Virginia Tech® home

Sara Rutherford

Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sara grew up in Goochland County, Virginia and graduated from Goochland High School in 2001. Her ancestors were farmers and plant enthusiasts and she proudly carries the passions they instilled in her at a young age. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech and continues to have an appetite for learning. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in agriculture and life sciences through Virginia Tech to improve her skills as an extension educator. After attaining her horticulture degree in the early 2000’s, an internship at the Sarah P. Duke gardens at Duke University allowed her to experience the realm of public gardening. After that enjoyable experience, she became an assistant horticulturist at a golf course in the Richmond Virginia area maintaining and designing landscapes.

After a move to Charleston, South Carolina, Sara started a decade of working in floral design and floral management. This allowed her to gain experience in customer service, floral design and teaching. Sprinkled throughout her time since college, she has also worked seasonally in retail garden centers specializing in herbaceous perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, vegetables and herbs.

Sara started with Virginia Cooperative extension in January of 2017 as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Assistant in a part-time capacity. She filled that position until April of 2018 when she became the full-time Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent. In this role, she continues to expand her knowledge of commodity agriculture, livestock, commercial vegetable and berry production, water quality, soil fertility, consumer and commercial horticulture, urban agriculture among other topics. She enjoys working with local producers, landowners, homeowners, business owners and the local group of Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.

She strives to continually enhance and sustain long-lasting relationships with Greensville County and the City of Emporia as the Unit Coordinator for the Greensville/Emporia extension office. She considers herself a student and educator as there are always new things to learn and teach. She partners with the Greensville/Emporia 4-H and Family Nutrition Programs, local businesses and private organizations to provide educational support to all citizens. She is committed to serving our area to ensure farmers, ranchers, landowners, homeowners, business owners, and all others, receive her full support.