UF/IFAS awards cattleman with NFREC Hall of Fame Award

MARIANNA, Fla.---The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) presented R. D.

Bennett with the 2005 NFREC Hall of Fame Award at its 3rd Annual Beef/Cattle Field Day.  Bennett is a cattleman and former peanut producer who lives in Greenwood, Fla. 

Bennett enrolled in the University of Florida in 1943, but chose to join the U.S. Army that same year where he served until 1946.   During World War II, he received a battlefield commission as company commander of the 36th Division for bravery and leadership in combat during the European Campaign, the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.  After he completed his service, Bennett started a mercantile store in Greenwood, Fla. following World War II.  During that time he began a farming and cattle operation, growing to over 3,600 acres.

Bennett has an extensive record of service to Florida agriculture.  He is a charter member of the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association and served as its first President in 1962.  He was the 17th President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.  He is also a charter member of the Florida Peanut Producers Association and its first president and a past president of the Florida Angus Association, Florida Foundation Seed Producers Association, and Florida Limousin Association. 

In addition to the NFREC Hall of Fame Award, Bennett was recognized as “Florida Cattleman of the Year – 1972” and “Outstanding Agriculturalist” by the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1984.  According to George Hochmuth, the center director for the NFREC, “The UF/IFAS NFREC Hall of Fame Award provides recognition to those clientele and supporters of the NFREC, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in supporting our efforts to provide research and extension programs for the agricultural and natural resource industries in northern Florida.”

Bennett has been a strong leader in Florida agriculture for many years and has provided support to the NFREC and other University of Florida units statewide.

“R. D. has been a steadfast friend of IFAS and advisor to us as we developed the beef and forage unit into one of the top research and extension facilities of its kind in the country,” said Hochmuth.

NFREC-Marianna research and extension covers a wide range of programs, including breeding and genetics of peanuts, economics and farm management, forages and small grains, pest management, and beef cattle production and genetics.