Hart County Welcomes New Extension Agent
Hart County Extension Office has a new Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent.
He is Josh Halpin. Halpin started his new job on May 1. He is a graduate of UGA with a degree in agri-business, and received his Master’s degree in range management from Texas A&M.
He comes to Hart County from Montana where he was employed by the Bureau of Land Management. Halpin is a native of Canton, Georgia.
Meantime, UGA’s Extension Service continues to search for a new county extension agent in Franklin County.
County manager John Phillips tells WLHR News, he has been told by the Extension Service officials they have narrowed their search down to three potential candidates, but he has not received any word on who those candidates are.
Phillips said he expects Extension Service officials will submit the final three candidate list to him to give to the Board of Commissioners for their review.
However, he said, the county commission will have no say in who UGA hires for Franklin County. Franklin County has been without a County Extension since the retirement of Ricky Josey last fall.
Earlier this year, Phillips said UGA requested the county increase the Extension Agent’s travel allowance to $4,000 a year and provide a county vehicle. The board agreed to that request.