LUBBOCK — A veteran county agent who has served agricultural producers on the High Plains for two decades has been named South Plains District Director for Agriculture by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Jett V. Major, currently extension agent for agriculture in Hockley County, will begin his new duties Sept. 15. “We are extremely pleased to have Jett assume the position of district Extension director for agriculture for the South Plains region,” said Dr. Zerle L. Carpenter, state Extension director, in announcing the appointment.
“Jett has a solid record of performance as a county agent, including seven outstanding years in Hockley County where he gave leadership to a diversified agriculture program,” Carpenter said. “His leadership and partnering skills will be keys to a continued strong Extension program in the South Plains as he teams with Dr. Kathy Volanty, district Extension director for family and consumer sciences.”
Major replaces Dr. Bob Robinson, South Plains District director for the past 12 years, who has transferred to the Panhandle District at Amarillo. “Jett is an excellent choice,” Robinson said. “He has been an outstanding agent and will provide strong support and guidance for the agents and educational programs in this district.”
As district director, Major will supervise the agricultural agents in 20 counties surrounding Lubbock. The Extension Service is an off-campus educational arm of the Texas A&M University System.
Major, 43, was born in Amarillo and grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Groom. He holds an associate of science degree in agriculture business from Clarendon College, graduated cum laude from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, and holds a master of education degree from Texas Tech.
He joined the Extension Service in 1977 as an assistant agent and 4-H coordinator in Lubbock County. In 1979 he was named Extension program leader and trainer agent in Floyd County. In 1982, Major moved to Lamb County as ag program leader and trainer agent. He has served in Hockley County since 1990.
“I have always enjoyed working with people on a county level and keeping them current with changes in agricultural technology and policy,” Major said. “It will be even more challenging to coordinate this effort on a district basis.
“These 20 counties are consistently among the top agricultural producers in Texas, with some of the nation’s most progressive farmers and ranchers. We have an outstanding Extension faculty of county agricultural agents, integrated pest management agents and subject matter specialists. My goal is to continue to strengthen the district’s reputation for service to the producers and the families of this area.”
Major has been active in community affairs in each of the counties he has served, and in numerous regional, state and national groups. He is active in the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Epsilon Sigma Phi national honorary Extension fraternity, Texas Agricultural Irrigation Association, Levelland Area Chamber of Commerce and Hockley County Farm Bureau.
Among his awards as an agent are the Texas A&M Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, Distinguished Service Award of the Hockley County Soil and Water Conservation District, Community Service Award of the Levelland Chamber of Commerce, two Superior Service Awards from Extension, two Outstanding Young Men of America awards, Outstanding County Extension Agent Award of the Texas Plant Food Industry and Distinguished Service Awards of both TCAAA and NACAA.
Major is married to the former Lynette Bichsel. They have two daughters, Carey, 17 and Casey, 13.
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