Congratulations to the Texas Tech Rodeo Team coached by Chris Guay. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be going to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, June 11th-18th!  The men’s team is the Southwest Region Team Champion and the women’s team is the Southwest Region Team Reserve Champion. 

Ryan Gray is the Southwest Region Champion in Bareback Bronc Riding.  J.J. Thompson is the Southwest Region Champion in Barrel Racing.

CASNR has extended its Master of Agriculture degree to students off campus. The thirty-six hour program can now be completed by taking courses on the web and through ITV. Currently three areas of emphasis are available: Agronomy, Horticulture, and Resource Management. For more information please go online to www.casnr.ttu.edu/distanceed/ or call Norman Hopper at (806) 742-2808. Anyone interested may apply online at www.gradschool.ttu.edu.

Jerod Foster (Senior, Agricultural Communications) was recently elected as Vice-President of Texas Council of Agricultural Students Alliance (TxCASA) – a student group with representatives from the thirteen Agricultural Consortium of Texas (ACT) institutions. Michelle Gorhum (Senior, Animal Science) just completed a term serving as President of the organization.

Dr. Norm Hopper was recently elected as President-elect of Agricultural Consortium of Texas (ACT). This organization is a consortium of 13 Texas universities that offer four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in the agricultural sciences and natural resources disciplines. The consortium also includes representatives from the Texas Junior College Agricultural Association (TJCAA). The consortium addresses issues related to curriculum, transferability of courses, and recruiting.

77th Annual Texas FFA Convention
July 12-15, 2005

Opportunity Abounds!

In 2005, the Texas FFA Convention brings FFA members to one of the most agriculturally intensive regions on planet earth.

Want to make your convention trip a memorable educational experience?  Arrange for a tour of one of the many Texas South Plains agricultural industries or research facilities located below. Currently additional information is being collected from these organizations including contact information and location from the Texas Tech campus, along with a description of their operations. As soon as that information is available it will be made available on this website.

Ag Dept – Plains Capital Bank
American Cotton Growers (Littlefield)
Apple Country at High Plains Orchards (Idalou)
Birdsong Peanuts (Brownfield)
Breedlove Dehydrated Foods
Buster’s Gin (Ropesville) 
Cargill Meat Solutions (Plainview) 
Consolidated Cotton Gin Co.
Creative Educational Video 
Farmers Coop Compress
Fox Dairy (Plainview)
Hurst Farm Supply (Lorenzo)
International Textile Center
KAMC TV (ABC)
Land Application
Levelland Delinting (Levelland)
Llano Estacado Winery
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Lubbock Feeders
Pedro’s Tamales
Plains Coop Compress
Rawls Golf Course
Scott Tractor
South Plains Food Bank
Texas Department of Agriculture
TTU CASNR
TTU Research Farm at New Deal
TX Ag Research & Ext Center
USDA – Agricultural Research Service
USDA Cotton Classing Office

The soils team participated in the National Intercollegiate Soil Judging Contest April 3-8, 2005. The contest was hosted by Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Twenty-two colleges and universities were present. TTU placed 13th overall. Evan Maxwell a freshman form Sudan, Texas was 8th high individual. Other team members include:  Aaron Alexander, Amarillo; Charles Clark, Amarillo; and Ghad Geeslin, Lubbock. The team is coached by Dr. Wayne Hudnall, B. L. Allen Endowed Professor of Pedology; he is assisted by Dustin Russell.

The Texas Tech Men’s Rodeo Team placed 2nd in the West Texas A&M University Rodeo which was held April 7-9.  Ryan Gray placed 1st in Bareback Riding.  With 8 rodeos under their belt, the Men’s Rodeo Team is 1st in the standings among 16 colleges and universities participating in the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. 

At the West Texas A&M University Rodeo, J.J. Thompson, a member of the Texas Tech Women’s Rodeo Team placed 1st in Barrel Racining, and Lacy Bohlander placed 2nd in Goat Tying.  The Women’s Rodeo Team is presently in 2nd place in the Southwest Region. 

At the end of 10 rodeos the top two teams will advance to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming scheduled for June 8-16.

Red Raider Extravaganza was hosted in conjunction with the Area and State FFA Career Development Events.  Over 2,100 high school students and their agri-science teachers were in attendance.

Red Raider Extravaganza showcased each department’s research efforts and facilities through various tours, exhibits, and booths.  Free hamburgers were provided by CASNR in the Animal and Food Sciences building.  There was a 2:00 p.m. Awards presentation in the Livestock Arena.  There were 1,200 students registered for the Area Contests on April 16th, and 900 on April 23rd. 

Texas Tech University held a ceremony on Thursday, March 31st to recognize the service of employees across campus.  The following employees from the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics were recognized:

5 years:

Dr. David Willis

Dr. Mohamadou Fadiga

10 years:

Dr. Jeff Johnson

Mr. Marty Middleton

20 years:

Ms. Cindy Dickson 

Fourteen students and the faculty advisor of the Agricultural Economics Associations traveled to Chicago over Spring Break for professional development, visiting agribusiness and financial institutions in the area.
To begin the week, the group stopped in Decatur, IL and visited Archer Daniels Midland headquarters including the grain processing plant, ethanol generation plant, transportation network, hydroponics and tilapia production units, and the commodity trading floor. After lunch with Keri Weid, TTU graduate, the group headed to Chicago. They toured the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building, the Chicago Board of Trade – where they were able to view the Agricultural Commodity Trading Floor at the opening bell and the Financial Trading Floor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for a macroeconomics lesson, the Navy Pier, Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, and the financial district. Several students also visited the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Sears Tower.