Vicky Bertagnolli

Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent
Aiken County and the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)
Horticulture Program Team, Aiken County Cooperative Extension Office

Office: Aiken
Phone: 803-761-0431

Email: vbertag@clemson.edu

Educational Background

M.S. Entomology
Auburn University 2016

B.S. Wildlife Sciences
Auburn University 2000

A.A. General Studies
James H. Faulkner Community College 1997

Courses Taught

Virtual Master Gardener Training Course
Aiken County Master Gardener Training Course
Lexington County Master Gardener Training Course
Midlands Master Gardener Training Course
Pesticide Calibration and Safety Workshop
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Licensing Prep Course

Profile

Vicky Bertagnolli serves as a Consumer Horticulture Agent, Virtual Extension Agent, and the resident "bug geek" in Aiken County and with the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC).

After earning her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Sciences, Vicky spent seven years as a full-time research technician with Auburn University's Alabama Fire Ant Management Program while also pursuing part-time graduate studies in Auburn’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Her work focused on mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical control methods for fire ants. Alongside fire ant research, she gained hands-on experience with the Alabama School IPM Program, Alabama Pesticide Safety Education Program, and worked for a small private pest control company.

Vicky’s expertise includes imported fire ant biology and management, insect identification, and urban pest management through integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

She develops and delivers social media content at both county and team levels, appears regularly on SCETV's Making It Grow, travels statewide for speaking engagements, provides training and support for the Horticulture Team’s events and marketing efforts, and supplies horticulture-related information to local, state, national, and international audiences.

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