Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal receives AgriLife Extension in the City Award

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]

COLLEGE STATION – Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal has received the Extension in the City Award given by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

The award was presented to Neal at the recent Texas A&M AgriLife Conference held at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The award honors elected leaders whose support of AgriLife Extension has significantly contributed to the success of growing the agency’s educational outreach to urban audiences.

Neal has served as Nueces County Judge since 2007. He was honored for continuous support of AgriLife Extension outreach programs, including the current Healthy South Texas Initiative.

“Judge Neal’s support of Extension has maximized the agency’s efforts of educating thousands of individuals and youth throughout the county in a wide variety of disciplines,” said Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director, College Station.

According to the award nomination, Neal has been influential in the development of two major event centers, leading to economic development. The centers have served as venues for major AgriLife Extension programs, including an annual three-day agricultural literacy event for 1,200 third-graders and the annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show involving 1,200 youth exhibitors and 5,000 exhibits.

According to the award nomination, Neal has always worked to ensure the availability of resources needed to maximize AgriLife Extension efforts. For example, thanks to county funding, AgriLife Extension agents now have a demonstration assistant to help conduct more on-farm demonstrations and the horticulture program has greater capacity to oversee the Master Gardeners in providing a garden at every public school and throughout the community.