By Renee O’Quinn
New Extension Agriculture Agent for Appling County Shane Curry is ready to hit the ground running. He began his new appointment on February 1. Curry has filled the position left vacant after former Extension Agent James Clark retired.
SHANE CURRY
New County Agent is ready to hit the ground running
His responsibilities are working with anything that pertains to agriculture in Appling County. When asked what do you look forward to the most about working in Appling County? “Mainly working for a big ag county,” Curry replied.
As an agriculture county agent he deals with anything from lawn grass, to pecans, blueberries and row crops.
He discussed other things that he has dealt with and said, “I have dealt with the problem of how to handle deer eating crops, weeds growing in ponds and how to get rid of them including bugs getting on flowers.” On a daily basis he mostly works with farmers.
What are the challenges? “Meeting everybody. The challenges pertaining to the job I would have to say is staying on top of any type of diseases that have an effect on agriculture.”
When I asked Curry how are you going to face those challenges? He said, “If there is something that I can’t quite figure out I can call the large staff of the Cooperative Extension at the University of Georgia. Yesterday I took a picture with my phone and asked them can you identify this disease? Within five minutes I had it identified. The next time you see it then you’ll know what it is.”
What is the biggest change in agriculture? “One thing is the price of cotton is high. Just in the last year it has risen substantially. And there will be a lot more cotton grown this year. China is one of the biggest buyers of cotton from the U.S. China and Pakistan faced floods and lost their main supply of cotton. When he was in high school cotton was only $.30 cent a pound now it is over $1.00. Cotton is one of the best crops to grow on dry land,” Curry said.
Curry is the former County Extension Coordinator in Montgomery County. He has been employed with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension since November 2006. Curry was raised in Montgomery County, graduated from Vidalia High School in 2000, attended Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College and received a Bachelors of Science in Agribusiness from Middle Tennessee State University. Extension is nothing new for Curry, whose father was also a County Extension Agent for 30 years. He was also very active in 4-H. He was a Master 4-H’er and spent four summers as a camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H center and Jekyll Island 4-H center.
What made you want to be an agriculture extension agent? “Watching my father helping farmers over the years. And of course I enjoy agriculture. I guess it just seemed like the thing to do. I like helping people and working with farmers.”
Why is the job of a county agent important? “Because farming is such a huge industry.
When I asked what is the most rewarding part of your job? “Helping people that is the biggest thing,” he said.
Farming has always been a part of the new Agent’s life as well. Curry’s family owns a pecan farm and pine tree farm in Emanuel County where his father is originally from. He has also grown strawberries, sweet corn, greens, tomatoes, watermelons and snap beans.
Over the last four years in Montgomery County Curry has conducted 34 applied research projects in agriculture, won seven state awards, attending over 75 trainings and conferences, been invited to speak at 12 regional meetings, four state meetings, and conducted nine farm tours. Under Mr. Curry’s supervision Montgomery County Extension raised $62,451.67 in donations, gifts, grants, and fund raisers. Montgomery County 4-H also received 11 state awards. Curry has served on nine different Extension committees, is a member of four professional associations, has authored 150 news articles, produced 200 weekly radio programs, and produced 25 county farm update newsletters.
Curry was recently promoted to Public Service Assistant through the UGA Promotion and Tenure System and received the King Cotton award for significant contributions to the cotton industry. He also received the Southeast District Young Professional award and the State Young Professional award. He will travel to the National Association of County Agriculture Agents annual meeting in Kansas in August to be recognized for winning the state award.
The Agent says he is excited to be working with the citizens of Appling County. “I’m looking forward to work in such a large agriculture county like Appling is. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Shane and his wife Jessica married July 31, 2010. They currently reside in Lyons. His wife is student teaching in Metter and plans to graduate in May from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
He enjoys hunting and fishing, playing the guitar, and said, “on Saturday’s in the fall I’ll be in Athens cheering on the Bulldogs.” He does a lot of barbecue competitions specializing in cooking Boston butts, pork shoulders and ribs. He cooks everything on his “Bubba” grill. He and his wife both enjoy going to the competitions. Shane asked his wife to marry him at a barbecue competition and had the proposal spelled out in BBQ sauce on a rack ribs.
