After 27 years of service to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) and Auburn University, Bobby Boozer is retiring to devote full attention to his 20-acre family farm.

Boozer joined ACES in Geneva County as an assistant county agent in 1986 and went on to become an associate county agent within four years of service.

He became the county agent for Chilton County in 1990, where he helped many fruit and vegetable producers improve farming practices and increase profits through his high-quality extension programming.

In 1994, he joined the Auburn University Department of Horticulture and conducted horticulture research at the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation in Clanton (now known as the Chilton Research and Extension Center).

In 2000, Boozer became an area horticulturalist/extension specialist with a split appointment in extension and research.

Since 1994, Boozer has collaborated on numerous fruit production and pest management grants, provided guidance to many students and published a variety of articles that established him as an invaluable resource for horticultural information.

There is hardly any fruit producer in central Alabama who has not consulted with Boozer.

From 2006 until 2011, he served as the commercial horticulture team coordinator in ACES.

He was a team motivator and a visionary leader that guided many regional extension agents and specialists.

Boozer has served on the advisory board of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association for many years and played a key role in organizing the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Annual Conference.

A reception for Mr. Bobby will be held in the Chilton Research and Extension Center’s conference room, April 26 from 2-5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.