Service Award: Ben Pollard, 30 Years

Ben Pollard, OCC assistant director, was recognized at the June 2008 Conservation Commission meeting for 30 years of service to OCC and the state of Oklahoma. From left are Commissioners Mike Rooker, Matt Gard and Virginia Kidd, Pollard, and Commissioners Dan Lowrance and George Stunkard.

Ben Pollard, OCC assistant director, was recognized at the June 2008 Conservation Commission meeting for the 30 years of service to the Conservation Commission and the state of Oklahoma. Ben started with OCC as a soil conservation planning assistant on May 22, 1978.  He became assistant director of the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program in 1982 and served in that position until he was named OCC assistant director on June 1, 1991.

A graduate of Ponca City high school, Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Within OCC Ben supervises the Conservation Programs, District Services and Financial Management and Human Resources divisions as well as the public information program. Ben initiated and was the driving force behind the Conservation Leadership program which set the standard in the nation for such programs. A true believer in the value of conservation districts and the Conservation Partnership, has received the OACD Presidents award in 2001.

During his tenure at OCC, Ben has worked under 23 Conservation Commission members, three executive directors and worked in partnership with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service state conservationists and 16 Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts presidents.

“Ben is a tremendously valuable resource for Conservation and the state of Oklahoma,” said Dan Lowrance, OCC chair. “He is well known and respected across the country. The Commission and districts are fortunate to have such dedicated and capable service.”