Highland’s County’s new 4-H agent Katie Whidden just wrapped up the program’s annual banquet last week. It was a big event, with about 200 kids, parents and leaders in attendance. There were fresh flower centerpieces on the table, rows of medals on the stage and even strobe lights. It was the first of many firsts for the extension office’s new hire “I’m pretty happy,” said Whidden after the event, which was a little daunting for the agent who stepped into the job, her very first professional job, only a month ago. Whidden graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in agricultural education and communication this past spring. “I graduated on Sunday, had interviews on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Friday I got a verbal offer for the job,” said Whidden. She said when she got the position she was “on cloud nine.” Read More Originally published on 7/8/14 at http://highlandstoday.com/list/highlands-agri-leader-news/local-agriculture-runs-deep-in-new-4-h-agent-2014070