SENATOBIA – Northwest Community College has tapped Shelli Benton to be its next head rodeo coach.

Benton joins the Ranger family after 11 years with Mississippi State University Extension Service in Tate County and takes over for Bruce Lee, who spent the past six years as head coach and ag business instructor.

"I look forward to serving the Northwest agriculture program and working with the rodeo team for many years to come," Benton said.

Benton served the MSU Extension Service in many roles, starting out as a 4-H Youth Development Agent. In the past four years, she served as the Extension County Coordinator with 4-H responsibilities.
 
Benton received her bachelor's in animal and dairy sciences with a minor in agriculture business management in 2001 from Mississippi State. She also completed her master's from MSU in nutrition with her thesis on Animal and Forage Performance with Steers Intensively Rotational Grazing Summer Perennials.
 
At MSU, Benton was actively involved with the MSU Rodeo Team as their secretary/treasurer and student sponsor. Her primary role with the team was to make sure all team members arrived safely to rodeos, paid their dues and fees, and behaved in a manner that represented MSU accordingly.
 
Benton is originally from Purvis and has lived in Senatobia for the past 10 years. She and her husband, Brad, have three children, Garrett (6), Faith (4) and Mary Elizabeth (1).
 
Benton will also be teaching Agriculture Business Management and Animal Husbandry classes at Northwest.