Central Region
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Central Region
Welcome to the Central Region!
The Extension Agents and Staff members in our 36 Central Region counties are a vital part of our communities. We share research based information in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Community and Economic Development.
We are making a difference across the Commonwealth.
Front Row: Willie Howard (C5 & C6 AED), Alison Johnson (Scott Co. Director), Christin Herbst (C7 & C8 AED), Kathy Byrnes (Asst. Regional Director), Natasha Lucas (Central Region Director)
Back Row: Ron Catchen (Montgomery Co. Director), Lisa Adams (Madison Co. Director), David Littlejohn (Bullitt Co. Director), Jerry Brown (Boone Co. Director)
Missing: Rita Stewart (C3 & C4 AED), Kayla Watts (C1 & C2 AED),
Ryan Farley (Fayette Co. Director), Gary Stockton (Boone Co. Director),
Jay Hettmansperger (Boyle Co. Director)
Natasha Lucas was raised in a small community named Vincent KY, located in rural Owsley County. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics Education from the UK College of Human Environmental Sciences and her Master’s Degree from UK College of Agriculture in Vocational Education. Natasha began her Extension career as an Extension Intern in Lee County and then served as the Owsley County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Science for 20 years. For 16 of those years, she worked as both FCS & 4-H Youth Development Agent. She started as Extension District 1 Director in February of 2017, covering twenty counties in the former Northeast & Licking River Areas of our state. In January of 2020, Natasha accepted the Regional Extension Director Position for the Central Region serving thirty-six Kentucky counties. In addition to her master’s degree, she also is a graduate of the Kentucky Public Health Leadership Institute.
Central Region Office
450 Cooper Drive
Suite 226 Moloney Building
Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0274
The Central Region Support Team
Debbie Clark
Administrative Support Associate
Central 1-4 Counties
(859) 257-7478
deborah.clark@uky.edu
Tyler Henry
Administrative Support
Associate
Central 5-8 Counties
(859) 257-7484
c.tylerhenry@uky.edu
Area Extension Directors for the Central Region
Kayla Watts
Area Extension Director
Central 1 and 2
(606) 568-8675
kayla.watts@uky.edu
130 Robinson Road
Jackson, KY 41339
Rita G. Stewart
Area Extension Director
Central 3 and 4
(606) 510-3675
rstewart@uky.edu
104 Metker Trail
Stanford, Kentucky
40484
Willie Howard
Area Extension Director
Central 5 and 6
(502) 442-1378
whowardj@uky.edu
4200 Gardiner View Ave
Suite 101
Louisville, Kentucky
40213-1877
Christin Herbst
Area Extension Director
Central 7 and 8
(270) 250-1776
christin.herbst@uky.edu
500 Floyd Drive
Carrollton, Kentucky
41008
Kayla Watts serves as the Area Extension Director for Central 1 and 2. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Berea College in Child and Family Studies Education and a Master of Arts degree in Library Media Science/School Media Certification from the University of Kentucky. After working 8 years in public education, Kayla began her Extension career in 2015 as a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Breathitt County. From January 2023 to November 2024 Kayla worked as an Agent on Special Assignment for Community Recovery and Resiliency. She then transitioned into the role of Area Extension Director November 1, 2024.
Rita Stewart was raised on a dairy farm in rural Kentucky. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Home Economics Education from Berea College and her Master’s Degree from UK College of Agriculture in Vocational Home Economics Education. Rita began her Extension career as the Casey County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Science where she served for 8.5 years. She then transferred to Lincoln County where she was the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent for 25 years minus two weeks. In January of 2023, Rita accepted the Area Extension Director position for the C3/C4 areas, serving ten counties.
Willie Howard, C5 & C6 Area Extension Director, has 31 years of experience working for the UK Cooperative Extension Program. Wille began his Extension career as a Summer Extension Intern at the Whitley County Extension Office in Williamsburg, Ky. In 1993, he accepted the 4-H Youth Development Agent position in Fulton County, Kentucky. He worked as a Jefferson County 4-H Youth Development Agent from 1996 to 2014. In 2014, he transitioned to the District 3 District Director position covering the Louisville and Northern Kentucky areas. In 2020, he then transitioned to his current position as the Area Extension Director for Central Area 5 & 6 covering 10 counties. Willie received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of the Cumberlands (formerly Cumberland College) and his Master’s Degree in Leadership Dynamics from Western Kentucky University.
Christin Herbst is a dedicated and experienced agricultural professional with a deep appreciation and passion for Kentucky Cooperative Extension. A graduate of the UK College of Agriculture, she began her career as the Carroll County Extension Agent for Agriculture and National Resources in 2011. In 2021, Christin transitioned into the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, where she managed multiple Kentucky USDA Service Centers as a County Executive Director. In 2023, she had the opportunity to return to Extension and is currently an Area Director overseeing county offices in the Northern Kentucky area.
