Personal History

• Born August 13, 1955 to Benjamin D. Forrest, Jr. and Ernestine Hardee Forrest
• Attended Chicod School and graduated from D. H. Conley High School
• Attended and graduated from North Carolina State University, B.S & M.Ed in Agricultural Education
• Married to former Pamela Jane Beaver
• Received Education Administration and Supervision Certificate and Vocational Director Certification from East Carolina University
• Life-long resident of the Black Jack community

Professional History

• Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor at Washington High School, 1977-1995
• Retired Eastern Region Agricultural Education Coordinator
• Manager and Co-owner of B.D. Forrest Family Farms, LLC
• Owner of Benjie Forrest Farms, LLC

Professional Awards & Memberships

• Outstanding Senior, Agricultural Education, NCSU
• Greenhorn Degree, North Carolina Vocational Association
• Young Teacher Award, North Carolina Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (NCVATA)
• Outstanding Service, NCVATA
• 100% Membership Award, NCVATA
• Gold plate, NCVATA for Outstanding Leadership
• Outstanding Leadership, NCSU, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Professional State Association Award, National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
• Pride of the Wolfpack Award for outstanding services to Agricultural Education, NCSU
• Member of Association of Career-Technical Educators
• Member of North Carolina Agriculture Teachers Association
• Member of National Association of Supervisors and Agricultural Education
• Member of National Association of Agricultural Educators
• Recipient of the State of North Carolina’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Civic & Community Involvement

• Member of Black Jack OFWB Church and serve as Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Past  Chairman of the General Board and past Sunday School Superintendent.
• Member of Grimesland Masonic Lodge #475 and serve as Past Master, Past Secretary and Past District Grand Master
• Member of Pitt County FFA Alumni and serve as Secretary
• Past Member of Community Fellowship Club in the Grimesland community
• Past member of the Black Jack Volunteer Fire Department and current trustee
• Past Chairman of Pitt County Planning Board
• Past Member of Pitt County Board of Adjustment
• Past Member of Big Swamp Ruritan Club and current member of the Pactolus Ruritan club serving as Vice President
• Member of Greenville York Rite Bodies
• Member of North Carolina Grange
• Member and Board of Director of Pitt County Farm Bureau
• Past Member of Pitt-Beaufort Selective Service Board
• Member of Board of Trustees of University of Mount Olive
• Member and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience (NERSBA)
• Serve on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Drainage office
• Serve as Chairman of District 9 Chicod Drainage District
• Serve as GOP precinct chair for Chicod Precinct.
• Member and past chairman of Pitt County Board of Education