Local teen spends summer with extension agents
From Staff Reports

FVSU Cooperative Extension Agent Jerald Lawson and Sherman Jenkins Jr.

A local teen is spending his summer learning more about agriculture and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Sherman Jenkins Jr., a junior at Burke County High School, was selected for the TEAM Success! program through Fort Valley State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

The eight-week experience pairs Jenkins with FVSU Cooperative Extension Agent Jerald Lawson, who serves Burke, Emanuel and Jefferson counties. Lawson is also spending two days each week with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agent Roosevelt McWilliams.

"I'm very excited to begin this experience because I believe it will give me the opportunity to learn first-hand what an extension agent does and hopefully will help guide me into my future career," Jenkins said.

Jenkins will visit homes and farms with the agents and help out with office responsibilities, ranging from preparing soil samples for shipment to preparing materials for extension workshops.

"He's doing a super job so far," McWillaims said of Jenkins.

Jenkins and the six other participating students statewide were recommended for the program by their school teachers, administrators or community leaders.

The students were required to have a 2.0 or higher grade point average and have an interest in extension. The students are paid a $1,600 stipend for the eightweek session.

Dr. Carol Ann Johnson, associate dean for the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program, said that TEAM Success!, which stands for teaching, enlightening, achieving and mentoring, offers students an opportunity to learn more about FVSU, an 1890-land grant university, and its extension program.

"They'll discover the rewards of working as an extension employee and see first-hand the issues that impact their home counties," she said.

Johnson added that the program will also help teach students that careers in cooperative extension and agriculture are worth exploring.