Burke County's extension director to retire after 37 years of service

Sitting in her corner office that overlooks the rolling hills that are home to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and Broughton Hospital, Extension Director Spring Williams-Byrd reflected on her nearly four decades of service to Burke County residents.

From helping farmers navigate droughts to guiding young people through 4-H programs, Williams-Byrd’s work has touched thousands. However, at the beginning of April, she will close out her 37-year career with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Burke County Center.

The passion for her work began long before she held a professional title. From 6 years old, Williams-Byrd was involved in 4-H, where she found her passion for agriculture and civic engagement, growing into a confident leader.

Originally from Caldwell County, Williams-Byrd first joined the North Carolina Cooperative Extension professionally in 1989 as the 4-H program assistant for Caldwell County. After a few years, she joined Burke County as the 4-H agent. She briefly went to work in Watauga County as the 4-H agent before returning to Burke County, where she has been ever since.

In her early years with the Cooperative Extension, her work centered around building youth programs throughout the community, starting clubs, and in-school enrichment. She worked with local schools to operate after-school programs and helped run both the Oak Hill 4-H daycare and summer programs.

“We had probably close to 50 to 60,000 youth from the county, who went through the program during those few years,” Williams-Byrd said.

While she eventually moved into leadership as the county’s extension director, youth development and community education have always remained at the center of her work. The experience she gained as a child through 4-H helped pave the way for Williams-Byrd as a leader.

“I learned a lot. I mean, a big thing in 4-H is public speaking and building that confidence and leadership is a big part of it,” she said. “My 4-H agent at the time was sharing all this with me, and I thought ‘I can do this,’ so I guess that’s what really got me to stay with the extension to see how I can make a difference for other kids.”

As county director, her role expanded to overseeing the extension office as a whole and guiding programs that serve Burke County residents.

Much of that work involves supporting agriculture, which is one of North Carolina’s largest industries. Farmers and agribusinesses provide over $100 billion in annual contributions to the state’s economy, according to the North Carolina Chamber.

Extension programs like Burke County’s are vital to helping farmers adapt to changing drought and flooding conditions, as well as preserving farmland.

The Burke County office regularly hosts workshops and meetings for farmers, including cattlemen’s banquets and land summits that focus on farmland preservation. Those programs often bring together farmers, attorneys, and industry experts to discuss topics ranging from legal protections for farmland to sustainable agricultural practices.

While large commercial farms are more common in the eastern part of the state, many Burke County farmers run smaller operations. One recent effort has focused on providing fresh food to senior centers for programs like Meals on Wheels. With a grant, the extension has been able to purchase that food from local farmers and supply it to the centers.

Another project Williams-Byrd said she’s especially proud of is the Burke County Extension Outdoor Learning Center, which is on donated land just off Lost Corner Road. The property is intended to become a space where residents can learn about agriculture, conservation, and the outdoors.

Looking back, she credits several extension mentors who influenced her career success, and the county’s approximately 500 volunteers, who just last year, gave about 77,000 hours of service to the county’s programs.

After decades of service, preparing to retire is emotional. She plans to spend her retirement traveling, and having already visited all 50 states and 17 countries, Williams-Byrd said she has her eyes set on Ireland next. No matter where she goes, though, her lifelong work will stay close to her heart.

“I love what I do.”