Serving the citizens of Buncombe County since 1910, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension is a local office of NC State University. Operating in partnership with NC A&T University, Buncombe County Government, North Carolina State Government, and the USDA, our office works to support agriculture in Buncombe County.

With 1,074 farms currently in Buncombe County, agriculture contributes more than $35 million dollars to our local economy and remains a vital part of our community. Its impact extends across the state, where agriculture and agribusiness contribute over $111 billion and drive North Carolina’s economic success. 

Complete with the 4-H Club, our mission is to serve everyone from the home gardener to the commercial farmer and community members of all ages through various research-based programs, information, and education.

Our agents work as advocates for Buncombe County, within the Department of Ag and Land Resources, providing professional assistance to ensure success for all. Below is a list of our team members and their primary responsibilities:

Holly Jordan – Agriculture Agent and County Extension Director

With 16 years of service to Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, Holly serves as our County Extension Director. In this leadership role, she provides strategic oversight for all county programming, ensuring that our resources effectively meet the evolving needs of our community. Holly works at the intersection of local government and university research, managing the vital partnership between Buncombe County and NC State University to foster growth, innovation, and sustainable development across the region. 

Luke Owen – Commercial Horticulture Agent

Serving as a liaison between NC State University and Buncombe County’s green industries, Luke works closely with local nurseries, greenhouse operators, and landscape professionals. He is responsible for identifying emerging threats to plant and tree health to safeguard the region’s economic viability. Luke further supports the professional community by overseeing pesticide education, certifications, and specialized guidance in golf and athletic turf management. Through ongoing research projects worked in tandem with other counties’ Extension professionals, Luke ensures our local green industries remain innovative and informed. 

Meghan Baker – Small Farms Agent

With two decades of dedicated service to Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, Meghan is a cornerstone of support for our local small farms. She provides expert guidance on the complexities of starting a farm business, from navigating taxes and labor regulations to exploring funding options for startup costs. Beyond the business side, Meghan offers technical expertise in production for a wide variety of crops, information on equipment rental through N.C. Cooperative Extension, and is involved in the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers Association. 

Cathy Hohenstein – Family and Consumer Sciences Agent

Cathy’s role at Buncombe County Cooperative Extension includes working with community members in food, health, wellness, and nutrition. Cathy teaches proper food preservation and canning methods, SNAP Ed nutrition classes in local schools, and works with entrepreneurs establishing food businesses. Through her work she is able to provide professional advice on safe and healthy homes, food safety and quality, and a number of other subjects related to empowering residents to lead healthier lives.

Jordan English – 4H Agent

Jordan leads Buncombe County’s 4-H youth development programs, overseeing local clubs and a wide array of extracurricular activities. She works extensively within Buncombe County schools, bringing science and biology to life through hands-on educational programs. Beyond the classroom, Jordan coordinates enriching summer experiences, including overnight 4-H Camp and the Summer Fun day camps full of activities for children on Summer break. Jordan is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders through discovery and learning. 

Abby Whitaker – Livestock Agent

Drawing on years of dedicated Extension experience, Abby provides essential support to both commercial and hobby farmers throughout the region. Her expertise encompasses livestock health, pasture management, and the production of high-quality hay and forage crops, all aimed at ensuring best-practice management for local producers. Abby is also a leader of youth livestock initiatives, including the WNC Dairy Steer Program, Livestock Judging, and the WNC 4-H Pullet Project. By working closely with the WNC Beef Cattle Commission, the Mountain Cattle Alliance, and other professional organizations, she ensures Buncombe County’s livestock industry remains vibrant and well-connected.

Amanda Bremseth – EFNEP Educator

As an educator for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Amanda delivers vital USDA nutrition education to underserved families throughout Buncombe County. Representing this specialized program through NC State University, she works closely with area school children and local organizations to ensure all residents have access to research-based nutrition and healthy lifestyle guidance. By teaching essential skills in meal planning and food safety, Amanda empowers families to make informed, healthy choices, and ensures everyone has access to research-based nutrition and healthy lifestyle education. 

Alison Arnold – Consumer Horticulture Agent

Alison serves as the primary resource for home gardening and landscape education in Buncombe County. She provides expert guidance on everything from lawn care and houseplants to fruit and vegetable gardens. A cornerstone of her role is coordinating the Extension Master Gardener volunteers. Buncombe County has 92 volunteers serving in this group who support gardening programs in the local community. Whether she is identifying a mystery plant or diagnosing an outdoor pest, Alison’s work ensures that local residents have the research-based knowledge they need to grow beautiful, productive landscapes. 

Adam Coulter – Administrative Assistant

As the Administrative Assistant, Adam oversees the day-to-day functions of the office, assisting in supplies and ordering, expense and revenue budgets, producing the monthly office newsletter, and greeting and helping visitors to the office. Acting as a professional liaison between Buncombe County and NC State University, he assists the agents with their programming needs. In addition to his duties, documenting the history of Cooperative Extension in Buncombe County and writing the “On the Land” article for Edible Asheville magazine are two projects Adam is currently involved in. 

For an in-depth look at how N.C. Cooperative Extension works across North Carolina, visit: How Extension Works

To view Extension statistics, strengths, and impact, visit:  Extension Stats and Strengths

To view the 2022 Census of Agriculture Buncombe County profile, visit:  2022 Census of Agriculture – Buncombe County Profile