Phil Schwallier (schwalli@msu.edu)
Coordinator & District Horticulture Marketing Agent

Phil Schwallier began his career with the Michigan State University Extension in 1982. His current position is fifty percent District Horticultural Marketing Agent and fifty percent Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station Coordinator.

Phil received his Bachelor's degree in Horticulture specializing in Pomology in 1975, and Master's in Entomology at Michigan State University in 1978. In 1978, he was the Kent County Extension Horticulture Agent until 1980. From 1980-1982, he took a job as a Horticulturist in Fresh Sales for Bull Brothers in Casnovia, Michigan. In 1982, he accepted a District Horticulture Agent position for Michigan State University Extension. Phil obtained his current position with MSU Extension in 1995. His rich background is in fruit and pest management. Phil's specialty is in apple IPM, apple maturity, apple thinning, post harvest storage of apples, and apple marketing.

Jerry Skeltis (skeltis@msu.edu)
Farm Manager

Jerry Skeltis has been the Farm Manager for 27 years. His responsibilities include the general operation of the station, overseeing of the plots and projects, and general crops.

Gail Byler (byler@msu.edu)
Research Horticulturist

As the horticulturist for the station, Gail Byler, does the planting, training, pruning, and harvesting of fruit, vegetable, and field crops.

Donna DeYoung (stewar28@msu.edu)
Station Secretary

Donna DeYoung is the Secretary at the Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station. She performs clerical assistance and general accounting for the Farm.

Amy Irish-Brown (irisha@msu.edu)
District Fruit IPM Agent

Amy Irish-Brown is the District Fruit Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Agent for the West Region of Michigan. She covers 14 counties and works with commercial tree fruit and small fruit producers on various aspects of IPM. She has been with the Michigan State University Extension since 1991.

Amy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Michigan State University (1989) focusing on the science of pomology and pest management. She has recently completed studies toward a Professional Master's of Integrated Pest Management through the Michigan State University Department of Entomology (2001). Amy's background experience includes having worked on a small apple farm, worked for researchers while in college, scouted fruits and vegetables, managed a retail greenhouse, worked for a mail-order garden catalog, and some commercial nursery experience.

Amy's goal is to help fruit growers find new and innovative tools that they can incorporate into an Integrated Cropping System to ensure that the bottom line will result in a profitable, yet environmentally sound agribusiness for themselves and their families.