Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Susan Ballabina, 979-862-3932, sg-ballabina@tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has named Marty Gibbs as the new District Extension Administrator in District 7 effective Oct. 13.
The announcement was made by Dr. Susan Ballabina, AgriLife Extension interim associate director for county programs at College Station.
Gibbs will be headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center located north of San Angelo on U.S. Highway 87.
“It is my pleasure to welcome Mr. Gibbs to the central leadership team,” Ballabina wrote in her announcement to the state’s AgriLife Extension staff. “Mr. Gibbs has enjoyed a successful career as a county Extension agent. He began his career in 1990 and has served in three counties. He has received numerous awards from Extension professional associations, as well as external organizations. He has also served in leadership roles within Extension professional associations.
“I look forward to the contribution he will make and the leadership he will provide as the district Extension administrator in District 7.”
District 7, also known as the West Central District, is comprised of 23 counties: Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Concho, Fisher, Irion, Jones, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mills, Nolan, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Shackelford, Sterling, Taylor and Tom Green.
Gibbs earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M University at College Station in 1989 and a master’s degree also in animal science from Angelo State University at San Angelo in 1996.
Gibbs previously served as the AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Runnels County, where he has served as the county coordinator and agriculture and 4-H program coordinator since 2000. He also began his AgriLife Extension career in Runnels County as an assistant county Extension agent from 1990-1992.
In the interim between the two Runnels County appointments, Gibbs served as the AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture in Coleman County from 1992-1997 and as the AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Comal County from 1997-2000.
Gibbs has been honored with the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association County Extension Agent Award; the Texas Extension Specialists Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award and with the Distinguished Service Award from both the National Agriculture County Agents Association and Texas County Agriculture Agents Association. He also has received an Epsilon Sigma Phi Certificate of Meritorious Service and was named Citizen of the Year from the Ballinger Junior Chamber of Commerce.
His professional agency affiliations include memberships and various levels of participation in the Texas County Agriculture Agents Association and Epsilon Sigma Phi.
He is currently a member of the Texas Lamb Breeders Association and the Texas and American Southdown Breeders Association.
Gibbs assumes the position formerly held by Scott Durham, who retired Aug. 31 following a 35-year career with the agency.
For more information contact Gibbs at 325-365-2219, mj-gibbs@tamu.edu .
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