Carroll County is excited to announce Merrill Folsom has joined their team as their Agricultural Educator.  In his new role, Merrill will work along side Agricultural Agent Paula Burke to bring ag-related educational programs, information, and resources to the Carroll County farming community. The Carroll County Extension office, located at the Carroll County Agricultural Education Center, is a partnership of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners and the University of Georgia to provide unbiased researched based information in the areas of agriculture, 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences to assist the citizens of Carroll County.

Merrill is no stranger to Carroll County.  He has resided in Villa Rica for the last 24 years and worked in Carroll County.  Early in his career, he was a livestock feed additive salesman in North Carolina for two years.  For 34.5 years he worked with the Farm Credit System with North Georgia Farm Credit, AgGeorgia Farm Credit, and the last 14 years at AgSouth Farm Credit in Carrollton.   During his tenure, he had the great opportunity to serve farmers of Carroll County with their farm and agricultural financial needs.

Merrill graduated from the University of Georgia, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Ag Economics, The Clemson Ag Finance School and the Georgia Agrileader Leadership Forum.  In his spare time, he is a partner in a small cow-calf and hay operation raising Charolais Cattle in Winston, Georgia with his father-in-law Harold Parr. He is married to Nannette Folsom for the last 26 years and they have 3 children; Abbey, Hammond and Parr. 

During his Farm Credit career, Merrill says “we had no better supporter than the Extension Service.  They were huge in my career to assist us in doing our job as lenders for the farmers we served.  I look forward to continuing my career with Carroll County and UGA Extension and I am thankful for the opportunity.”