Words of Wisdom Empower the Future Generation
The second annual Agribusiness Leaders Lecture Series was held last October and provided agriculture students helpful information and advice on becoming a successful business leader in the agriculture industry.
The event was sponsored by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and featured Laura Mathers Conniff, James Herring and Ed Wright. The program included a presentation by the speakers to freshman agriculture majors followed by a reception, dinner and lecture to junior and senior agriculture majors. “This lectureship is unique because it offers a meet-andgreet with the speakers as well as a question and answer session for all guests,” said Dean Hawkins, head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences. “It is not only an opportunity to learn but it is also a confidence builder as we graduate and experience the business world for ourselves,” said Kristi Benedict, senior equine industry and business major. Mathers Conniff, Herring and Wright each spoke to students about their experiences in the agricultural industry and how those experiences impacted their road to success. They also gave advice and answered questions from students.
The lecture series featured Ed Wright (left), Laura Mathers Conniff (center),and James Herring (right).
“The secret to any success is how to manage the stress and use it as a motivator,” Wright, a WT alumni and local cattle buyer said. “People who can handle stress are in the top 2 percent of money makers in this country.” Herring is the president and CEO of Friona Industries, L.P. and told students about the risks that were necessary to take in order to be successful. “You can have it all. You just can’t have it all every day,” Mathers Conniff, the director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and co-owner of Mathers Realty, Inc. and Leveldale Farms and Conniff F Cross Farm said.
WT Brings Home the Hardware From NACTA Contest The Department of Agricultural Sciences teams made a valiant showing at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture judging contests held April 4. Teams from WT participated in the contests hosted by Texas Tech University. Competition began with WT sweeping the horse judging contest, winning the halter, performance, reasons and overall in the team events. Faith Schleich, from Manmouth, Ill. was 1st in halter and 2nd in performance and reasons and 2nd individual overall. Caitlin Robb, from New Windsor, Ill., was 1st in performance and reasons and 2nd in halter. Robb was also the top placing individual in the contest.
The Livestock Judging Team also swept its contest winning beef cattle, sheep and goats, swine, reasons and the overall team competition. Rhett Long, from Vernal, Utah, placed 1st in the sheep and goat and swine classes and 2nd in beef cattle and reasons. Long was the 2nd place individual of the competition. In addition to judging, WT’s Knowledge Bowl and Agricultural Communications’ teams placed 2nd in their contests. Overall, the teams and students represented the department well and competed as a group better than any other university.
wtamu.edu/academics/braggin-rights.aspx
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