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Meet Our Staff

County Extension Director

Howard Wallace, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDr. Howard Wallace, IICounty Extension Director and Extension Agent, Digital Literacy Call Dr. Howard Email Dr. Howard Columbus County Center

4-H Youth Development

Rebekah Benton, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionRebekah BentonExtension Agent, 4-H Youth Development Call Rebekah Email Rebekah Columbus County Center

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Aaron Blackmon, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAaron BlackmonExtension Agent, Agriculture - Livestock Call Aaron Email Aaron Columbus County CenterBruce McLean, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionBruce McLean, Jr.Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture Call Bruce Email Bruce Columbus County CenterLydia Miles, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionLydia MilesExtension Agent, Agriculture - Field Crops Call Lydia Email Lydia Columbus County CenterMichael Shuman, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMichael ShumanExtension Technician, Agriculture Call Michael Email Michael Columbus County Center

Family and Consumer Sciences

Meleah Evers, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMeleah EversExtension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences Call Meleah Email Meleah Columbus County Center

Support

Carsha Hayes, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCarsha HayesCounty Extension Office Assistant, Support for Family Consumer Science and 4-H Call Carsha Email Carsha Columbus County CenterNannetta Rackley, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionNannetta RackleyCounty Extension Administrative Assistant Call Nannetta Email Nannetta Columbus County CenterKaitlyn Small, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionKaitlyn SmallCounty Extension Office Assistant, Support for Field Crops and Livestock Agent Call Kaitlyn Email Kaitlyn Columbus County Center

Regional Positions

Area Specialized Agents specialize in specific areas of agriculture and natural resource management and serve many counties. Area 4-H Agents provide support to county based 4-H programs. While their knowledge and expertise is available to residents of Columbus County Center, they may not be present in the Columbus County Center. Please contact the Columbus County Center for assistance and initial consultation.

Marissa Cohen, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMarissa CohenArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Animal Food Safety Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Prestage Poultry ScienceCall Marissa Email Marissa Prestage Poultry Science Marti Day, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMarti DayArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Dairy Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of OrangeCall Marti Email Marti Orange County Center Mike Frinsko, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMike FrinskoArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture Serves 18 CountiesBased out of JonesCall Mike Email Mike Jones County Center Peggie Lewis Joyce, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionPeggie Lewis JoyceArea Agent, 4-H Youth Development - Central Region Serves 36 CountiesBased out of DavidsonCall Peggie Lewis Email Peggie Lewis Davidson County Center Colby Lambert, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionColby LambertArea Specialized Agent, Forestry Serves 51 CountiesBased out of HarnettCall Colby Email Colby Harnett County Center Danny Lauderdale, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDanny LauderdaleArea Specialized Agent, Ornamental Nursery and Greenhouse, Eastern Region Serves 44 CountiesBased out of WilsonCall Danny Email Danny Wilson County Center Emily Pendergrass, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionEmily PendergrassRegional Nutrition Extension Associate - EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Serves 13 CountiesBased out of Agricultural & Human SciencesCall Emily Email Emily Agricultural & Human Sciences Ashley Robbins, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAshley RobbinsArea Specialized Agent - Dairy Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of ChathamCall Ashley Email Ashley Chatham County Center Margaret Ross, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMargaret RossArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Poultry Serves 32 CountiesBased out of JonesCall Margaret Email Margaret Jones County Center Chip Simmons, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDr. Chip Simmons, IIIArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Fresh Produce Food Safety (Eastern NC) Serves 51 CountiesBased out of Horticultural ScienceCall Dr. Chip Email Dr. Chip Horticultural Science Allan Thornton, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAllan ThorntonArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Commercial Vegetables and Fruits Serves 26 CountiesBased out of SampsonCall Allan Email Allan Sampson County Center Mitch Woodward, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMitch WoodwardArea Specialized Agent, Watersheds and Water Quality Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of WakeCall Mitch Email Mitch Wake County Center