Vicky Bertagnolli

Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent
Aiken County and the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)
Horticulture Program Team, Aiken County Cooperative Extension Office

Office: Aiken
Phone: 803-508-7735

Email: vbertag@clemson.edu

Educational Background

M.S. Entomology
Auburn University 2016

B.S. Wildlife Sciences
Auburn University 2000

A.A. General Studies
James H. Faulkner Community College 1997

Courses Taught

Virtual Master Gardener Training Course
Aiken County Master Gardener Training Course
Lexington County Master Gardener Training Course
Midlands Master Gardener Training Course
Pesticide Calibration and Safety Workshop
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Licensing Prep Course

Profile

Vicky Bertagnolli serves as a Consumer Horticulture Agent, a Virtual Extension Agent, and the "bug geek" in Aiken County and with the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC).

After completing an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Sciences, Vicky spent the next seven years as a full-time research technician with Auburn University's Alabama Fire Ant Management Program and a part-time graduate student in Auburn’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. The Alabama Fire Ant Management Program examined the mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical control of fire ants. In addition to fire ant research, Vicky gained practical knowledge working with the Alabama School IPM Program and the Alabama Pesticide Safety Education Program, and for a small, privately owned pest control company.

Vicky's areas of expertise include imported fire ant biology and management, insect identification, and urban pest management using integrated pest management (IPM).

Vicky develops and delivers county-based and team-level social media content, makes appearances on SCETV's Making It Grow, travels the state for speaking engagements, provides training and support for the Horticulture Team’s events and marketing efforts, and provides horticulture-related information to local, statewide, national, and international clients.

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