Get to Know Extension: Carl Stafford

Carl Stafford is a senior Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent specializing in animal sciences. For four decades, he has helped Virginia farmers apply research-based solutions to local agricultural challenges through hands-on education and community partnerships.

Based in Culpeper since 1985, Carl has supported countless producers and volunteers while mentoring new Extension professionals. He holds a master’s in career and technical education from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s in agriculture from Berea College. Recognized with state and national honors, he remains an active leader in advancing sustainable agriculture across the commonwealth.

What does Extension mean to you?

“Extension is about sharing research-based facts that people can trust and use in their own communities. The county agent connects local people to the university, taking research and applying it to solve local problems.”

How did you get started in Extension?

“I was 25, teaching school at the time, and barely making ends meet on a 12-month contract. When the local Extension agent retired, I applied for the job—and got it. That was 1985. I ended up in Culpeper, which turned out to be the right place for me.”

Did your family have ties to farming?

“Yes. My grandparents were farmers, and they always respected their county agent. I’d driven through Culpeper all my life, so settling here was like coming home, it made sense.”

Tell us about a moment or project that made you especially proud to work for Extension.

“One of my proudest moments was helping a group of girls learn to work cattle. I remember one girl’s eyes lighting up as she said, ‘I like this.’ Eventually, we had an all-girl cattle working team working with FFA and the teachers there.  This team didn’t win the competition, but they came close—and they did everything themselves: catching and moving cattle, giving shots, the whole process. It gave them confidence, and today all three are successful in agriculture in their own way. They were even featured in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences magazine, which was a big deal at the time.”

You also helped bring the Carver Food Enterprise Center to life.

“Yes. It started with a simple question about canning. I talked it over with my wife, Paula, and she encouraged me to keep exploring the idea. From there, I began making contacts around Culpeper. By 2012, we started serious conversations with county leaders, and in 2014 we gained nonprofit status. That gave us the structure to grow the George  Washington Carver Agriculture Research Center into 2025.

“More than 10 years later, the Carver Center has become something much bigger—connecting farm production, nutrition, food processing, business incubation, and education. It’s about linking agriculture with human nutrition, culture, and opportunity. Farmers grow food, but when they see how it’s used, they discover new ways to add value and expand their possibilities.”

What is your greatest contribution to Extension?

“Graze 300 VA, a brand Bobby Clark brought to life together we developed a program  now with 40 agents and specialists buying in across Virginia.  It is the result of years of collaboration with campus specialists and field agents. It began at the Rapidan Fire Hall in March 2005 and has since grown into a statewide effort that helps small producers compete with larger operations by extending the grazing season and reducing their biggest cost – stored feed. When big farms are feeding hay and small farms are grazing they can compete.”

What do you see as the biggest challenges in agriculture today?

“Tradition. ‘This is how it’s always been done’ is hard to overcome. Young farmers are changing that by adopting technology—using precision equipment, GPS, and automated systems. At the same time, older practices like grazing still hold value. The key is knowing when to use tradition and when to innovate.”

What’s the biggest misconception about Extension?

“That people don’t know who we are—or that we only serve farmers. Many homeowners don’t realize Extension is for them too, and that most of our services are free. 4-H is often the first way people discover us, but we serve the entire community.”

What advice would you give a new farmer?

“Work with neighboring farmers who are doing what you’re interested in. Learn from them, gather as much advice as you can, and then make informed decisions.”

Paula, what have you learned about Extension since Carl started working there?

Paula Stafford: “Before Carl, I didn’t really know what Extension was—like most people in Virginia. Over the years, I learned by listening to him talk about his work.

“He often came home with challenges from the field, and I could think about them freely without the pressure he had—no committees or politics. I’d toss out ideas, and sometimes they stuck. That teamwork played a role in projects like the Carver Center. Even if my idea wasn’t perfect, it might spark something useful.

“Carl never let ego get in the way, and he values women’s perspectives, which has helped him in an office full of women. So, while I wouldn’t call myself an Extension agent, I’ve definitely been part of the process—offering ideas and support while he makes them real.”