When something feels off with a specialty crop like peaches, apples, or horseradish, one phone number growers may have on speed dial is Elizabeth Wahle. Since 2002, Wahle has been with University of Illinois Extension, assisting growers through production questions, while helping colleagues carry out Extension’s mission of extending knowledge and supporting communities. Wahle will retire from Extension in April after 24 years of helping specialty growers build and sustain viable food webs and ecosystems.
Over the course of her Extension career, Wahle has held educator roles in agriculture and horticulture that have led to her current statewide Extension specialist in Agriculture and Agribusiness role. Her work has focused primarily on the Illinois commercial specialty crop industry, including vegetable, horseradish, small fruit, and tree fruit production, while also supporting consumer horticulture programming in the Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair county area.
“We are thankful for Elizabeth and grateful for her years of dedication to Extension,” says Travis Burke, assistant dean and program leader for agriculture and agribusiness at Illinois Extension. “Countless colleagues and partners have expressed that the mentorship and experiences she shared with them through the years are immeasurable.”
Throughout her career, Wahle coordinated and contributed to numerous local and state educational programs for growers and industry professionals through continued research. Illinois Extension-led events include the Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School, Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School, Illinois Horseradish Growers School, and the Gateway Green Industry Conference.
Source : illinois.edu