Four months after forming the Cottonwood Extension District which includes Ellis and Barton Counties, we are happy to announce that Thomas “Rip” Winkel will be joining our team. Rip’s bachelor’s degree in horticulture is from Texas A & M and his masters’ degree is through Colorado State University. He has had some unique experiences studying abroad as he pursued his masters’ degree while serving in the Peace Corps in Equador.Horticulture agents develop and deliver educational programs such as horticulture crop production, marketing and economics related to the horticulture industry, landscape design, maintenance and improvement, conservation of natural resources and pest management.