Shaelyn Rainey, a doctoral student from Texas Tech’s Department of Natural Resources Management, tied for first place in the Society for Range Management’s Oral Presentation Competition on Thursday (Feb. 13) in Spokane, Washington. The title of the DeLeon, Texas native’s presentation was, “Seeding Rate & Herbicide Effects on Native Grass Establishment.”
“I would like to extend a huge congratulations to her,” said Richard Stevens, Interim Chair and Caesar Kleberg Endowed Professor of Wildlife Conservation. “This is a great honor, and we’re very proud of her.”
Caitlyn Cooper-Norris, the chair of Rainey’s doctoral committee added, “She did an excellent job presenting findings from her M.S. research. She is well deserving of this award, and I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the future.”
According to Rainey, the High Plains of Texas were historically dominated by shortgrass prairie. Due to concerns about water depletion and soil health among other things, many producers are converting cropland back to rangeland through native grass plantings. These attempts at planting are slow to establish, especially in the High Plains.
“This project is evaluating various seeding rates and weed control practices to increase the speed of native grass establishment,” she said. “We are also examining the effects of annual weather variation on establishment, as well.”
According to a Society for Range Management website, the graduate student competition is designed to recognize outstanding presenting skills and to help students improve their presenting skills by providing valuable feedback in the form of evaluation rubrics and written comments.
Rainey, who serves as a Graduate Research Assistant within the Department of Natural Resources Management, has a strong history of academic research success. She is a recipient of the Pendleton Scholarship in Range Science which recognizes outstanding students researching rangeland science and management. In 2023, she was awarded a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Graduate Student Grant for her proposal, Effect of Waste Milk on CRP Land.
Since 2022, Rainey has served as coach of the department’s Texas Tech Society for Range Management Plant Identification Team, which placed second at the organization’s Texas Section annual meeting in Denton in 2022. Her doctoral research focuses on the evaluation of technological advancements in rangeland management and the effects of woody plant encroachment and management practices on avian presence and diversity. Rainey received her bachelor’s degree in range and wildlife management from Texas A&M University – Kingsville and her master’s degree in rangeland restoration and ecology from Texas Tech.
CONTACT: Richard Stevens, Interim Chair and Caesar Kleberg Endowed Professor of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Natural Resources Management, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-6843 or richard.stevens@ttu.edu
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