January 2007 New Agents
Back row from left: Brandon Sears, Jay Hettmansperger, Daniel Wilson
Middle row: Brandi Bynum, Christy Nuetzman, Kate Vaught
Front row: Kindra Ewing, Mary McCarty, Denise Donahue
Below is more information about each New Agent:
Brandon Sears, Madison County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, has worked for nearly two years as the Extension Associate for Forages and Goat Production at Quicksand. Brandon completed a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Kentucky. While attending UK, he had a graduate assistantship in the Agronomy Department and was also a member of the UK Soils Judging Team.
Jay Hettmansperger, Casey County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, comes to Extension after working as a manager of a fertilizer company. He has been an Extension volunteer in Pulaski County and has been active in the Kentucky ChiAngus Association. Jay has a Bachelor’s in Agriculture from Purdue University. He is also is a Certified Crop Advisor and has the Beef Quality Assurance Certification.
Daniel Wilson, Wolfe County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, worked for a few months in the UK Extension Beef Premise ID Program. Daniel is from Jackson County where he was an active FFA member. He completed a B.S. in Agricultural Education from the University of Tennessee where he served as President of UT Farmhouse Fraternity and participated in Collegiate FFA.
Brandi Bynum, Trigg County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, just completed a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Kentucky. While attending UK, Brandi completed a student internship with the Fayette County Extension Office where she developed a strong interest in Extension. She was also a member of the Educators in Family and Consumer Sciences Club. Brandi grew up in Paducah.
Christy Nuetzman, Clinton County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, first worked for Extension as a summer intern in 1996. She later served as the Fayette County 4-H Youth Development Agent until leaving Extension in 2000. Christy is now living and working in her home county where she is responsible for both family & consumer sciences programs and 4-H. She has a B.S. and M.S in Family Studies from the University of Kentucky.
Kate Vaught, Campbell County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, recently completed a Master’s in Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. While attending Purdue, Kate was a Purdue Extension Intern one summer and then the following summer she worked at the state level to coordinate the intern program. Kate completed a Bachelor’s in Business from Miami University in 2004.
Kindra Ewing, Grayson County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, completed a B.A. in Biology from Lindsey Wilson College in 2004 and is one class away from finishing a M.S. in Career, Technical and Leadership Education at the University of Kentucky. Kindra was an active 4-H’er in Grayson County. In college, she participated in Student Government Association, Students Interested in Government, and Humanity Hands.
Mary McCarty, Elliott County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, has a B.S. in Animal Science and a M.S. in Career and Technical Education from Morehead State University. Mary was an Extension Summer Intern in 2006 in Elliott County and continued to work there part-time until her employment as an agent. Her major project was working with the “Clothesline of Quilts” community development project. Mary was an active 4-H’er in Indiana.
Denise Donahue, Kenton County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, is not new to Extension. She has been the 4-H Assistant in Kenton County for the past 5.5 years. Her responsibilities included being the coordinator for the 4-H School Program. While working as an assistant, Denise completed her Bachelor’s in Human Services from Northern Kentucky University.