Developing future Texas agriculture leaders

The Latest Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. Texas Agricultural Lifetime Management graduates are set to deal with A pair of of In all probability the most difficult agricultural factors affecting Texas and the nation after ending a two-yr program Aimed in the direction of getting ready them for native, state and nationwide service.

“Our graduating class recurrents almost every half of the agriculture enterprise,” said Jim Mazurkiewicz, Ph.D., director of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Management program, An factor of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “It prepares them as future leaders To current expertise and assist information our state and nation to protect In all probability the most plentiful, pretty priced meals current anyplace throughout the globe.”

Cross-part of halficipation

The TALL program recently graduated 24 people Who’ve spent the previous two yrs Collaborating in classroom curriculum instruction, excursions to study extra about companies, industries, advertising, finance and completely different program actions. Illustration was a cross-part Of execs, Starting from authorized, finance, advertising and state authorities.

TALL XVI graduate Sarah Franklin, department supervisor for Texas Farm Credit rating, Pleasanton. (Texas A&M AgriLife photograph by Laura McKenzie)

“Individuals come from every sector of agriculture and all parts of Texas,” Mazurkiewicz said. “Candidates apply for admission, indicating their causes for Eager to halficipate. Worthwhile candidates have demonstrated leadership potential and willingness to serve in choice-making positions upon ending This method.”

The TALL program permits Males And women from all elements of the agricultural group To enhance information and understanding of agriculture and associated industries Inside the context of right now’s complicated financial, political and social methods. Individuals study processes of organizational choice making and the position of political institutions. Additionally they buy a greater appreciation of how agriculture intperiodcts with society and develop The expertise needed for leadership at native, state and nationwide ranges.

TALL class members are required to be actively involved in agriculture manufacturing, or a enterprise intently associated to agriculture, Which incorporates the meals and fiber industries. School Of schools, universities, AgriLife Extension and secondary faculty methods working in agricultural areas Aren’t eligible to halficipate.

Jim Mazurkiewicz, Ph.D., director of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Management Program. (Texas A&M AgriLife photograph by Laura McKenzie)

The typical differ in age is 25 to 50 with no age requirement and The class measurement is about 26. Tuition is $3,000 and It is a two-yr dedication overlaying three calendar yrs. The complete value per halficipant is $30,000 of which The authorities value is funded by the Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. Endowment and This methodmatic prices are offset 10% from funding by enterprise currents, sponsorships, grants and halficipate administrative costs. 

The program is administrated by the AgriLife Extension. The Texas program started with The primary class in 1988 and This method idea started at Michigan State College in 1966. The first state packages have been sponsored by the Kellogg Basis. Presently there are 45 state packages and 5 worldwide agricultural leadership packages.

2021 TALL graduates

• Stephanie Kay Bradley-Fryer, Stamford, lawyer specializing in agricultural regulation, property planning, property administration and exact property. Additionally co-proprietor of Fryer Cattle Agency, a cow-calf opperiodtion in Texas and Southwest Oklahoma.
• Travis Britt, Cedar Creek, chief horticulturalist and nursery enterprise unit supervisor for Pecan Grove Farms and Nursery.
• Casey Crabtree, Amarillo, enterprise supervisor for Cargill Vitamin’s Ruminant Enterprise Group and fourth-period cattle rancher.
• Jessica Escobar, Austin, assistant widespread counsel for the Texas Dehalfment of Agriculture.
• Sarah Franklin, Pleasanton, department supervisor for Texas Farm Credit rating.
• Steven Hayes, Springtown, senior director Of promoting and membership with the American Paint Horse Affiliation.
• DeLinda Hicklen, Ropesville, co-proprietor and agent with Taylor Crop Insurance covperiodge and halfner in Hicklen Farms JV.
• Colt Hoffmann, Reagan, lawyer and proprietor of Hoffman Cattle Agency.
• Rob Hughes, Huntington, authorities director of the Texas Forestry Affiliation.
• Preston Ingram, Sulphur Springs, director of agriculture opperiodtions for the Hageman Group.
• Kristin Lambrecht, The Woodlands, area recurrentative for the Texas Dehalfment of Agriculture and ambassador for GO TEXAN program.
• Michael Lawrence, Earth, halfner and farm handle for Caprock Dairy and D&M Farms.
• Sara Lemoine Knox, Coleman, proprietor of Sara Lemoine Knox Law Agency.
• Kassidy Martin, Stamford, senior mortgage officer with Central Texas Farm Credit rating.
• Matthew Okeson, Dallas, procurement supervisor for LALA U.S. Inc.
• Liza Parker, Temple, covperiodge analyst and enterprise supervisor for Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
• James Plyler, Austin, wholesaler of grower native and Tailored panorama plant supplies.
• Katy Slough, Gruver, co-proprietor of Gruver Ag Supply.
• Seth Sowder, Sudan, agent for Lance Insurance covperiodge Agency.
• Matt Thomas, Abbott, department supervisor for AgTexas Farm Credit rating, Hillsboro.
• James Uhl, Ft. McKavett, assistant supervisor for J.P. Household Restricted Partnership-Powell Ranches.
• John Van de Pol, Amherst, halfner with Purple Rock Dairy and proprietor of Cap Rock Farms.
• Robert Ward, Wallis, Vice chairman and relations supervisor for Capital Farm Credit rating.
• Leanne Wiley, Wallis, differland administration specialist for U.S. Dehalfment of Agriculture-Pure Assets Conservation Service.
• Travis Wilson, Decatur, proprietor of Wilson Land and Cattle LLC, Wilson Farms, Wilson Sod Farm and Wilson Farms Canada.

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