The Beaufort County Cooperative Extension is now running at full capacity with the addition of a new horticulture agent. Prior to the hire of Gene Fox, the new agent, the position had been vacant for a year and a half.

Fox started on Dec. 1, filling a position that had been open after his predecessor, Jacob Searcy, left for another job, according to Rod Gurganus, Extension director.

Gurganus said it’s important that the Extension was able to hire a qualified person to fill the position because of the vast needs the county has. While Gurganus continues his work in the commercial farming sector, Fox will be available to help area homeowners with landscaping and gardening issues.

“Having someone doing that kind of work is huge with the number of people in (Beaufort) county and people that put money into landscaping,” Gurganus said. “They’re always calling, looking for answers. So having someone here to help that audience is huge.”

Fox will be training volunteers in hopes of expanding the Master Gardeners program through the Extension and cover Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

“He’ll be based here in Beaufort County, working from here and going to other counties as needed,” Gurganus said. “He’ll be in those counties looking at some sites and doing some programming. We’re excited to have him and get the position filled. He’s really excited and ready to get going. It will be good to have someone back in the lead role. County homeowners will benefit from that as well. He knows people here, he has roots here, he knows the climate and growing conditions so he understands the problems we would face and might encounter, so he can relate directly to that. It’s less of a learning curve.”

Fox, a native of western Maryland, received bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Catawba College in Salisbury, Maryland. He ended up in eastern North Carolina 15 years ago and has since worked in land management in Hyde, Tyrrell and Beaufort counties, covering an extensive array of concentrations including commercial vegetable production, farm management, wetland creation and wildlife management, he said.

Focusing heavily on botany and wildlife in college, Fox has worked for the Department of Agriculture and spent the summers working on research projects in a greenhouse at Tidewater Research Station, Fox said.

“(My experience) prepared me quite well for the issues I will face,” Fox said. “Through those different jobs and land management, in general, I have a pretty good idea about what happens around here, and I think it’s prepared me well to help folks.”

Fox said the Extension is a free resource that is undervalued at times and looks forward to helping it gain more exposure.

“I think it’s going to be great,” Fox said. “I’ve had a passion for this type of thing, and I’m happy to be here and working with the Master Gardeners and growing that program and just helping folks out.”

Beaufort County Cooperative Extension is located at 155A Airport Road in Washington. For more information, contact the Extension at 252-