My program responsibilities include horticulture, land use, and public policy. Horticulture includes homes and grounds/gardening subject matter, the coordinating and management of our volunteer Master Gardener program, and insect and disease identification. It also includes work with commercial growers/producers in the areas of greenhouse, general landscaping and garden center operation. My work in land use involves the discussions with landowners on the practical and economical use of their land with links to commodity-specific colleagues, and the issues of agricultural districting, their 8 year reviews, and agricultural value assessments. Public policy includes the work with individuals, families, and communities as it relates to agricultural land use and operations and local government training.

I also have been assigned the administrative position of Agricultural Program Leader which includes my responsibility for the agricultural program area of Columbia County Cooperative Extension and the oversight of the staff doing agricultural programs and responsibilities for working with the Agricultural Program Committee. In addition, I serve as the Association's Executive Director, being responsible for the overall operation and management of the Cooperative Extension Association, working directly with and under the supervision of the Association Board President and the Board of Directors.

I can be reached via phone at (518) 828-3346, via FAX at (518) 828-3069, or via e-mail at jwa4@cornell.edu. For more information about our office hours and location, click here.

We also maintain a drop box for items/samples/etc. adjacent to the door to the main office building at the Extension Educational Center located at 479 Route 66, just north of Hudson, NY. Samples can be placed in that box any hour of the day or night. Be sure to include name, mailing address, and phone number so we can respond to you. You might also consider giving the office a call in the morning to make sure we picked up your sample. Items can be left for you in the same manner. Please call ahead of time to make the necessary arrangements. We also have a staff of Master Gardener volunteers that help staff the office a few hours every other day. Please don't hesitate to give us/them a call and leave a message. We'll get back to you. However, it is always better to submit a sample of what you want identified or diagnosed. Call for instructions.

Link to Master Gardener Information.

Link to Leadership Columbia County Brochure and Application

If you would like more information contact: Columbia@cornell.edu
Document created: April 7, 1998
Last updated: June 5, 2006
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