Five months after losing its agriculture agent, Oconto County is close to hiring a replacement.
Two finalists were interviewed Monday by the Extension Education Committee of the County Board, after advancing from an initial interview conducted by University of Wisconsin-Extension personnel.
According to Guy Gooding, committee chair, both candidates were well-qualified and would be a good fit for the county. The committee selected a top candidate and an alternate and forwarded the recommendation to state UW-Extension officials.
“We hope to have a commitment back from the state in a week or two,” Gooding said.
The position has been vacant since Abby Huibregtse left Feb. 20 to take an associate editor position at Hoard’s Dairyman and to get married.
Although only three individuals applied for the position, university officials determined it was a strong enough candidate pool to continue the hiring process.
“They felt that although they didn’t have quantity, they had quality,” said John Pinkart, Nutrition Education Program coordinator and head of the Oconto County UW-Extension Department.
An agriculture agent provides programming and resources for ag producers and the community at large. The position is financially supported by a partnership between the county and the state, and Pinkart said Oconto County has been anxious to fill the position.
“We hope to have someone here by the fair,” Gooding said.
The Oconto County Fair takes place from Aug. 22-25 in Gillett.
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