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Experience Matters

Sometimes the numbers just align, and it just so happens that the total number of years of experience working in Cornell Cooperative Extension of the seven Cornell Vegetable Program Specialists adds up to 125 years in 2026! Hands down, this is the most experienced regional agricultural team at Cornell. With experience comes excellence!

Celebrating 125 Years of Experience in 2026

A woman in a red Cornell University t-shirt stands in an onion field, holding newly pulled onions up in each hand like cheerleader pom-poms.

Faces of Extension

Hoepting holding onions and jumping in an onion field

Faces of Extension: Christy Hoepting

As a Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist for over two decades, Hoepting has become the go-to expert for New York's muck onion industry, helping guide decision making while building trust and transparency among growers. Hoepting’s work translates field trials into practical solutions that keep western New York onion farms relevant and competitive.

Faces of Extension: Julie Kikkert

Julie Kikkert is the Team Leader and a Vegetable Specialist with the Cornell Vegetable Program. With a background in horticulture, and extensive experience in plant research, Julie combines her love for research and hands-on fieldwork to support growers and new educators.

Regional Commercial Vegetable Specialists

Experience Matters