By John Balch
News-Leader Staff
Despite only being 22 years old, Howard County’s new Family & Consumer Sciences Agent has a long background in the field and most recently interned with the University of Arkansas Extension Service.
Abby Gray, a Clarksville native who grew up on her family’s “hobby farm” in Johnson County, started her new position with the county extension service last week and said she has jumped right into the role, meeting people and learning the community.
Gray, who has been involved in 4-H for the last 12 years, is also a newly wed with her and husband, Jaydon, tying the knot on April 10 before relocating to Howard County on April 11.
Gray is the third family and consumer sciences agent hired by the county since longtime agent, Jean Ince, retired in 2024.
After graduating Clarksville High School, she earned her bachelor degree in human development and family science at Oklahoma State University. She first was both an agri and a family consumer science major but after the first semester she switched a single FCS major.
“I just fell in love with the FCS side of stuff and human development, and decided that’s the path I wanted to follow,” she said.
During her internship with UofA Extension Service, Gray said, “I fell in love with it even more and so I pursued it” and landed the Howard County job.
Gray has also worked at Peds Plus in Friendship Community Care in the pediatric wing of the Russellville hospital where she worked with developmentally replayed children as an early childhood developmental specialist. Gray said she is also a big gardener and back in her 4-H showing days was “known my for canned goods.”
Gray has already attended her first meeting of the Howard County Quorum Court and been warmly welcomed by the county’s Extension staffers and Homemaker Clubs. “The EHC ladies and everyone have been so helpful and supportive just within the short time I’ve been here.”
The area of EHC is one area Gray would like to see grow, maybe adding a fourth county club for younger 4-H moms. “I want people to know that EHC is not just for our older folks,” she said. “It’s a great outlet and a great way to get to know your people in your community.”
Gray said said she plans to stick with the job and can’t see any reasons why she wouldn’t after her warm welcome to town.
“I’m really falling in love with Nashville.”
