Ray appointed Lewis County Extension Director

At the Lewis County Agriculture Committee meeting held Friday, January 31, 2020, Shelly Ray was appointed the new Lewis County Extension Director. Ray replaces Ronnie Cowan, who recently accepted a position in Florida. University of Tennessee Western Region Director Jerry Lamb attended the meeting.

Lewis County Committee members present for the meeting were Michael King, David McPherson, Glenda Atkinson, Timmie Hinson and David Ashmore.

Ray began her career with the UT Extension Service as the Lewis County Family and Consumer Science and Youth Development agent on March 1, 2015. She assisted in implementing programs in the community such as Walk Across Tennessee to establish Lewis County as part of Healthier Tennessee, offering co-parenting classes and building the 4-H youth development program.

Applications have been released from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to hire an agriculture and resource assistant for Lewis County to work with farmers, homeowners and landowners to provide research-based information on a wide range of topics.

"The Lewis County Extension Office is always available to assists farmers, homemakers and gardeners in any way we can," Ray stated.

Ray is a Lewis County native. She and her husband, Jamie Ray, have four children, Riley, Drew, Haven and Madelyn (Mattie).

For information concerning the UT Extension program in Lewis County, call 931-796-3091.