Homeward Bound
At the end of a 35-year career with the University of Georgia, CAES Associate Dean for Extension Laura Perry Johnson reflects on the journey that has taken her from her home on the farm to a lifetime of helping farmers.
For a pre-teen Laura Perry Johnson, joining 4-H in fifth grade was the ticket that would take her to exciting new places beyond her home on Pineywoods Farm in Moultrie, Georgia, where her family has farmed and raised cattle since 1830.
“That was the beginning of a wonderful journey in 4-H that expanded my horizons. I did everything there was to do in 4-H — judging teams, camp, and I got to go on an exchange trip to Iowa, a rare experience for a girl from south Georgia. Through showing livestock and judging teams, I got to travel all over the country — it opened a huge world for me,” said Johnson, whose experiences led her to the University of Georgia as a first-year student in 1983.
At the time, the U.S. was experiencing the worst farm crisis since the 1920s and 1930s, and her father encouraged her to look beyond agriculture for her career due to farming’s uncertain future.
“I had a love for agriculture, although I knew I probably was not going to be a farmer like my dad,” said Johnson, who enrolled in the College of Education but changed her major to animal science before classes had even started.
That decision led to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Animal and Dairy Science in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). After earning her terminal degree, Johnson took a position with UGA Cooperative Extension as a youth livestock Extension specialist.
“After two weeks, I was absolutely convinced that I would never go back to teaching and research. I thought it was the best job in the world. I have never looked back,” said Johnson, who retires at the end of May as associate dean for Extension, a role she has held since 2015.
Spanning more than 35 years, her career journey with CAES and UGA Extension has included county-based and administrative roles including 4-H program development coordinator for UGA Extension’s Southwest District and Southwest District Extension director, overseeing programs in 41 counties.
“As I reflect on my career, and especially the last ten years as associate dean for Extension, I look back and see how my upbringing on a farm and my involvement in 4-H paved the path for this amazing profession that blends agriculture and education.”
Johnson, affectionately known as “LPJ,” recently shared some of the lessons she has learned from a lifetime in agricultural education.
Associate Dean for Extension Laura Perry Johnson and CAES Professor Stanley Culpepper at Ponder Farm in Tifton, Georgia. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski)
Associate Dean for Extension Laura Perry Johnson and CAES Professor Stanley Culpepper at Ponder Farm in Tifton, Georgia. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski)
What is unique about the UGA Extension model? What's the secret sauce?
I think there are several things that set UGA Extension apart. Our strongest assets, by far, are our deep ties to the local communities we serve. With offices in all 159 counties of the state, our team members are deeply embedded in their respective communities. They live, work and actively engage with local constituents, identifying and addressing their local needs and issues. This localized approach is what sets Extension apart.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we offer highly customized solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each community. This ability to address local concerns directly is our greatest strength and defines the essence of Extension's mission.
A pivotal feature that sets our 4-H programs apart is our partnership with public school systems, allowing us to reach a diverse range of children directly within schools. Integrating our programs into the school curriculum allows us access to a broad audience of students, which builds diversity and inclusivity within our programs. This collaborative approach is fundamental to our success in Georgia.
And finally, Georgia stands out for its extensive network of Extension specialists embedded across academic departments and units within CAES. These subject-area specialists play a crucial role in training local county agents and Extension personnel, so that expertise is shared throughout the organization. That relationship between our Extension specialists and our county agents is important in tailoring our programs to the current needs of local communities.
UGA Extension agents gather outside during the 2024 Extension Conference at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
UGA Extension agents gather outside during the 2024 Extension Conference at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
What character trait has been the most helpful in your career?
I have an intense love of reading. When I was a little girl, I would get in trouble because I would read when I was supposed to be doing other things. I would even read during recess. It’s a passion that has helped me in my career because I can read things quickly and retain a lot of information, which is something this job requires. I also think my involvement in collegiate judging teams, both as a participant during my undergraduate years and later as a coach of several teams, helped me develop a photographic memory, make quick decisions, and then be able to defend those decisions. Honestly, I spent the rest of my career using those same skills, remembering facts and figures, and making decisions about where to allocate funds and priorities.
Also, what you see is what you get. It’s important to me to be authentic, accessible and relatable. I’ve encouraged our employees to see that we all have vital roles to fulfill; nobody’s role, including my own, is more significant than anyone else's. If someone needs assistance, I want them to feel comfortable reaching out directly to me without feeling like they should have asked someone else first.
