Carol Mackey Hinton: Agriculture Extension

Carol Mackey Hinton

Job Title: Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Breckinridge County

Employer: University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service

Hired: February 1993

While women had been in 4-H and Family and Consumer Science agent roles for quite some time, Carol was one of the first female Agriculture agents in Kentucky. She came from a farming family in Hardin County and studied Agriculture Economics – Farm Management at the University of Kentucky. It wasn’t until she took an internship with the Grayson County Extension Service office that she knew working with farmers was the job for her. After a year of working on her family’s hog farm, she acquired her dream job in Breckinridge County.

Being one of the few women in agriculture back then was not without its challenges, she said, but she received great advice from other ladies who told her to be confident and not back down.

“Not only was I a woman, but I was young,” said Carol. “I had to listen to my farmers, gain their trust, and present information in a positive way.”

Carol said serving her clients and learning something new every day are her favorite parts of her extension career. She also said that she learns more from the farmers she serves than what she reads in books and research articles. 

“With the long hours, you have to have a love of the job,” remarked Carol. “It’s nice going to bed at night knowing that you have done something worthwhile.”