Jan. 12, 2021
Prairie County Extension’s Brent Griffin remembered for commitment to agriculture
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Griffin began as ag agent in 1998
- Became Prairie County staff chair in 2009
- Remembered by co-workers for dedication and humor
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DEVALLS BLUFF, Ark. — Brent Griffin, who spent much of the last two decades serving Prairie County as an extension agent, is being remembered not only for his dedication to agriculture, but also for his bright outlook on life.
Griffin died Sunday, Jan. 10. He was 48. He is survived by his mother, Mollie Wood Griffin, and a brother, Blake Griffin.
Griffin originally joined the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in 1998 as an extension agriculture agent in Prairie County. In 2006, he moved to the private sector, taking a position with River Valley Seed. He returned to the Cooperative Extension Service in 2009, when he was appointed staff chair in Prairie County.
During his first stint with extension Griffin worked with Hank Chaney, a former county staff chair in both Prairie and Faulkner counties, who is now an extension area agriculture and natural resources specialist.
“Brent was very sharp, very intelligent,” Chaney said. “He was also kind of mischievous. He was fun to be around.”
Still, “if we ever got in a bind, you could always depend on him,” Chaney said.
“Brent loved what he did. He really cared about his clientele. He cared about the growers and the people of Prairie County,” Chaney said. “He always went above and beyond. He was that type of agent.”
Chaney said one of Griffin’s strengths was his ability to clearly explain complex issues such as crop insurance and Farm Bill changes.
“I think he did an excellent job as staff chair,” Chaney said. “I can’t get over that he’s gone.”
Bob Scott, now director of the Cooperative Extension Service, worked quite a bit with Griffin in his former role as extension weed scientist. He remembered Griffin for going the extra mile — trying to help his growers untangle some of their more difficult production challenges.
Scott said some days, that he couldn’t help but feel a bit of a cringe when Griffin called, “because I knew it would not be an easy problem. Brent was a hard worker, always in the field, and always coming up with something new for me to come look at and help figure out.”
Jerry Clemons, Delta District director for the Cooperative Extension Service, remembered that
“he was very good at what he did. “Very respected.”
Prairie County extension agents Shea Wilson and Amy Tallent remembered Griffin as a man who warmed the office with his sense of humor.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of our colleague,” Wilson said. “Brent has been a part of our team for over a decade. He was not just a co-worker; he was part of our extension family. Brent was a real character who kept us on our toes and laughing. We are really going to miss him.”
“He was a great mentor and friend,” Tallent said. “He will be greatly missed in the Prairie County agricultural community.
A graveside service for Griffin will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe. Memorials may be sent to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 623, Beebe, Arkansas, 72012.
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Ryan McGeeney
Communications Services
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
rmcgeeney@uada.edu