Johnson stands with Georgia 4-H officers during an annual convention where elections are held for Junior and Senior District Boards. Students develop a campaign strategy, run for office during their District Project Achievement event, and, if elected, have the opportunity to represent their district at conferences, meetings and events.
Johnson stands with Georgia 4-H officers during an annual convention where elections are held for Junior and Senior District Boards. Students develop a campaign strategy, run for office during their District Project Achievement event, and, if elected, have the opportunity to represent their district at conferences, meetings and events.
Welcome UGA is a campus-wide celebration for incoming and returning students each year. Various departments and organizations host events and opportunities to connect with students as they begin a new semester — fostering a sense of belonging for them on campus.
Welcome UGA is a campus-wide celebration for incoming and returning students each year. Various departments and organizations host events and opportunities to connect with students as they begin a new semester — fostering a sense of belonging for them on campus.
Throughout her 35-year career, Johnson has served CAES alongside many outstanding leaders. Pictured from left are Bob Shulstad, former associate dean for research; Scott Angle, former CAES dean, Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for Extension; and Josef Broder, former associate dean of academic affairs.
Throughout her 35-year career, Johnson has served CAES alongside many outstanding leaders. Pictured from left are Bob Shulstad, former associate dean for research; Scott Angle, former CAES dean, Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for Extension; and Josef Broder, former associate dean of academic affairs.
Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED) chair Rich Bonnano presents UGA Extension Director Laura Perry Johnson with the ASRED Award for Excellence in Leadership at the annual Southern Region Program Leadership Network conference in August 2023.
Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED) chair Rich Bonnano presents UGA Extension Director Laura Perry Johnson with the ASRED Award for Excellence in Leadership at the annual Southern Region Program Leadership Network conference in August 2023.
From her childhood on a working farm to her long career at CAES, Johnson's legacy of passion and dedication to the people who work to support agriculture is evidenced in her joyful and inquisitive disposition toward all who have worked with her. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski)
From her childhood on a working farm to her long career at CAES, Johnson's legacy of passion and dedication to the people who work to support agriculture is evidenced in her joyful and inquisitive disposition toward all who have worked with her. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski)
What advice can you give to those starting their careers in Extension?
Extension is a wonderful career path. If it’s a good fit for you, there is no better career. It’s hard work, so if you don't love it, it's probably not your path. Find joy in the things that you’re able to do, the way you're able to help people and change people's lives. Figure out how to balance that with your own life so that you don't lose the joy in what you're doing.
The best thing about Extension is the people you work with, the people you serve, the friends you make. I am still lifelong friends with some of the horse club leaders that I got to know back in the 1990s when I was a 4-H livestock specialist. Those are relationships I'll treasure for the rest of my life.
One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Find meaningful work and work hard at it with people you love.’ That sums up Extension for me — that’s what it's all about.
A family united in their love of agriculture and UGA football, Johnson said she hopes her family legacy continues through the generations to come.
A family united in their love of agriculture and UGA football, Johnson said she hopes her family legacy continues through the generations to come.
What is something people don’t readily know about you?
I'm a proud Georgia Bulldog with three degrees from UGA, and my family shares the same love for the university. My dad and siblings are also UGA alumni, and the entire family is involved in agriculture in one way or another.
We’re also incredibly passionate about UGA football. So much so that my family has been involved in breeding the UGA mascot – Uga – contributing to the Bulldog legacy.
What do you look forward to most as you prepare for retirement?
I've actually felt nervous about it. While my job has been demanding, I've found myself feeling sad about leaving, so I decided to start a list of things I'm excited about in retirement. The first item on that list is the freedom to stay up late reading without worrying about waking up at a specific time the next day.
Johnson’s legacy of dedication, passion, and pursuit of enhancing CAES and 4-H continues through the countless lives she’s touched throughout her 35-year career serving the state of Georgia. The Pineywoods Farm Scholarship, established by her father in 2007, is a testament to her enduring dedication to strengthening the future of agriculture. The fund awards scholarships to CAES students. Donations made to Georgia 4-H and the Pineywoods Farm Scholarship will continue to support the next generation of leaders in agricultural and environmental sciences.
Working for Cooperative Extension has been the joy of my life! I have loved every role I have been blessed to serve in at UGA. These roles have allowed me to use my skills and talents to learn, grow and serve others while being able to have an impact on agriculture, families and communities in Georgia and beyond.
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