Jason Dean / CC
Manitowoc County has been without a full-time “Ag Educator” since the retirement of Scott Gunderson last August and County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer admits he’s frustrated by the lack of progress in finding a replacement.
The hiring process goes through The UW-Extension in Madison which has implemented a hiring freeze for the better part of a year.
Ziegelbauer says the Extension appeared willing to do some hiring, however, “They reorganized their staff and they were going to share several agents with five different Counties but we didn’t want to do that.”
Ziegelbauer explains that full-time management and dedication are a necessity here.
“It’s the second leading measurer of the County’s economy behind manufacturing and it’s a big deal here,” Ziegelbauer explained. “Not just dairy but all agriculture. We have to have a full-time reference point with the UW-Extension for an AG Educator.” AGENT 2 Q: agricultural educator
The County Executive adds that farmers and producers concerns have been redirected to other county AG Educators, “but it’s not a permanent thing and doesn’t work as well as a full-time AG Educator here In Manitowoc County.”
Sixty percent of the salary is paid by the Extension and forty percent by counties but Ziegelbauer says “time is of the essence so we (The County) will pay the full salary.”
He’s hopeful that the new AG Educator will be hired by September.
