Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The community is invited to meet Jefferson County's new Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, De'Anthony Price, at a Meet & Greet Dinner on Monday, Aug. 15. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Jefferson County Extension Office, located at 2729 W. Washington St. Dinner will be provided by Johnston's BBQ Catering, and the cost is free.
Price looks forward to meeting growers and residents to hear about the needs and goals in the the local agricultural community.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Ga., Price discovered his passion for agriculture at the age of 15 during a mission trip to Honduras. There he saw first hand the impact that sustainable agricultural practices can have on addressing hunger in a local community and its importance for the overall health of a food system. A few years later, he was formally studying agriculture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga., where he earned his B.S. Degree with a specialty in Agricultural Communication.
Upon graduation, Price was all set to devote three years to a Peace Corps project as an agricultural extension agent in the Republic of Senegal in West Africa. It was the spring of 2020, however, and he, like many others at that time, had to adjust his plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. Price turned his profound disappointment around by continuing his education closer to home, earning a M.S. Degree in Plant and Soil Science (Agronomy) from Alabama A&M University. Although Price has experience in agri-marketing, vegetable/herb research and cropping systems design, he sees communication as the key to success as an agricultural agent.
As the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Jefferson County, Price is tasked with educating and providing scientific knowledge in the community. Situations may range from meeting with growers to being a guest speaker at a preschool; it might mean developing a farmer's market or helping landowners implement sustainable practices with their natural resources.
“I specialize in sustainability,” emphasizes Price. “Another goal that I highlight is providing support for minority farmers in this area. I want to get out, shake hands, smile,” he says. “One of the main things about being a community-based job is gaining trust, and then you take it from there.”
For more information, contact Price at (850) 342-0187.
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