The Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications hosted the 2026 National Professional Development Conference for Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, ACT, on Jan. 15-18. The conference attracted more than 130 students from 15 universities across the country to College Station.

Two women sit in front of a crowd with a maroon backdrop that says "Texas A&M University Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications."
Kendal Brown ’26 serves as the president of the Texas A&M chapter of the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. (Tanya Hamner/Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications)

ACT is a national collegiate organization dedicated to students pursuing careers in agricultural communications and is the largest organization of its kind in the nation.

Planned by Texas A&M agricultural communications and journalism students, the multi-day event featured keynote and breakout sessions, industry panels, facility tours and networking opportunities designed to prepare students for careers at the intersection of agriculture, media and public engagement. Session topics included product marketing, storytelling, artificial intelligence, risk and crisis communication, and agricultural policy.

Event showcases students’ skills

Texas A&M ACT chapter president Kendal Brown ’26 and former National ACT secretary and treasurer, said leading the planning and execution of a national conference was a defining professional experience for student members.

“Hosting a conference of this scale allowed our students to take ownership of the process from start to finish,” Brown said. “It pushed us to think critically, communicate clearly and work as a team in a professional setting.”

Allyson Spears ’18, instructional assistant professor in the department and Texas A&M ACT co-advisor, served as a conference keynote speaker and encouraged students to remain authentic as communicators.

“In a world where messages and influences are constant, it is critical for students to know who they are and communicate with confidence and authenticity,” Spears said. “That skill carries value no matter where their careers take them.”

Department highlights communications leadership preparation

Clint Saunders, professor of practice and Texas A&M ACT co-advisor, said hosting the conference allowed the department to showcase its students and academic programs on a national stage.

A man wearing a cowboy hat singing into a microphone while playing a guitar. Another man is in the background playing the guitar.
The conference concluded with a concert from Carson Jeffrey ’19, who is a former student of the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. (Tanya Hamner/Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications)

“This was an opportunity to highlight the strength of our department and the work our students are doing,” Saunders said. “Events like this help ensure agricultural communications programs across the country continue producing graduates who are prepared to lead.”

Brown said the conference reinforced the national role ACT plays in developing future agricultural communicators.

“Bringing together students from across the country showed the impact ACT has beyond any single campus,” Brown said. “It was an honor to represent Texas A&M while helping shape the future of our profession.”

For more information, visit the 2026 National Professional Development Conference website.

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