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Pam Ray (seated) Anne Brock and Mike Loveless will retire from Clemson Extension on Sept. 15.

Clemson Extension losing three employees

By ANNA BROWN
Though the doors are expected to remain open at Union County’s Clemson Extension office, when three employees walk through them for the last time on Sept. 15 they will take a lot of experience with them.
County extension agents Anne Brock and Mike Loveless and administrative assistant Pam Ray are accepting retirement due to budget cuts. Mrs. Brock, the lead agent and 4-H coordinator, has been working for Clemson Extension for 20 years, Loveless for 25 and Mrs. Ray for 26.
Two employees will be left working in the office — Jeff Fellers, county extension agent in forestry and natural resources; and Jannie Gist, Expanded Food Nutrition Program coordinator and nutritional education assistant. Many offices across the state will be left with no staff.
Clemson Extension spokesperson Debbie Dalhouse said the three would be missed.
“They are good folks who have been good to a lot of people,” she said. “We really appreciate everything they have done and we want to keep that kind of support going in Union and around the state.”
Mrs. Dalhouse said Clemson Extension wants to quell any rumors that have been circulating about the office closing. Programatic support will be available for agriculture and natural resources programs for both adults and youth, she said.
Mrs. Brock, Mrs. Ray and Loveless said they were sad to leave jobs they love and they will miss the interaction they had with the public.
“I want to feel happy that I have accomplished this step in life, but it is sad because it is leaving such a void,” Mrs. Brock said.
“And it happened so fast,” Loveless added.
All three said they would remain to volunteer with the upcoming Union County Antique Farm Equipment Show and the Union County Fair. Mrs. Brock said she also would remain with the 4-H program until clubs conclude the year.
All three also said they will look for other employment positions.
Mrs. Ray went to work for Clemson Extension part time in 1984 while another employee was out on maternity leave. She later went to work full time in the Spartanburg office and then returned to Union County full time in October of that year.
Mrs. Brock said her children grew up in 4-H under the direction of then-agent Raymond Sligh, showing sheep, cattle and horses. She worked with the City of Union for 10 years before joining Clemson Extension, first as an administrative assistant. In 1996 she started working as 4-H coordinator. She went back to college, completed her degree and became lead agent in 2005.
Loveless is an Indiana native who graduated from both Purdue and Clemson. He went to work for Clemson Extension in 1985 as an area dairy agent. He was based in Newberry but worked throughout the Upstate. He came to work in Union eight years ago.
Mrs. Brock said the most rewarding thing about her job has been working with people, particularly the 4-H children.
“I got to go into the schools and watch these children grow up and learn responsibility,” she said.
4-H in Union needs more volunteers, she said.
“Whoever comes in (to coordinate 4-H) probably will not be from Union and we are going to need folks to help with the 4-Hers,” she said.
Mrs. Ray said she has made a lot of friends and she and her co-workers have been like family.
Loveless agreed.
“Out of all of the offices I have worked in, this has been the most fun to work in and the best people,” he said.
Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Brock said they often have thought if they were going to write a book about their careers, one chapter would have to be devoted to the Union County Fair — the hard work that goes on that week, the fun and the funny things that happen.
“Some of our stories we can’t tell, though,” Mrs. Ray said with a laugh.