Welcome! My name is Josey Pearce Keener. I recently started as UF/IFAS Extension and St. Lucie County’s Family Consumer Science Agent. I will focus on educational programs related to financial resource management and food entrepreneurship growth in St. Lucie County.
About Josey:
I am local to St. Lucie County area as I was raised in Glades County on my family’s ranch where I still live close by to help my family operate the business. We raise beef cattle and have a purebred herd of Brahman cattle. In my free time I enjoy reading, camping in and out of the state, and spending quality time with my friends and family.
My favorite recipe is to make a sheet pan dinner consisting of poblanos, red onion, and chickpeas seasoned with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. I will cook couscous using chicken stock for added flavor and top the meal with creama – sour cream mixed with lime juice. I prefer fresh from the garden poblano – gardening is something I love to do but may not have the best green thumb…
Educational Background:
I attend Indian River State College through the dual enrollment program where I earned my associate’s degree and graduated from Okeechobee High School simultaneously. Afterwards I enrolled at Stetson University where I continued my undergraduate studies in business management.
During my time at Stetson, I was a founding member of the Prince Entrepreneurship program where I worked on an application to track horse health records. I had the ability to travel to various pitch competitions and learn from many entrepreneurs.
After graduating with my undergraduate degree, I decided to stay at Stetson and start earning my master’s in business administration. I graduated in July of 2020 just a few months after COVID changed our lives in several ways.
Josey’s Experience:
I spent many years as a youth member of 4-H and FFA. During the summers I was a teen counselor for 4-H summer camps in Okeechobee County. Then as an adult I became a club leader and a summer camp counselor.
I gained financial experience while working in a bank as a retail teller. While a teller, I decided to go into education to teach middle school mathematics. I spent a wonderful three and half years in the classroom. During my time in the classroom, I worked collaboratively with Impact Florida – and organization dedicated to making the educational environment better for students and teachers through various projects.
How to Contact Josey:
Thank you for reading a little bit about me! I am excited to be your new Family Consumer Science Extension Agent in St. Lucie County. I am looking forward to using my educational, financial, and business management experience to grow St. Lucie County’s food entrepreneurship network, and individual’s resiliency in their finances.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or think I could aid you with your financials or your food business. You can contact me by email at josey.keener@ufl.edu or by phone at 772-462-1895.
Check out my latest blogs:
Tackle Your Tax Return with Success
Featured image: UF/IFAS Photo by Cat Wofford 2022 UF/IFAS Communications
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