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Gene McAvoy named Top agent

By BARBARA OEHLBECK
The highest honor that can be bestowed upon a County Extension Agent has been awarded Gene McAvoy, Hendry County Extension Director and Regional Vegetable Agent with the University of Florida/IFAS, whose office is in LaBelle.

This unexcelled award recognizes an individual who has had at least ten years with outstanding service as a member of the Cooperative Extension Service. This is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a County Agent. Only approximately one percent of County Agricultural Agents in this country ever achieve this outstanding recognition.

McAvoy’s service extends over a period of eleven years as Regional Vegetable/Horticulture Agent in Southwest Florida. He has worked with the commercial vegetable Industry covering an area of over 70,000 acres addressing the critical issues impacting growers’ economic viability and sustainability in the global market place.

In his field, Gene is recognized nationally and serves on local and state committees serving Florida growers. He is challenged on a daily basis combined with the satisfaction of educating and empowering people to solve their own horticultural and production related problems.

These factors have been prime motivators in his success, along with the devoted support of his wife and three sons. Gene’s extensive education includes both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Rutgers, New Jersey.