DATE:    10/15/96
CONTACT: Bruce Johnson, (803) 365-6715
WRITER:  Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343

County Agents Honored
For Distinguished Service

     CLEMSON -- Four Clemson Extension agents have been
recognized nationally for their outstanding work.
     James Sweeney of Chesterfield County and Bruce Johnson of
Horry County received Distinguished Service Awards at the
National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA)
national meeting in Nashville, Tenn. in September. The DSA is the
highest award for a county agent with 10 years or more in
Extension.
     Sweeney has been with the Clemson Extension office in
Chesterfield County since 1970. He was named county director in
1986 and cluster director for Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon
counties in 1993.
     He holds a B.S. degree from S.C. State University and an
M.S. from Appalachian State University. He and his wife Gladys
have two children.
     Sweeney was cited for developing strong agricultural
programs for both limited resource and commercial farmers. That
includes establishment of a farmer's market and buying and
grading station for small vegetable producers, and financial
workshops, production meetings and demonstrations for commercial 
farmers. He also developed a strong county 4-H program.   
     Johnson is a veteran of 15 years with Clemson Extension. He
holds a B.S. degree in animal science and an M.S. in agronomy,
both from Clemson. He and his wife Anna live in Conway.
     He was singled out for helping farmers adapt greenhouses to
produce high quality tobacco transplants, for educational
programs and demonstrations on all aspects of row crop
production, and for keeping farm supply dealers up to date with
the latest pesticide and agronomic information. He also drew
praise for educational efforts with home horticulture.
     Two other Clemson county agents were recognized in
Nashville. Achievement awards, presented to agents with less than
10 years of service, went to Marion Barnes of Colleton County and
Powell Smith of Lexington County.
     At the state association meeting in Rock Hill, Certificates
of Merit went to: Gary Forrester of Horry County, area agent for
home horticulture; Howard Hiller of Pickens County, agriculture
and horticulture agent; Hugh Gray, cluster director for Barnwell,
Bamberg, Allendale and Hampton counties; Mary Ann Allen, former
home horticulture agent in Richland County; and Randy Griffin,
vegetable and forage insect specialist and interim chairman for
the Department of Entomology. 
                               END