Alamance County Cooperative Extension Director Mark Danieley has announced that he will be transitioning to the position of Horticulture Agent and stepping away from the department’s administrative duties.

Mark has spent over 30 years in the agricultural industry with 16 years at N.C. Cooperative Extension and 12 years at the Alamance County Cooperative Extension. During the last seven years as director, Mark and his team have continued the legacy of previous directors Roger Cobb and Rett Davis by expanding programming and reaching thousands of residents through training events, farm visits, and educational programs. Most notable was the opening of the Buster Sykes Agricultural Demonstration Farm where Mark and the Alamance County Master Gardener Volunteers planted an orchard with over 300 plants with 60 different varieties of trees and small fruit plants. The orchard has become home to various hands-on programming events where residents enjoy learning new skills while sampling fresh fruit. With the help of the dedicated Master Gardeners, all fruit is donated to local food banks.

As Mark transitions into his new role as the county’s Horticulture Agent in preparation for retirement, he is planning to move forward with new projects like expanding Buster Sykes Farm to include a street tree planting demonstration area as well as walking trails for bird watching and plant identification. However, Mark is most excited that his new position will allow him more time to do what he loves – teaching and supporting Alamance County residents.

Beginning May 1, Lauren Langley who is currently the Livestock Extension Agent, will take over the Cooperative Extension’s administrative duties as interim director. Lauren is a native of Alamance County and a graduate from Southern Alamance High School where she was very active as a 4-H and FFA member. She graduated from Alamance Community College in 2008 with an associate of arts, North Carolina State University in 2010 with a bachelor of science in agricultural and extension education, and North Carolina State University in 2016 with a master’s degree in agricultural and extension education. She has been employed with North Carolina Cooperative Extension since 2011 and has been the Livestock Extension Agent in Alamance County since 2013.

Lauren and Mark, along with their team of employees and volunteers, are looking forward to continuing in their work together to support agriculture and the residents of Alamance.