COLLEGE STATION - The 24 members of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Class VIII have been announced. Their first session will be July 16-19 in College Station.
TALL is a leadership development program of Texas Cooperative Extension. The goal of the program is to increase the capacity of volunteer leaders in agriculture to deal creatively with change so they can improve the quality of life in their communities and work places.
Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, TALL director, said, “Given the critical issues facing agriculture today, there is a need to provide intensive leadership development experiences for a promising new generation of leaders.”
Previous TALL classes have included farmers, ranchers, communicators, chemists, nursery owners, business professionals and many others.
By agreeing to participate in TALL, members agree to attend eight sessions over two years. Class destinations for TALL VIII include Texas, Mexico, Washington, D.C., New York, Canada and South Africa.
Members of the TALL VIII class are:
Clay Allison of San Angelo, software engineer for Northrop Grumman and owner/manager of the Allison Half Circle A Ranch Co., producer of commercial cows and calves, sheep and goats.
Jack Baggett of Ozona, partner/ranch manager of Baggett Family Limited Partnership, a producer of commercial cows and calves, sheep and goats.
Beverly Baker of Cedar Creek, programs specialist, communications division, Texas Department of Agriculture.
Terri Barber of Austin, director of livestock marketing, Texas Department of Agriculture.
Joe Behrens of Voca, owner/manager of Behrens Farms, a producer of commercial cows and calves, pork, hay, peanuts, melons, vegetables and grass seed.
Matt Belew of Vernon, owner/operator of MTB Farms, a producer of commercial wheat, sorghum and cows and calves.
Trey Buzbee of Aquilla, central basin government and customer relations manager for the Brazos River Authority, and a producer of commercial cows and calves and hay forage.
Gene Camargo of San Antonio, water resource planner and agricultural activities coordinator for the San Antonio Water System.
Don Clift of Perryton, general manager/business affairs, Texas Farm Inc., and a commercial pork producer.
Clay Crist of Wildorado, owner of Crist Fuel.
Shae Dodson of Amarillo, associate agribusiness director for KGNC-AM News Talk Radio.
Alan Eubank of Pampa, vice president and credit/branch officer in charge, Panhandle- Plains Land Bank Association, and a commercial cow/calf and hay producer.
John Gerston of Lissie, owner/operator/partner, Gertson Farms, a producer of rice, commercial cows and calves, and hay, and a commercial applicator, Lissie Flying Service.
Michael Hampton of Quitman, territory sales manager for U.S. Foodservices, which distributes fresh produce, fresh and frozen beef, pork, chicken, seafood, dairy items and dry groceries.
Michael Kuck of Luling, farm manager for the Luling Foundation, which produces commercial and purebred cattle, goats, corn, wheat, milo, cotton, pecans, and peaches.
Blake Lewis of Del Rio, title examiner for Southwest Abstract Co. and part-owner and operator of LLB Ranch, Ltd., a producer of commercial cattle, sheep and goats and which offers hunting.
Stan Meador of Eldorado, founder and general manager, X Bar Ranch Nature Retreat.
Karen Reicheck of Round Rock, executive assistant, Texas Food and Fibers Commission.
Charles Ring of Sinton, partner, Ring Bros., a producer of commercial cotton, yellow corn, white food corn and grain sorghum.
Clint Robinson, president, Lubbock and Crosbyton credit offices of First Ag. Credit/Farm Credit Services, and co-owner of Robinson Farms, a producer of cotton, soybeans, wheat, hay and cows and calves.
Brad Roeder of San Angelo, marketing specialist with the Texas Department of Agriculture, and commercial and purebred sheep and goat producer.
Reed Stewart of Sterling City, owner/operator of Reed and Stewart Ranch, a producer of commercial cows/calves, lambs and which offers ecotourism.
Lynn Tate of Amarillo, attorney with Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein and Johnson, P.C., and partner in Tate and Rhodes Farms, a producer of commercial cows and calves, corn, wheat, sorghum and cotton.
Jay Wilder of Caldwell, partner/operator, J&J Cattle Co., a producer of cotton, milo, soybeans, wheat, watermelons and commercial cows and calves.
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