Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership program touring East Texas Jan. 22-26

• Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
• Contact: Jennifer Martinez, 979-845-1554, jennifer.martinez@ag.tamu.edu

TYLER – The Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership, or TALL, program, which molds and connects agricultural advocates from around the state and prepares them as problem solvers for local, state, national and global challenges, will tour East Texas Jan. 22-26.

Members of the media are invited to visit with TALL administrators and class members during the tour of East Texas. For information and a full itinerary Draft Agenda-TALL XV#7 Tyler-East Texas of stops in Tyler and Nacogdoches, contact Jennifer Martinez, TALL program administrative assistant, College Station, at jennifer.martinez@ag.tamu.edu, 979-845-1554, or Adam Russell, AgriLife Extension communications specialist, Overton, at adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu or 903-834-6191.

Jim Mazurkiewicz, leadership program director, College Station, said the mission of TALL is to create a cadre of Texas leaders to help ensure effective understanding and encourage positive action on key issues, theories, policy and economics that will advance the agriculture industry.

TALL, administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, provides knowledge and understanding of agriculture and related industries in today’s complex economic, political and social systems, he said. The two-year program brings participants together eight times at locations around Texas. They attend seminars and meet with government and business leaders to discuss local, state, national and international topics.

When TALL Class XV Cohort members visit East Texas, they will tour facilities ranging from Scotts Miracle Gro, Lone Star Rose Nursery and other nurseries, to John Soules Food, Brookshire’s, the Stephen F. Austin Poultry Center and Research facilities, a Pilgrim’s Pride processing plant and a working saw mill and timber operations.

On Jan. 23, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, will be the keynote speaker at a Build East Texas Social honoring the TALL Class XV from 5:45-9 p.m. at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler.

“Production in East Texas rivals other parts of the state when we talk about cash receipts and economic impact for the state,” Mazurkiewicz said. “Lumber, horticulture and poultry are a big part of the overall agricultural production landscape, and they’re too important not to have the class learn about the opportunities, issues and challenges those industries present.”

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