New agents fill AgriLife Extension positions across the state

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has announced the hiring of new agents in its districts across the state.

AgriLife Extension employs county agents to serve every Texas county. These county agents are the agency’s connection with the people in communities, providing hands-on education and programming based on scientific research.

A complete county agents list can be found at https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/counties/.

The following are the individuals hired in the AgriLife Extension districts and the positions they will fill:

Disaster Assessment and Recovery, DAR, agents

Madison Pigg, Disaster Assessment and Recovery, Disaster District 11, Waco. Pigg, of Turkey, earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication and journalism from Texas A&M University. She interned at Texas Water Resources Institute during college.

“I am passionate about helping others, and I wish to someday be able to help people in the ways that others have helped me,” Pigg said. “I grew up surrounded by agriculturalists and because of this exposure, I learned my love for spreading factual information about the industry and the lives of those who are directly involved in it.”

New county agents

District 3, headquartered in Vernon

Tommy Gleghorn, agriculture and natural resources, Motley County. Gleghorn, of Matador, earned his bachelor’s in interdisciplinary agriculture and his master’s in school counseling, both at Texas Tech University. He spent the last 30 years in public education, mainly teaching science classes at the secondary level. Before that, he worked for the Matador Cattle Company for two years. Gleghorn has recently been active as an adult volunteer for the Motley County 4-H club, assisting with training judging teams. “I am very excited to serve the people of Motley County as their new AgriLife Extension agent,” Gleghorn said. “I look forward to working with ag producers, 4-H youth and any others to help bring resources and information to help improve our community.”

Dwayne Peirce, agriculture and natural resources, Wichita County. Peirce, of Iowa Park, earned his bachelor’s in agricultural education and master’s in soil science from Texas A&M. His work experience started with Western Agricultural Laboratories in Lubbock, where he worked as a field consultant and insect scout for seven years. He then moved back to Wichita County where, in addition to consulting, he worked with the family farm in production agriculture for the past 30 years. Peirce grew up operating farm equipment and working livestock. He was a part of FFA and stock shows and received his Lone Star Farmer Degree. Throughout his career, he has worked with both adults and youth, educating them in various fields of agriculture. “I love helping the agricultural community, and there’s no better place to do that than with AgriLife Extension,” Peirce said.

District 5, headquartered in Overton

Jay Diehl, agriculture and natural resources, Polk County. Diehl, of Tolar, earned his associate degree in animal science from Clarendon College, where he competed at state and national levels of livestock judging. Continuing his education at Texas Tech University, he earned his bachelor’s in agricultural leadership and education. Diehl worked for a cattle and cotton operation in Lubbock, assisting in producing 4-H and FFA youth livestock show cattle projects before moving to manage a purebred Brangus cattle operation in South Texas. He is actively seeking volunteers to help him pursue the needs of Polk County to provide the people and kids with the support and opportunities he had growing up. “I believe it’s my purpose in life to help others achieve their goals and aspirations,” Diehl said. “I find joy in knowing I can make a difference.”

Hilary Grider-Henk, agriculture and natural resources, Wood County. Grider-Henk, of Quitman, earned her bachelor’s in animal science at Texas A&M. She spent eight years with AgriLife Extension in Henderson County as a county agent for 4-H and youth development. Grider-Henk has been in many roles with Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas for the past 15 years. Growing up in the Wood County 4-H program, she participated in educational presentations, food and nutrition, fashion project, leadership development, and many parts of the horse program. She said she is excited to serve her home county on agriculture and natural resources and 4-H and youth development by providing educational and relevant programs. Grider-Henk said she also looks forward to honoring those who came before and have laid a foundation of community in Wood County.

District 6, headquartered in Fort Stockton

Cody Hada, agriculture and natural resources, Andrews County. Hada, of Andrews, earned his bachelor’s in agriculture with a minor in animal science at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.  He spent the past two years working powerlines and managing a land-clearing company in his home county. Hada grew up in the 4-H system, showing pigs as well as participating and excelling in shotgun shooting sports. Hada said he is passionate about working with the youth of Andrews County to develop their leadership capacity and will actively seek volunteers for his committees. “I hope I am able to give back as much to the community as I received when I was a part of it years ago,” he said.

Yureima Ramirez, Better Living for Texans, Ector and Midland counties. Ramirez, of Odessa, earned her bachelor’s in multidisciplinary studies at the University of Texas Permian Basin. She was an elementary school teacher in Odessa for eight years. Ramirez previously was part of the Adapt Community Solutions team, where she triaged and provided case assignment, assessments, continuity of care and discharge planning for inmates of the Dallas County jail and Dallas area psychiatric emergency departments. After moving back home, she said she joined AgriLife Extension because she enjoys educating and helping people. She said she hopes to impact families who are in need. “I not only want to impact, but I also want to be the reason families live a better and healthier lifestyle,” Ramirez said. “What I am most passionate about is being able to assist and educate my Hispanic community in their own language.”

District 9, headquartered in College Station

Brock Sanford, agriculture and natural resources, Galveston County. Sanford, of Tomball, earned his bachelor’s in soil and crop science from Texas A&M. He spent the past summer completing an internship with the AgriLife Extension office in Galveston County. Sanford grew up playing football and raising goats through FFA in high school. While he knew he wanted to make an impact in the field of agriculture, he wasn’t initially sure about the best way to do that. During college, he switched his major from agriculture economics to soil and crop science and found his true passion. Sanford said he is thrilled to embark on his career as the agriculture and natural resources agent in Galveston County. “I joined AgriLife Extension to make an impact in my community as well as contribute to the growth of agriculture in the state of Texas,” he said.

District 12, headquartered in Weslaco

Ada Beltri, Better Living for Texans, Cameron County. Beltri, of Brownsville, earned a bachelor’s in international relations from Tec de Monterrey, Mexico, specializing in children’s rights. She is currently pursuing a master’s in early childhood education at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Beltri spent the last two years as the educational programs coordinator at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art. Before that, she served as education and experience manager at the Children’s Museum of Brownsville. Beltri has worked on multiple programs to promote peace, prevent family and child violence and promote literacy among children and youth. Additionally, she co-created and produced “Voces de la Infancia,” an award-winning radio program advocating for children’s rights. Currently, her work focuses on helping and facilitating educational sessions at elementary schools and in other communities to help their gardens thrive.