Granville County Cooperative Extension Director Paul Westfall has retired after 36 years of service in the profession. He was honored on Oct. 29 with a retirement reception at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center.
Westfall served as County Extension Director (CED) in Granville County since 2008 and was the CED for both Granville and Person Counties for five of those years. Over the course of his career, he worked with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
Westfall noted that the welcome he received in Granville County had been warm and encouraging. “None of the things I have been able to do would have been possible without the people around me,” Westfall said of his experience here. “Those I have worked with professionally and out in the communities, they are top notch people. I thank them for working with me and for what they do.”
In September of 2019, Westfall was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) by the National Association of County Agriculture Agents, presented to members who conducted outstanding programs and held in high esteem by their fellow workers.
Among those on hand to wish Westfall well in his retirement were colleagues, coworkers and friends from Granville County and from across the region. Offering congratulations from the reception podium were Dr. Richard Bonanno, Director of N.C. Cooperative Extension; Susan Kelly, District Director; Sandy Gabel, Cattlemen’s Association; Jason Falls, Citizens Advisory Board for Environmental Affairs; Harry Mills, Granville County Economic Development; Charissa Puryear, 4-H Youth Programs; Dr. Tony Cozart, Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children; and David T. Smith, Granville County Board of Commissioners.
“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, we thank Paul for his service to the people of Granville County for a job well done,” said Chairman Smith. “He has done so much for the agriculture industry, both here and in other places where he has served, and we wish him well in his retirement.”