Williams is taking the position vacated earlier this year by Bert Coffer, who now serves as the Moore County Extension director.
Williams’ appointment was approved Feb. 4 by the Richmond County Board of Commissioners and was announced by Dr. Jon Ort, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, based at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
In recent years, Williams has served as specialized agent for alternative crops for three Sandhills counties, Lee, Moore and Richmond. Prior to that he was horticulture agent for Lee County.
Coffer was in a regional directors’ meeting last week and was not available for comment, but it is feared that, because of the state economic crisis, the Extension Service will not be able to replace Williams at this time.
Since 1998, Williams has worked with tobacco growers to identify and adapt new income sources from small fruits, melons and other produce crops. This effort led to the formation last year of the Sandhills Fresh Produce Cooperative Inc. last year. Members raise cantaloupes, herbs and lettuce for sale to chain stores and food service industries.
Williams was among the Extension agents who escorted a group of Chinese scientists on a visit of local tobacco farms two years ago. At that time, China was considering lifting a ban on the purchase of American tobacco, an action that would open the market for North Carolina tobacco. China did later lift the ban, after the scientists determined that tobacco fields were not infested with blue mold.
“Taylor’s vision for the Cooperative Extension program for Richmond County will match the university resources with the needs of the people,” said Danny Shaw, director of the Cooperative Extension Service’s South Central District, which includes Richmond County. “He brings with him a wide variety of professional experience, excellent performance and leadership skills that will be a great asset in his new role.”
The Cooperative Extension Service is an educational agency supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, N.C. State University, and North Carolina A&T State University. A staff of agents in each county, backed by specialists at the two land-grant universities, conducts educational programs related to agriculture and forestry, home economics, 4-H, community and rural development, and other issues of concern to North Carolinians. The Extension Service is headquartered in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NCSU.
