Tuesday’s (June 5) meeting of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners provided an opportunity to meet Jon Zirkle, the new MSU Extension program instructor hired recently with support from the county board.
Bruce MacKellar, now serving as an Extension educator in Van Buren County, introduced Zirkle and said, “It’s been awhile since we’ve had a person that’s been completely dedicated to St. Joe County ag.”
Bruce MacKellar (right), Extension educator in Van Buren County, introduced Jon Zirkle, new Extension program instructor in St. Joseph County, during Tuesday's meeting of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners.
MacKellar said that Zirkle will work on a number of field crops issues, work with the seed corn industry, and do a lot of work with pest management.
In brief remarks to the commission, Zirkle said he has recently come back from the University of Vermont, is originally from central Indiana – Henry County, east of Indianapolis – and is “real interested in small grains.”
County Board Chairman Rick Shaffer welcomed Zirkle and said, “We’re looking forward to getting better acquainted.”
The addition of Zirkle to the Extension office in Centreville reflects an amended ‘Agreement for Extension Services provided by Michigan State University’ and a request to house two additional MSU employees in Annex II, both of which were approved by the board during its meeting on March 6, 2012. Tom Coon, director of MSU Extension, attended that meeting.
To hear the remarks by Bruce MacKellar and Jon Zirkle, click here (1:18 – 1.19 MB).
For additional insights regarding Jon Zirkle, click on the following link to access a Sturgis Journal story by Terry Katz: New ag instructor at Extension
Editor’s Note: This post was expanded at 12:04 a.m. 6-8-12 to add the link to the story by Terry Katz.
