Heath Sanders named new OSU Cooperative Extension area agronomist

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Heath Sanders, a crop professional known to many Oklahoma producers, will be assisting farmers, ranchers and others as an Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service area agronomist for the southwest district beginning March 28.

“Heath is an extremely well-respected young agronomist; we consider ourselves fortunate to have a professional of his caliber and firsthand experience as a member of our team,” said Bob LeValley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension southwest district director.

Sanders has served Oklahoma as an OSU Cooperative Extension assistant specialist focusing on winter canola (2008-2010), an oilseed agronomist with Producers Cooperative Oil Mill (2010-2013) and a field specialist with the Great Plains Canola Association (2013-2015).

He also served as a senior agriculturist in the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ small grains weed science project from 2005 to 2008.

“Heath grew up on his family’s farm near Sterling – an enterprise producing alfalfa, canola, cattle, corn, grass hay and wheat – and has a longstanding familiarity with the challenges faced by area producers,” LeValley said. “He will be working out of our area Extension office in Duncan.”

An alumnus of OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sanders earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education with a minor in agronomy and his master’s degree in plant and soil science with an emphasis in weed science in 2005 and 2010, respectively.

“We were looking for a people-person possessing demonstrated expertise across the wide range of agronomic production systems used in our counties,” said Max Galloway, Stephens County Extension director and agricultural educator. “Heath fits that bill perfectly.”