available for purchase during the Expo provided by a local Boy Scout Troop.

For the Kids

  • Stone Lion Puppet Theatre Show Performances at 10:30 a.m. and noon