About Us

Learn what the Alachua County Extension Office can do for YOU!

Extension Agents & Staff

Cindy Sanders, County Extension Director
Matt Benge, 4-H Youth Agent
Aparna Gazula, Commercial Horticulture Agent
Brenda Williams, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent
Wendy Wilber, Environmental Horticulture Agent
Barton Wilder, Ag. & Natural Resources Agent

Renee Nelm, Administrative Coordinator
Peggy Vanyo, Staff Assistant
Sharon Robinson, Office Assistant

What is the Alachua County Cooperative Extension Service?

• We are an off-campus branch of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
• We provide scientific and problem solving information to Alachua County residents.
• We offer educational programs in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, community development, and 4-H youth development.
• We are supported by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, University of Florida, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What are the educational and technical assistance programs we provide?

Commercial Agriculture and Home Horticulture

• gardening advice
• crop and livestock recommendations
• soil testing information
• pest and plant disease identification and recommendations
• restricted-use pesticide training

Family and Consumer Science

• nutrition information
• food preservation and safety
• personal and family finances: budgeting, household inventory, insurance, estate planning
• consumer issues and credit rights
• housing and home environment.

4-H Youth Development

• 4-H club organization
• 4-H school enrichment program

How can Alachua County residents use Cooperative Extension programs?

• call us with your questions, or visit the Extension Office.
• order some printed material from us
• get involved in Extension-sponsored workshops
• schedule a seminar for your group or organization
• subscribe to a newsletter
• become a volunteer in our 4-H or gardening programs
• enroll your children ages 5-18 in 4-H programs
• send your child to a 4-H camp
• access us by computer using the World-Wide-Web

Mission of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service

Our mission is to provide scientifically based agricultural, human and natural resource knowledge that citizens use in making decisions which contribute to an improved life.

Extension programs strengthen decision making, knowledge application, economic security, environmental care and leadership skills for all citizens. Issues addressed are identified through citizen, community and university involvement. These programs are supported by the University of Florida cooperatively with county, state and federal government.

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