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Meet Our Staff

County Extension Director

John Cothren, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionJohn CothrenCounty Extension Director, Wilkes & Interim CED, Ashe Call John Email John Wilkes County Center

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Richard Boylan, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionRichard BoylanArea Agent, Small Farm Management Call Richard Email Richard Watauga County CenterJill Cockerhamplay_circle_filledJill CockerhamLocal Foods Agent Call Jill Email Jill Alleghany County Center
Meet Jillplay_circle_filled
Brad Edwards, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionBrad EdwardsProgram Assistant - IPM Call Brad Email Brad Ashe County CenterBlake Williams, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionBlake WilliamsExtension Agent, Horticulture Call Blake Email Blake Ashe County Center

Community Development

Michelle Pelayo, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMichelle PelayoMigrant Education Program Coordinator / Farmworker Health Educator Call Michelle Email Michelle Ashe County Center

Family and Consumer Sciences

Micah Orfield, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionMicah OrfieldExtension Agent, FCS Call Micah Email Micah Ashe County Center

Support

Jamie Davis, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionJamie DavisCOSS Office Assistant Call Jamie Email Jamie Ashe County CenterJessica Ham, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionJessica HamCounty Extension Administrative Assistant Call Jessica Email Jessica Ashe 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 Ashe County Center, they may not be present in the Ashe County Center. Please contact the Ashe County Center for assistance and initial consultation.

Stephen Bishop, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionStephen BishopWestern Director, NC FarmLink Call Stephen Email Stephen Serves 45 Counties and EBCIBased out of Horticultural Science 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 Carla Dockery, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCarla DockeryRegional Nutrition Extension Associate Call Carla Email Carla Serves 9 CountiesBased out of Agricultural & Human Sciences 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 Nathan Gatlin, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionNathan GatlinArea Specialized Agent - Forestry Call Nathan Email Nathan Serves 49 Counties and EBCIBased out of Wilkes County Center Lauren Greene, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionLauren GreeneArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Poultry Call Lauren Email Lauren Serves 31 Counties and EBCIBased out of Cleveland County Center Sam Marshall, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionSam MarshallArea Specialized Agent, Ornamental Nursery & Greenhouse, Western Region Call Sam Email Sam Serves 28 CountiesBased out of Haywood County Center Craig Mauney, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionCraig MauneyArea Specialized Agent, Commercial Fruit & Vegetable Production, Western Region Call Craig Email Craig Serves 39 CountiesBased out of Henderson County Center Ashley Robbins, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionAshley RobbinsArea Specialized Agent - Dairy Call Ashley Email Ashley Serves 100 Counties and EBCIBased out of Chatham County Center Elena Rogers, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionElena RogersArea Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Fresh Produce Food Safety (Western NC) Call Elena Email Elena Serves 49 Counties and EBCIBased out of Horticultural Science George Selden, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionGeorge SeldenArea Specialized Agent, Aquaculture Call George Email George Serves 39 Counties and EBCIBased out of Haywood 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