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New Extension Agents Take Posts in Respective Counties

Posted on Apr 02, 2025 at 11:39 AM

Fort Valley State University (FVSU), a state and land grant university, provide services to Georgians through its Cooperative Extension Program. 
 
Cooperative Extension is a national network of approximately 35,000 professionals from 112 universities with presence in every county, borough, parish and territory. 
 
Extension aims to empower communities of all types and sizes through educational programs, resources and research-based information to help improve quality of life. Providing a face for these services is the Cooperative Extension county agents and program assistants. 
 

At FVSU, Extension agents are divided into three program areas. These areas include family and consumer sciences (FACS), agriculture and natural resources (ANR) and 4-H and Youth Development.
 
Extension agents have many roles and responsibilities in their respective counties. Some of these include developing and supervising educational programs focused on agriculture and family living, performing community outreach, working with researchers to solve problems presented to them by clients and overseeing 4-H and youth development programs. 
 
Recently, FVSU added four new ANR agents now serving several counties. They are Millie Coleman based in Irwin County, Collie Graddick based in Talbot County, Terrence Lewis based in Macon County and Wesley Padgett based in Houston County. 

(From left to right) Collie Graddick, Millie Coleman, Terrence Lewis and Wesley Padgett join Fort Valley State University as Extension agents for agriculture and natural resources (ANR).

Dr. James Brown, professor and ANR program leader, said these individuals will play a key role in helping farmers, ranchers and landowners become more efficient.
 
Furthermore, Brown said that for a county agent to be successful, they must stay abreast with the latest technologies and methods used in record keeping as well as crop and livestock production. Agents accomplish this by attending training sessions so they can relay information to the farmer.
 
Additionally, Brown said the agent must have a passion for what they do and have a strong relationship with the farmer. This makes it easier to relay what is needed to improve agricultural operations

He added that county agents can be supportive of the farmer by bringing them up to date with respect to growing crops and livestock production.

Millie Coleman, whose office is in Irwin County, said she wanted to become an Extension agent to help farmers and landowners. 
 
“I want to help them by providing educational programs and resources to improve their farm operations and land management,” she said.
 
In Houston County, Extension agent Wesley Padgett said his goal is to uplift, encourage and assist small farmers and landowners. 
 
“Another goal of mine is to develop more interest and care in the field of agriculture, especially among young people. This job encompasses many things, and they are intertwined and vitally important to community, food and livelihood,” Padgett said.
 
For more information about FVSU’s ANR program, contact Brown at (478) 825-6296 (brownj01@fvsu.edu).
 

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