Virginia Cooperative Extension district directors have been hard at work filling positions following the departure of 29 Extension agents and 12 Extension specialists in 2010.
Restoration of the cuts made to VCE by the state in 2010 enabled Extension officials to hire more than 25 agents, who will be on staff early this month. In all, 42 agents have been hired since July 2011. Approximately 210 agents will be located in county and city offices by the spring.
Extension recently initiated recruitment for four county-based unit administrative assistants. Three specialist positions will also be filled this year. One will support the field crops industry, and will be located at the Tidewater AREC. Another will support the livestock industry, and will be located at the Southern Piedmont AREC. The third will be a 4-H Extension specialist.
Extension leaders are working with the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences to fill two positions that will work with youth programming for the equine and livestock programs.
We are also anxiously awaiting approval of the state budget by the Virginia General Assembly. Both the Senate and the House proposed budgets include $500,000 to support Extension. These funds would help to fund an additional 10 to 12 agents in the field.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months. We are working to address several of the Secretary of Education’s recommendations.
Sincerely,
Edwin Jones
Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension
