Name: Ciera Ware; Major: Plant & Soil Science; Minor: Spanish; Classification: Senior; Organization: Agronomy Club; Hometown: Ralls, Texas; Month: February

Ciera Ware, a senior plant and soil science major from Ralls, has been named Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' February Matador of the Month.

"To me, being chosen as the Matador of the Month means that perhaps I've made a little bit of an impact during my time in CASNR and that means a lot to me personally," Ware said. "I've always respected those that have received this award in the past and I'm glad to be in a group alongside people like that."

Ware said that she chose to be a part of the Agronomy Club because it simply would be a good organization to join. Ware said it turned out to be a lot more than that.

"The club and a couple of the older members at that time were major contributing factors to my switching majors after my first semester at Tech," Ware said. "I've also had the chance to travel several places for crops judging contests and agronomy conferences through Agronomy Club."

Ware said she chose CASNR because she grew up on a cotton farm and always knew that agriculture is where her path would end up. CASNR, Ware said, has helped her figure out what she wants to do beyond college and what she's most passionate about.

"CASNR has a reputation as a top-notch ag program and the excellent scholarships had a big role in my decision," Ware said.

Ware said the professors at CASNR, specifically the Plant and Soil Science Department, have had a huge influence on her and provided her the opportunity to work for professors at the experiment station.

"I've had the opportunity to take classes like soil fertility and weed science, which is knowledge I can directly apply after college in farming." Ware said. "I've gotten to apply the knowledge and skills I've learned during college and regularly go home to my dad and pestered him with new ideas to try on his farms, as well."

After graduation, Ware will move back and start farming around Cone, Texas, right down the road from her father's farming operation.

Ag Council members include the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow; Agricultural Economics Association; Agri-Techsans; Agronomy Club; Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity; Alpha Zeta; Ambassadors for Agriculture; American Society of Landscape Architects; Block & Bridle; Collegiate 4-H; Collegiate FFA; Collegiate Horsemen's Association; Equestrian Team; Food Science Club; Horse Judging Team; Livestock Judging Team; Meat Judging Team; Meat Science Association; MANRRS; Rodeo Team; Sigma Alpha Sorority; Soil Judging Team; Student Association for Fire Ecology- SAFE; Tech Pre-Vet Society; Wildlife Society of Texas Tech; and Wool Evaluation Team.

CONTACT: Cindy McCullough, Coordinator of Scholarships, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or cindy.mccullough@ttu.edu

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