Aubrey Shirley, who began employment with the Tattnall County Extension Service as an Agricultural Agent in August of 2016, has now assumed the position of County Extension Coordinator effective November 1, 2024, according to an announcement made at the November 4 Tattnall County Commissioners' meeting.

He holds a Master of Science in Crop and Soil Science degree, earned from the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2011, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Geography in 2008 from UGA.

Shirley is heavily involved in researching the center rot disease of Vidalia sweet onions. He works with other agents at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center (VOVRC) on the yearly variety trials, which consist of about 50 onion varieties, most of which are Vidalia cultivars, with red and white onions studied as well.  The resulting onion research has been presented at numerous state and national conferences.

"These trials are important because they provide yield and flavor information to growers every year," said Shirley.

Other current projects in which Shirley is involved include citrus research, yearly peanut and cotton variety trials, and most recently the conducting of corn variety trials at the VOVRC.

"I am honored to serve as the Extension Coordinator, and I will continue my services to the agricultural segment of the county," said Shirley.

Shirley and his wife, Dr. Erika Tootle Shirley, of Reidsville, have two sons, nine-year-old Wyatt and seven-year-old Wynn. Since 2015, Dr. Shirley has been a  veterinarian at Four Rivers Veterinary Center in Vidalia, where her primary focus is on small animals, mainly cats and dogs.