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Meet Our Staff

County Extension Director

Howard Wallace, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDr. Howard Wallace, IICounty Extension Director and Extension Agent, Horticulture & Digital Skills 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 CenterMarissa Spillman, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMarissa SpillmanEFNEP Educator Call Marissa Email Marissa 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 ExtensionDr. Marissa CohenArea Specialized Agent - Animal Food Safety Call Dr. Marissa Email Dr. Marissa Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Prestage Poultry Science Marti Day, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMarti DayArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Dairy Call Marti Email Marti Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Orange County Center Tom Dyson, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionTom DysonArea Specialized Agent, Agromedicine Call Tom Email Tom Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Gaston County Center Chas Edens, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionChas EdensNC Conservation Outreach Project Coordinator Call Chas Email Chas Horticultural ScienceServes 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Horticultural Science Mike Frinsko, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMike FrinskoArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Aquaculture Call Mike Email Mike Serves 18 CountiesBased out of Jones County Center Colby Lambert, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionColby LambertArea Specialized Agent, Forestry Call Colby Email Colby Serves 51 CountiesBased out of Harnett County Center Danny Lauderdale, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDanny LauderdaleArea Specialized Agent, Ornamental Nursery and Greenhouse, Eastern Region Call Danny Email Danny Serves 44 CountiesBased out of Wilson County Center Lori McBryde, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionLori McBrydeArea Agent, 4-H Youth Development - East Region Call Lori Email Lori Serves 49 CountiesBased out of Johnston County Center Emily Pendergrass, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionEmily PendergrassRegional Nutrition Extension Associate - EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Call Emily Email Emily Serves 13 CountiesBased out of Agricultural & Human Sciences Noah Ranells, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDr. Noah RanellsEastern Director. NC FarmLink Call Dr. Noah Email Dr. Noah Serves 55 CountiesBased out of Horticultural Science Ashley Robbins, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAshley RobbinsArea Specialized Agent - Dairy Call Ashley Email Ashley Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Chatham County Center Margaret Ross, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMargaret RossArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Poultry Call Margaret Email Margaret Serves 32 CountiesBased out of Jones County Center Chip Simmons, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionDr. Chip Simmons, IIIArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Fresh Produce Food Safety (Eastern NC) Call Dr. Chip Email Dr. Chip Serves 51 CountiesBased out of Horticultural Science Allan Thornton, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAllan ThorntonArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Commercial Vegetables and Fruits Call Allan Email Allan Serves 26 CountiesBased out of Sampson County Center Mitch Woodward, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMitch WoodwardArea Specialized Agent, Watersheds and Water Quality Call Mitch Email Mitch Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Wake County Center