My Story
Dr. Larry D. Butler was born and raised in rural west Texas. His life experiences since childhood were predominantly outdoors out on the land. His education was focused on natural resources from three of the top universities in this area of study. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University; a Master’s degree from Texas A&M University; and a Doctorate degree from Utah State University. He had a 33 year career with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) from 1974 into 2007 from a county-level to the national level, working with ranchers, farmers, other land managers, conservation organizations, and agency employees.
After retirement he had his own private consultancy for four years. Then, he created, produced, and hosted his Out on the Land television show on RFD-TV for four years. It was the first weekly, half-hour television series on conservation to be nationally televised. Dr. Butler writes and performs original western poetry. He has been and continues to be a featured speaker for small gatherings to large national convention audiences.
what people are saying
"Dr. Butler is an honored recipient of the Society for Range Management’s Chapline Stewardship Award and the Texas Section Society for Range Management’s Outstanding Contribution to Range Management Award. He was awarded Distinguished Alumnus Awards from his former academic department and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, and many other prestigious awards. He culminated a 33-year career as Texas State Conservationist with the U.S.D.A.- N.R.C.S. Absolutely no one could be more qualified than Dr. Larry D. Butler to author this book called “Out on the Land”.
This chronological treatise of anecdotes of Butler’s life and career experiences, interspersed with humor and great western poetry, is interesting and most enjoyable. His anecdotes build upon his character and that of his colleagues and his clientele – the ranchers with whom he shared the secrets of conservation, and from whom he learned. Butler’s writing will be an inspiration and encouragement to anyone considering, or engaged in, a career in conservation."
DARRELL N. UECKERT, PhD
Regents Fellow and Professor (retired), Texas AgriLife Research, The Texas A&M University System