I am the District Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office located in Frederick, OK. The NRCS is a part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with a primary mission of helping implement practices that conserve natural resources (soil, water, wildlife). We work primarily on farmland, both through providing technical assistance with practices at no cost to farmers, and through cost-share programs designed to provide an incentive for farmers to implement practices. This is certainly a significant change in what I've been doing, but it's a fantastic opportunity to work directly with farmers on conservation, and to get closer to home! Sharon and I are now about 25 miles from my parents.
I was formerly an Assistant Professor of Agronomy with the University of Florida, based at the Everglades Research and Education Center near Belle Glade, FL. My research and extension work focused on weed control in sugarcane, rice, commercial turf, and other crops of the region.
I received my B.S. in Agronomy/Crop Science at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. My M.S. is Agronomy/Weed Science, also from Oklahoma State. I completed my Ph.D. in Weed Science in December of 1998 at Mississippi State University.
I'm originally from Indiahoma, Oklahoma, which is in the southwestern part of Oklahoma. The population is about 400, and the main industry is farming/ranching. My wife Sharon has a Master's degree in animal science and works as the executive director of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce. Her website details her many interests. My father, Al Bennett, is a farmer/retired college professor, who taught at Cameron University. My mother is retired from the state Department of Human Services. I have one sister, Laura, who is an assistant principal at a middle school in Fort Worth, TX.Both Sharon and I are involved with a fantastic living history group, the World War 2 Airborne Demonstration Team, based here in Frederick, Oklahoma. I've created a playlist of videos created by various team members on YouTube, click on the image below if you would like to see them.
We also both volunteer with the Friends of Hackberry Flat, a volunteer support group for the Hackberry Flat Wetlands, located near Frederick, Oklahoma.
My Contributions to the Web
The Unofficial Wichita Mountains Homepage
Coastal Fortification on the Gulf of Mexico
Army Ground Forces Association (Living History)
This page was created by Andrew C. Bennett (Updated 2/14/06)