Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – As far as Cole Reavis is concerned, he couldn’t have received a better welcome to Effingham County’s UGA Extension Office.

A red and black banner that says “Go Dawgs” greeted him at his work station. The new 4-H office assistant is an avid Georgia football supporter.

“That made me feel good,” Reavis, 32, said. “I wanted this job. I was excited to get it.”

Reavis, ambulated with the assistance of a wheelchair, is a “career seeker” in the Supported Employment Program of B&B Care Services Inc. of Springfield, which partners with businesses and government agencies to connect people with disabilities with appropriate opportunities for their skills.

“I’m going to save my paychecks for concert tickets and a car,” said Reavis, who has an affinity for Tim McGraw songs and Ford Mustangs.

So far, Reavis has spent the bulk of the time on his new job shredding papers and applying stamps to soil samples that are sent to a laboratory in Athens. He works six hours each Wednesday.

“Shredding is my favorite,” he said.

Reavis previously worked at a Rincon dress shop. He liked the gig, which including folding and hanging clothes, but lost it when the business shuttered last summer.

Amanda Ganser, a B&B Care Services case manager, spent the past year trying to connect Reavis with another employment opportunity. She taught him office terms and abbreviations for every school in the county.

Reavis developed a preference for office work while assisting at Ship It in Springfield. His mother, Crystal Wells, is employed there.

“He learned a lot of what he knows about office settings from his mom. She takes him to work with her on Wednesdays,” Ganser said.

Reavis had an immediate impact upon his arrival at his new post.

“We are happy to have Cole,” said Morgan Triplett, Effingham County’s 4-H Youth Development agent. “I can already tell it’s going to be a great relationship. He is happy to do whatever is asked of him and has a great a great attitude.

“I think he is going to be an asset and a joy to be around here.”

Reavis has a penchant for neatness and Triplett thinks that will come in handy in the 4-H office.

“I know he likes to stay organized,” she said. “He was the missing piece around here.”

Triplett said she hasn’t been exposed to Reavis’ renowned wit.

“Not yet, but I’m intrigued,” she said. “We are a bunch of jokesters around here.”

Triplett is already considering expanding Reavis’ responsibilities to include filing. In addition, he might be asked to bag supplies for more than 2,000 young 4-H members to use at their school gatherings.

“We were actually talking about him joining some of our 4-H meetings with our older kids because they come here,” she said. “I’m excited for them to meet him.”