Every time I tell someone where I work, they give me that blank look like I’m speaking a different language. My name is Dr. Bill Lester and I work for the University of Florida IFAS Extension Service in Hernando County as the Urban/Commercial Horticulture Agent.
So what exactly is the Extension Service? The Smith-Lever Act, passed in 1914, established the Cooperative Extension Service and provides federal funds for cooperative extension activities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Currently every county in Florida has an Extension office and our services are all free to the public.
In Hernando County, the other Extension Agents are Nancy Moores, who oversees the county’s 4-H Program for Youth Development, and Scott Taylor, who runs the Family and Consumer Science Programs. Our County Director, Dr. Stacy Strickland, is a Regional Specialized Extension Agent for Agriculture/Small Farms.
Our office provides a number of different services to county residents, all free of charge. Our volunteer Master Gardeners provide support by giving classes on gardening topics at local libraries and staffing the phones at our office to answer gardening and landscape questions. We identify insects and weeds, diagnose turf and plant diseases and recommend appropriate and safe controls, all of which could cost you a lot of money if you had to pay for these services elsewhere.
We’re working hard to expand our class topics and schedule and to be more active and meaningful in the community. Please contact our office or visit our website (or follow Hernando County FFL on Facebook) to stay updated on what we have to offer.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension Hernando County
1653 Blaise Dr., Brooksville, FL 34601
(352) 754-4433
extension.hernandocounty.us