The Wayne de la Rua Award, named for Wayne de la Rua, a member of the 1990 BCMG class, is a peer-recognition award that a member receives through a process of written nomination from one or more active master gardeners and selection through secret ballot of the membership. The award is a lifetime achievement honor that a master gardener earns through a consistent demonstration of passion and hard work toward the BCMG organization and its mission. Rarely, a member might make a singular, perhaps one time, contribution of outstanding merit. Nevertheless, it is the quality, not the quantity of service hours that a master gardener contributes that earns a Wayne de la Rua Award.
| 2022 | Lynn Andrews | 2023 | Judi Smith |
| 2021 | Arren Graf | 2020 | Julian Walthall - Jimmie van Valkenburgh (tied vote) |
| 2019 | Paula Pritchett | 2018 | Pam Tucker |
| 2017 | Loree Hadley | 2016 | Myra Lassere & Pat Greer (tie vote) |
| 2015 | Gene Sellier | 2014 | Ottie Dailey |
| 2013 | Jim & Nancy Gaines (joint nomination) | 2012 | Marilyn Mannhard |
| 2011 | Selena Vaughn | 2010 | Pat Libby |
| 2009 | Joyce Mudrak | 2008 | Sam Andrews |
| 2007 | Tanys Waldron | 2006 | Sherry Eubank |
| 2005 | Harry Anderson | 2004 | Carol Griffin |
| 2003 | Gail Terrell-Joanne Caglione (tie) | 2002 | Mary Gibson |
| 2001 | Jane Wright | 2000 | Herb Nall |
| 1999 | Jill McArthur | 1998 | Maureen Nation |
| 1997 | Wayne de la Rua |
By policy and convention those listed above are ineligible to receive the award again as it may only be received once.