He loves Appling County and said, “Everyone I’ve met seems to be real nice.”
The extension office will be having a reception on February 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Agent Education building to give the citizens an opportunity to meet new extension agent Shane Curry.
The Extension Education building is located behind the office of the Cooperative Extension.
As an agriculture county agent he deals with anything from lawn grass, to pecans, blueberries and row crops.
He discussed other things that he has dealt with and said, “I have dealt with the problem of how to handle deer eating crops, weeds growing in ponds and how to get rid of them including bugs getting on flowers.” On a daily basis he mostly works with farmers.
What are the challenges? “Meeting everybody. The challenges pertaining to the job I would have to say is staying on top of any type of diseases that have an effect on agriculture.”
When I asked Curry how are you going to face those challenges? He said, “If there is something that I can’t quite figure out I can call the large staff of the Cooperative Extension at the University of Georgia. Yesterday I took a picture with my phone and asked them can you identify this disease? Within five minutes I had it identified. The next time you see it then you’ll know what it is.”
What is the biggest change in agriculture? “One thing is the price of cotton is high. Just in the last year it has risen substantially. And there will be a lot more cotton grown this year. China is one of the biggest buyers of cotton from the U.S. China and Pakistan faced floods and lost their main supply of cotton. When he was in high school cotton was only $.30 cent a pound now it is over $1.00. Cotton is one of the best crops to grow on dry land,” Curry said.
Curry is the former County Extension Coordinator in Montgomery County. He has been employed with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension since November 2006. Curry was raised in Montgomery County, graduated from Vidalia High School in 2000, attended Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College and received a Bachelors of Science in Agribusiness from Middle Tennessee State University. Extension is nothing new for Curry, whose father was also a County Extension Agent for 30 years. He was also very active in 4-H. He was a Master 4-H’er and spent four summers as a camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H center and Jekyll Island 4-H center.
What made you want to be an agriculture extension agent? “Watching my father helping farmers over the years. And of course I enjoy agriculture. I guess it just seemed like the thing to do. I like helping people and working with farmers.”
Why is the job of a county agent important? “Because farming is such a huge industry.
When I asked what is the most rewarding part of your job? “Helping people that is the biggest thing,” he said.
Farming has always been a part of the new Agent’s life as well. Curry’s family owns a pecan farm and pine tree farm in Emanuel County where his father is originally from. He has also grown strawberries, sweet corn, greens, tomatoes, watermelons and snap beans.
Over the last four years in Montgomery County Curry has conducted 34 applied research projects in agriculture, won seven state awards, attending over 75 trainings and conferences, been invited to speak at 12 regional meetings, four state meetings, and conducted nine farm tours. Under Mr. Curry’s supervision Montgomery County Extension raised $62,451.67 in donations, gifts, grants, and fund raisers. Montgomery County 4-H also received 11 state awards. Curry has served on nine different Extension committees, is a member of four professional associations, has authored 150 news articles, produced 200 weekly radio programs, and produced 25 county farm update newsletters.
Curry was recently promoted to Public Service Assistant through the UGA Promotion and Tenure System and received the King Cotton award for significant contributions to the cotton industry. He also received the Southeast District Young Professional award and the State Young Professional award. He will travel to the National Association of County Agriculture Agents annual meeting in Kansas in August to be recognized for winning the state award.
The Agent says he is excited to be working with the citizens of Appling County. “I’m looking forward to work in such a large agriculture county like Appling is. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
Shane and his wife Jessica married July 31, 2010. They currently reside in Lyons. His wife is student teaching in Metter and plans to graduate in May from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
He enjoys hunting and fishing, playing the guitar, and said, “on Saturday’s in the fall I’ll be in Athens cheering on the Bulldogs.” He does a lot of barbecue competitions specializing in cooking Boston butts, pork shoulders and ribs. He cooks everything on his “Bubba” grill. He and his wife both enjoy going to the competitions. Shane asked his wife to marry him at a barbecue competition and had the proposal spelled out in BBQ sauce on a rack ribs.
He loves Appling County and said, “Everyone I’ve met seems to be real nice.”
The extension office will be having a reception on February 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Agent Education building to give the citizens an opportunity to meet new extension agent Shane Curry.
The Extension Education building is located behind the office of the Cooperative Extension.
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