SAN ANTONIO – Four people have recently taken positions with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Bexar County – three new faces and one already familiar to the office.
AgriLife Extension is an educational outreach agency of the Texas A&M University System.
“We have searched to find the best qualified applicants for these positions and feel we have chosen individuals with the academic and professional experience needed to best serve the agency and its clientele,” said Kathleen Greer, the agency’s District 10 administrator. District 10, headquartered in Uvalde, oversees 21 counties in Southwest Texas served by AgriLife Extension.
The new employees at the AgriLife Extension office in Bexar County, located in the Conroy Square office complex, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr. in San Antonio, are William “Roy” Flora, Troy Luepke and Violeta Manzano.
Roy Flora is the new agriculture and natural resources agent for AgriLife Extension in Bexar County. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Flora is the new agriculture and natural resources agent for AgriLife Extension in Bexar County.
He will provide educational information and technical assistance to agricultural producers in Bexar County, plus work with agents in other counties to present AgriLife Extension programming to benefit urban and rural agriculture and agribusiness. Flora replaces Bryan Davis, who is now the AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Wilson County.
Flora said he has experience in production agriculture, starting with his family’s small cow-calf operation, as well as owning a commercial turkey farm and cow-calf herd. He currently owns and operates a small show-pig operation with his daughter and another partner.
Flora has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Texas A&M University in College Station and a master’s degree in agricultural education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. His graduate work includes completing a 21-hour principal certification program at the College of Education at Lamar University in Beaumont.
Flora was previously an agricultural science instructor at Tarkington High School in Cleveland, Texas. Prior to that, he was an adjunct welding instructor at Lee College in Baytown.
Flora was also an assistant principal of elementary and intermediate schools in Goliad and was assistant principal and counselor for Shiner Catholic School in Shiner. His teaching career has also included serving as an industrial technology instructor at Dayton High School, alternative education facilitator with Waelder Independent School District, industrial technology instructor at Alvin High School and agricultural science teacher at Refugio High School, Gonzales High School and Sharyland High School. He also served four years in the United States Army as a medical specialist.
Troy Luepke is the new water and natural resources program coordinator at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Luepke joined AgriLife Extension in Bexar County as the program coordinator for water and natural resources. Luepke has affiliations with AgriLife Extension, the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the Texas Water Resources Institute, all part of the Texas A&M University System.
Luepke will help landowners with land stewardship, vegetation improvement, wildlife enhancement and water resource management. He will also assist landowners improve water conservation in landscapes.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University in San Antonio and is now completing a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Texas A&M, College Station.
Luepke also completed a 20-year career with the U.S. Air Force and serves three years as a fireman with the Sunset Fire Department inSunset, Utah. Most recently, Luepke was a research technician with the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources inSan Antonio.
Manzano is the AgriLife Extension assistant for the Better Living for Texans program.
Violeta Manzano is the new AgriLife Extension assistant for the Better Living for Texans program. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Better Living for Texans is a statewide nutrition education program affiliated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that focuses on making healthy menu choices, stretching food dollars, food safety and the importance of physical exercise.
Manzano received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and foods from Texas State University in San Marcos.
She was previously a health and wellness intern at H-E-Band provided nutrition education at the Hays County Food Bank in San Marcos. Manzano also completed Master Wellness Volunteer program training and worked with the AgriLife Extension office in Hays County.
In addition to the employees how are new to the agency, Natalie Cervantes, previously youth gardens coordinator, has taken on a new role.
Natalie Cervantes will take on the new role of AgriLife extension agent for 4-H and youth development. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
She has now been appointed the county’s AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and youth development, replacing Greg Myles, who recently transferred to Dallas and now serves as AgriLife Extension urban youth initiatives program specialist.
Cervantes will work with Bexar County youth, adult volunteers and others to provide programming to help youth develop life skills and character.
Cervantes has a bachelor’s of science degree in entomology from Texas A&M in College Station.
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