GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Annie Sheldon’s job changed the moment she was appointed the new UF/IFAS County Extension Director.

Field trips and summer camps were replaced by virtual classes as COVID-19 essentially shut down most public gatherings. While the way information is distributed has changed, the mission hasn’t, Sheldon said.

“We had to make a transition to doing our programs virtually,” she said. “The biggest part was how we adjusted. It was a challenge. All of a sudden, everything was on Zoom.”

Sheldon took over in an interim role for Dr. Brad Burbaugh in December when he moved to Daytona Beach. She officially was selected by the University of Florida and Clay County as the fulltime director in May, but the announcement was delayed when county officials were forced to deal with the pandemic.

Sheldon said the coronavirus made a devastating impact on state agriculture and meat production since many workers were quarantined during harvest and slaughterhouses were closed as a precaution.

An essential part of the recovery will be restoring the food supply chain, she said.

Sheldon served as the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Clay County for the past four years and has more than 10 years of Extension experience. Prior to coming to Clay County, she spent the first six years of her career as Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Family Nutrition Program Coordinator in Orange and Alachua counties. She holds a B.S. in Dietetics from the University of North Florida and a Master of Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida.

In her new role, Sheldon will provide leadership for and coordinate the efforts of the Clay County Extension team in developing an effective overall county Extension program.

“When I was younger, I was always involved in 4-H,” she said. “I still am.”

Only now, most of it is done online.

UF/IFAS Extension Clay County provides science-based information and educational programs to citizens, helping them solve problems related to agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, youth, families and community issues. Additionally, UF/IFAS Extension offers opportunities for youth and volunteers through the 4-H Youth Development Program and Florida Master Gardener Program. For more information call 904-284-6355 or visit https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/clay/.