The public is invited to a welcome reception for the new Miami County Extension Agriculture/Natural Resources Agent, Cody Sloan, from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Extension office in Paola at 104 S. Brayman St.

Cody joined the local K-State Extension staff on Jan. 23. He graduated in December from Texas A&M University with a master’s of education in agriculture leadership, education and communications. He worked previously as a livestock judging coach and teaching assistant at Texas A&M and has been co-owner and operator of Team Sloan Livestock in Cameron, Mo.

Agriculture and natural resources Extension agents provide leadership in their communities by developing and delivering educational programming relative to agriculture-related information. Extension agents are jointly employed in a partnership between Kansas State University campus in Manhattan and the local Extension board.