Manatee County Ag and Extension Service Division to switch departments

Manatee County’s Agriculture and Extension Service Division, previously in the Community Services Department, will now be a new division of the county Parks and Natural Resources Department.

County Administrator Ed Hunzeker sent a memo to agriculture and extension service employees Tuesday announcing the transition.

“The new organizational structure will align two groups that have worked for many years to enhance and enrich our natural resources while educating thousands of Manatee County residents about the importance of land conservation and stewardship,” Hunzeker said in the memo. “The two programs will now have unique access to each other’s resources and can help promote and complement each other.”

Samantha Kennedy will remain ag and extension service manager, according to the memo.

Herald staff report

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Manatee County Ag and Extension Service Division to switch departments."