In an effort to inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders, Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources is partnering with the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) to launch the Cattle Raisers Roundup Summer Program, an immersive experience designed to introduce high school students to the evolving world of beef production.
Set to begin next Wednesday, July 16, the program will bring 20 selected high school juniors and seniors from across the Texas Panhandle to the Lubbock campus for a day of tours, presentations and hands-on learning experiences.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this outstanding group to Texas Tech and Davis College,” said Maeley Stroupe, assistant director for student success at Davis College. “As they explore the beef industry, we hope their time on campus inspires them to see the vital role they can play in agriculture’s future. This event is about planting seeds of curiosity, leadership, and purpose that we hope will grow into lifelong commitments to the agricultural industry.”
The program begins with a visit to the National Ranching Heritage Center, a 27-acre museum and historical park that preserves the region’s deep ranching traditions. A luncheon will follow, featuring a keynote address from Clint Rusk, executive director of Texas Tech’s new Ranch Management Program. The graduate-level initiative, housed in the Department of Natural Resources Management, is aimed at developing industry-ready professionals through immersive internships and strategic partnerships across the ranching sector.
Students will then tour the Gordon W. Davis Meat Science Laboratory, a key facility in Tech’s Department of Animal & Food Sciences, led by Dale Woerner, an internationally-recognized expert in meat science and recipient of this year’s Barnie E. Rushing Jr. Distinguished Research Award. With more than $18 million in industry-funded research and over 300 scholarly publications, Woerner is one of the college’s leading research contributors.
The day continues with a beef nutrition demonstration led by Jhones Sarturi, associate professor of beef cattle nutrition and metabolism, who also oversees the college’s Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory and the Ruminant Nutrition Center at the college's New Deal Research & Education Center.
Later, participants will tour additional campus landmarks, including the Dairy Barn, a restored 1926 facility that stands as a symbol of Texas Tech’s agricultural heritage and its continued commitment to innovation. The day concludes with a panel discussion moderated by Tyler Schuster, Davis College’s assistant director of development and alumni relations, followed by dinner and a roundtable networking event.
For TSCRA, one of the state’s oldest and largest livestock organizations, the program is an extension of its 147-year mission to support and strengthen the beef industry. With more than 28,000 members spanning ranching families, operations and allied businesses, the association plays a central role in guiding Texas agriculture through generational change.
CONTACT: Chance Brooks, Professor and Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-3517 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu
0708NM25