DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Patty Swearingen
Patty Swearingen
Extension is a family thing for Patty Swearingen. Like her mother who served as an Extension agent, Patty pursued a career with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Patty is an Extension agent and the county coordinator in Lauderdale County. She provides educational programs in family and consumer education, 4-H youth development, and enterprise and community resource development.
People are Patty’s favorite aspect of working in Extension.
“I love getting to know so many different people throughout the county, and making a difference in their lives,” Patty said. “Also, working with high school juniors through Leadership Lauderdale Youth is very rewarding.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, she spent 11 years working as a 4-H Youth Development agent and Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Monroe County before moving to Lauderdale County.
“I grew up in Extension. My mother, Dot Shaw, is a retired Home Economist,” Patty said. “I saw how she loved her job and the people loved her. Every day was a new experience, and some days were a challenge, but she always enjoyed it to the fullest.”
Her favorite memory was when Roy Doss, Monroe County agent, took her to work during a snow storm.
“I could not believe we had to go to work. No one was on the streets and no one had electricity,” Patty said. “By the time they got us to work, it was time to start taking us back home. That’s why we called Mr. Doss the Ole Country Agent.”
When she is not serving the people of Lauderdale County, she enjoys working in the yard and spending time with her family.
Patty has been married to her husband, Harvey, for 29 years. They have two children, Patrick and Ashley.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
