2010s
Jessie Bland (BSA — Animal Science, ’10) was promoted to manager of promotions and marketing for the Georgia Peanut Commission. Previously, she served as the commission’s project coordinator since 2013.
Rachel McLocklin Santos (BSA — Agriculture and Applied Economics, ’10) received a presidential appointment to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency executive director for Georgia.
Ben Salter (BSA — Agriscience and Environmental Systems, ’11) is the 10th District federation manager for Georgia Farm Bureau.
Taylor Sills (BSA — Agriculture and Applied Economics, ’11) was promoted to executive director for the Georgia Cotton Commission. Sills previously served as the commission’s director of public affairs.
Matt Hestad (BSA — Agricultural Communication, ’12) has been promoted to vice president of engagement at Georgia Forestry Association.
Taylor Lee (BSA — Food Science, ’13) was promoted to associate winemaker at E. & J. Gallo Winery.
Emily Wagener (MS — Food Science, ’15) started a new job with Darifair Foods in Jacksonville, Florida, as the sales development manager.
Matthew Pace (BSA — Agriculture and Applied Economics, ’16) has been hired as a credit information analyst for AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in West Columbia, South Carolina.
Josh Dawson (MPPPM — Plant Protection and Pest Management, ’17) was selected as the 2020 Miles A. Drummond Rising Star Award recipient by the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Alumni Association. The Miles A. Drummond Rising Star Award is presented annually to ABAC alumni 29 years of age or younger who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, community service and service to the college. Dawson currently serves as the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Lowndes County through Fort Valley State University Extension.
Emily Walker (BSA — Food Science, ’17) is a plan reviewer and outreach liaison with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Katrina Laurel-Searcy (MS — Plant Pathology, ’18) is the Cook County 4-H Youth agent with UGA Cooperative Extension. In July, she was selected to be on the cover of the “My Cook Magazine,” a yearly publication in Cook County that recognizes outstanding members of the community. Laurel-Searcy was featured in a two-page spread in the magazine. She and her husband, Jonathon Van Keith Searcy (BSA — Agriscience and Environmental Systems, ’14; MPPPM — Plant Protection and Pest Management, ’17) live in Tifton, Georgia.
Bryan Tucker (BSA — Agribusiness, ’18) started a new job with the Georgia Peanut Commission as project coordinator for farm and field services.