FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A new Extension services facility in south Okaloosa County will open to the public April 23, providing expanded educational programs and community services, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has announced.
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The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sheila Dunning Extension Building is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at 1954 Lewis Turner Boulevard, in front of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center. The public is invited to attend and tour the facility following the ceremony.
The building is named in honor of Sheila Dunning, a longtime Extension agent who died in 2025 after more than two decades of service to Okaloosa County.
Ms Dunning, who specialized in commercial horticulture, spent 23 years educating residents and supporting local agricultural efforts. She was promoted to Extension Agent IV in 2023, the highest faculty rank within the program.
The 3,000-square-foot building replaces a storm-damaged structure and will serve as the new home for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services Extension in Okaloosa County.
The facility will support a wide range of programs, including agriculture, coastal sciences, commercial and residential horticulture, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development.
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Community members will have access to services such as soil testing, tax preparation assistance, plant clinics, lawn care guidance, water quality support, and 4-H clubs.
“This will greatly enhance services offered to the south end of the county. I am grateful to be part of the effort to unveil this new facility that will mean so much to our community,” said County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel.
“We could not have completed this project without the continued support of my fellow Commissioners, the Florida Legislature’s generous appropriation, and County staff who made this vision possible,” said County Commission Chairman Trey Goodwin.
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Born in Wisconsin, Ms Dunning moved to Florida in 1976 and built a 22-year career in the nursery industry before joining Extension services.
In 2024, she received the Conservation Award from the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for her contributions to horticulture and environmental stewardship.
Ms Dunning earned both her bachelor’s degree in environmental horticulture and her master’s degree in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida. She was also pursuing a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree at the time of her death.
County officials said the new facility will provide a modern space to continue delivering education, outreach, and hands-on support to residents across Okaloosa County.
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