Ferguson College of Agriculture

Kendal Henderson, originally from Broken Arrow, OK, graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2007 with a degree in Biology. During college, she worked for an environmental lab in Tulsa, and knew that was the kind of work she was meant to do.
“I started working for SWFAL a couple of weeks after graduation and have been here ever since,” she said.

 

Henderson manages the Soil, Water, Forage Analytical Laboratory (SWFAL), and oversees daily lab operations and lab safety, coordinates schedules for all workers, and maintains instruments and resources.

 

“Our lab is the extension lab for Oklahoma,” she said. “We provide soil testing, plant, animal waste and water analysis for the state of Oklahoma and anyone who needs agricultural testing services.”

 

The aspect of working at OSU as the SWFAL Laboratory Coordinator that Henderson said she is the proudest of, is her team.

 

“I take great pride in fostering a great work environment. I want to make sure they all have the tools I can give them to be successful in anything they want to do,” she said.

 

She is also proud of how well they handled keeping the lab up and running during Covid-19. “

 

It wasn’t easy, and my team came together to make sure we were still able to provide a great service to the state.”

 

Being able to help people, even indirectly, is one thing that makes Henderson passionate about being at OSU. 

 

“I feel like what we do is so important for all of Oklahoma,” she said.

 

According to Henderson, the best part of working at OSU is the people she works with, and she believes they are wonderful and make every day an enjoyable experience to be here. 

 

“Shout out to Barb for helping to keep all of us sane-ish!” Henderson laughed.
One of the biggest changes Henderson has seen throughout her career at OSU would be the changes in administration. 

 

“Lots of people changed positions in the many years I’ve been here,” she said. “Also, the new Ag Hall—it’s definitely an adjustment to say Legacy Hall now.”

 

Outside of work, Henderson enjoys spending time with her family, her other half Jason, her two beautiful step kids, and their three dogs. She also used to be a professional foosball player in 2001-2002 and even went to the world championship in Dallas, Texas.

 

“I also enjoy traveling, camping, and 4-wheeling every chance I get!” Henderson said.