Longtime supporters of Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dan and Linda Taylor have been selected to receive the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) Alumni Association South Plains Agriculture Leadership Award. The honor was presented to the couple during a special program on Tuesday (Oct. 14) at the Bayer Museum of Agriculture in Lubbock.

"There is not another couple more passionate about agricultural education, advocacy and history than Dan and Linda," said Jim Mazurkiewicz, Agrilife Extension Leadership Program Director. "Their dedication to agriculture education is apparent not only by the accomplishments presented tonight, but by the testimony from people whose lives they have touched. They have made a difference in Texas and the world."

Dan Taylor, a former agriculture teacher and cotton ginner from Ropesville, is a graduate of the college's agricultural education program and has served on CASNR's advisory board. Taylor farms in Lubbock and Terry counties, in addition to owning several other agricultural properties in Hockley, Lynn, Castro, Lamb, Hill and Denton counties.

From 1964 to 1974 he was an agricultural science teacher at Lubbock-Cooper, and from 1975 to 2009 he was CEO and owner of Buster's Gin. He received his bachelor's degree in agricultural education in 1964 and a master of education in 1968 from Texas Tech. He was selected to receive an Honorary American FFA Degree in 2010.

Linda Taylor is owner and operator of SP Taylor Insurance Agency, a Ropesville-based crop insurance agency. She was office manager, co-owner and operator of Buster's Gin, Ltd. Between 1976 and 2009. She is a member of the Plains Cotton Growers Finance Committee, the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, and the Texas Farm Bureau, among others.

She received her bachelor's degree in business administration in 1965 and master's degree in education in 1969; both from Texas Tech. Honors include Leader Legacy Award for District 2 of the Texas 4-H Foundation (2004); and Cotton Ginner of the Year for the Texas Cotton Ginner's Association (2009).

TALL is a two-year leadership development program managed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The program invests 455 hours of intensive training per person in seminars, speakers and domestic and international study trips over two years. "The goal of the program is to create a strong network within Texas agriculture by having representation from all agricultural industries and geographic regions," Mazurkiewicz said.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu

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