COLLEGE STATION – Lawyers, farmers, bankers, government officials, ranchers and agriculture-related industry representatives banded together for two years with one aim: learn to be leaders.
Their intensive study of agriculture worldwide culminated this month when the Texas Agriculture Lifetime Leadership class of 2010 graduated at a ceremony in College Station.
“The experience gained in all vast aspects of the agriculture industry shapes each class member to be a more well-rounded agriculture advocate,” said class member Alicia Howard Burton of Chapman Ranch. “We are each involved in different entities, but must have a unified voice to speak to and educate our country and the world about agriculture. That is our responsibility.”
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service leads the program, known as TALL, which focuses on international communications, ecology, government, policy, economics, social problems and education opportunities, according to Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, coordinator of the leadership program.
This class, the 11th since the program started, traveled to Russia, Poland and Mexico to learn about the impact of agriculture worldwide.
“The TALL Program has opened channels of information exchange that reach well beyond the Texas borders,” said class member Koby Reed of Wichita Falls. “I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved in this program, which has intuitively enhanced my knowledge of American agriculture.”
For most of the graduates, the hands-on experiences in Texas and abroad are what led to the greatest learning.
“On-location visits with the owners and operators provided operational appreciation and understanding that is not possible in a classroom environment,” said Grady Martin of Lubbock.
Sarah Riggins of San Marcos agreed.
“I have always had strong ties to agriculture,” she said. “During the course work of TALL, I gained a better perspective of the need and importance of agriculture not only in the Lone Star State, but around the nation and world.”
The graduates, their affiliation and their home towns are:
Katy Berdoll Blankinship, Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo senior manager, Austin.
Missy Bonds, Bonds Ranch, Saginaw.
David DeJong, Horizon Dairy, Hico.
Johnny Dietze, Dietze and Reese Attorneys, Cuero.
Cary Dupuy, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts-natural resource policy advisor, Austin.
Chris E. Glueck , Glueck Tree Farm manager of operations, Alleyton.
Anne Griffeth, Cultivate Agency, Inc., Justin.
Dr. Justin High, Reata Equine Hospital, Weatherford.
Alicia Howard Burton, Howard Consulting-Purchasing, Chapman Ranch.
Aaron Martinka, Martinka Brothers Farm, Buckholts.
Grady Martin, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association director of sales, Lubbock.
Matthew Moore, Matt Moore Farms, Shamrock.
Allison Moskal, Monsanto area sales manager, Fair Oaks Ranch.
Kevin Naivar, Rice Tec Inc. foundation seed manager, Richmond.
Rex Ralston, Ralston Land & Cattle/Hansford Air, Inc., Gruver.
Koby D. Reed, Sanger Bank, Wichita Falls.
Sarah Riggins, Texas Department of Agriculture state marketing coordinator for food, San Marcos.
Joe Will Ross, attorney, San Angelo.
Mason Vaughan, First National Bank of Eldorado senior vice president, Eldorado.
Keith Walters, Pogue Agri Partners president and managing partner, Pleasanton.
Shanna Weaver, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo publicity manager, Paradise.
Ken Weidenfeller, Texas Department of Agriculture regional director, Seguin.
James Welch, Lone Star Ag Credit regional president, Reno.
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