Course Instructors:
A team of 20 instructors from across the country have been selected to teach the course materials. These individuals not only have academic credentials in their topic areas, but considerable practical experience as well.

Robert W. Anderson, C.C.A
Environmental Engineer - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Anderson has 18 years experience with NRCS in agricultural waste management and other engineering related issues. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a registered P.E. in Tennessee (inactive status)

Greg Brann, C.C.A.
Agronomist - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Brann has 24 years experience with NRCS as an agronomist and grazing land specialist. He received his B.S. in Plant and Soil Science from The University of Tennessee.

Robert T. Burns, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor  - Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Burns has 11 years of experience in environmental and agricultural engineering. Dr. Burns holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Tennessee. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee.

Glenn Conatser, M.S.
Professor - Animal Science, The University of Tennessee
Mr. Conatser provides extension programming to swine producers in the areas of animal welfare, genetics and reproduction, waste management and performance testing. He holds a B.S. in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee and a M.S. in Animal Science from The University of Kentucky.

Paul Fulks, M.S. 
Assistant State Conservationist - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Fulks as 29 years of experience with USDA-NRCS. He also has extensive experience developing excel spreadsheets (FIELD- Field Inventory Leading to Decisions) to provide engineering and planning assistance for NRCS and the public. He has a B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Charles Goan, Ph.D.
Professor – Animal Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Goan has over 30 years experience providing extension programming to poultry producers. In recent years, he has focused his efforts on poultry waste management and utilization. He holds a B.S. in Dairy Science and an M.S. in Poultry Science from The University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Poultry Science from Michigan State University.

George Grandle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Grandle has over 30 years of experience in livestock production systems.  He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from The University of Tennessee.  

B. Andy Hartman, P.G., M.S.
State Geologist - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Hartman has 13 years of experience in soil and rock exploration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He holds a B.S. in Geology from University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and an M.S. in Soil Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mr. Hartman is a registered Professional Geologist in Tennessee.

Gus Jordan
Assistant State Conservationist - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Jordan has 24 years of experience with NRCS as a conservationist. He has worked in the states of Indiana, Nevada, Michigan and Tennessee. He received his B.S. in Agronomy from Tennessee State University.

Clyde Lane Jr., Ph.D.
Professor – Animal Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Lane provides technical assistance and education programming to beef producers. His areas of expertise include ruminant nutrition, production and management and beef cattle facilities. He holds a B.S. and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee.

Philip McLoud, M.S., P.E.
Assistant State Conservationist - Natural Resource Conservation Service
Mr. McLoud has 26 years of experience as an engineer and conservationist with NRCS. He holds a B.S and an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.   He is registered as a Professional Engineer in Indiana and Virginia.

Lara Moody, M.S., P.E.
Extension Associate - Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Science, The University of Tennessee
Mrs. Moody has 5 years experience in animal waste management research and water quality analyses. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered P.E. in Tennessee.

Gary Moore
District Conservationist - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Moore has 23 years of experience as a soil conservationist with NRCS. He has a B.S. degree in Plant and Soil Science from Middle Tennessee State University.

Natalie Rector, M.S., C.C.A.
Extension Field Crops Agent - Michigan State University
Ms. Rector has 22 years experience as a Multi-county Extension Field Crops Agent in Michigan and is currently on a state-wide assignment in manure management education. She has a B.S. in Crop and Soil Science and an M.S. in Natural Resources from Michigan State University.

Gary Rogers, Ph.D.
Professor – Animal Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Rogers has 15 years of experience teaching and providing extension programming in the area of dairy science. He received his B.S. in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from North Carolina State University.

Ronald Sheffield, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - University of Idaho
Dr. Sheffield has 7 years of extension experience and in the area of animal waste management. He received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Unity College, a M.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Vic Simpson
Regional Technology Specialists - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mr. Simpson has 29 years of experience with USDA-NRCS. He has a B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Alan L. Sutton, Ph.D., PAS
Professor – Purdue University
Dr. Sutton has over 30 years of experience in the area of animal nutrition and waste management. From Iowa State University, he received a B.S in Animal Science and an M.S. in Animal Nutrition. He received his Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from Cornell University.  

Forbes R. Walker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Science, The University of Tennessee
Dr. Walker is an extension environmental soils specialist. He has a B.S. degree in Plant Science from the University of Aberdeen, an M.S. degree in Seed Technology from the University of Edinburgh, and a Ph.D. in Soil Science at North Carolina State University.

Denise M. Watkins, P.E., M.S.
Supervisory Civil Engineer - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mrs. Watkins has 14 years of experience with NRCS in animal waste management system design. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University and a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered Professional Engineer in Illinois.