Junior Ambassador Program

For many decades, the Texas Pork Producers Association has focused on advocating, educating and encouraging the youth in Texas. The Association is driven to provide different avenues for Texas youth to grow within the industry by providing things like scholarship, the Texas Pork Leadership Camp, Youth Symposium, and more.

With efforts to continue our mission of advancing a sustainable and profitable pork industry, the Association was inspired to create a youth program that would generate visible leaders for our industry and communities. New this year, TPPA will introduce the Texas Pork Producers Association Junior Ambassador Program to begin creating current and future youth advocates.

Over the course of two years, junior ambassadors will participate in association events, youth tours, personal development training, educational sessions, and more. Junior ambassadors will encourage, educate, and serve others to help take part in actively advocating wherever they are. The program will challenge youth to want more for themselves while learning more about the swine industry.

Director of Youth and Communications, Riley Reep, said she hopes that this program will generate future leaders not only for the swine industry, but for others as well.

“When the idea of this program surfaced, I was encouraged to establish our why in implementing this program in the first place,” Reep said. “After much thought, it was simple: to create future innovators, problem-solvers, logical leaders, and selfless role models. We always say our youth is our future, but we have to ensure they are prepared to make a difference.”

How it Works

Applications for the program will be open from March 1 through May 1, 2023. For the first year, six junior ambassadors will be selected through an application and interview process. Following 2023, the association will move forward with selecting four junior ambassadors each year. Each group of ambassadors will serve a term of two years. The first TPPA Junior Ambassadors will be announced in June 2023. Junior ambassadors will be held to a higher standard as they will be expected to represent the association and our industry at many levels. It is required that junior ambassadors put forth all efforts to fulfill their duties during his or her term.

Upon selection in June, junior ambassadors will travel to the TPPA office in Lubbock, TX, for orientation and educational training. Over three days, junior ambassadors will extensively review the program, meet with association leadership, participate in public speaking/crisis communications training, learn about the Association, expand their knowledge about the industry, as well as engage in personal and professional development activities.

In September, they will travel to Amarillo, TX for a week to tour and meet with multiple industry representatives during the Junior Ambassador Tour. The goal of the tour will be to allow ambassadors to further their knowledge of the industry while gaining valuable networking experiences with industry partners. Each year, junior ambassadors will travel to a new destination to grow their network and experience new areas of the industry.

In addition, junior ambassadors will attend and assist with multiple events such as Texas’ Elite Showcase, BBQ Austin, and the Texas Pork Industry Conference.

Application Process and Guidelines

Eligible applicants for the junior ambassador program must be ages 17-21 as of January 1 of the application year. On March 1st of each year, the application process will open. The application will be comprised of a handful of essay questions and three (3) references. At least one reference listed must be a TPPA member. Applicants must complete the application by May 1st. From there, the youth advisory committee will review all applications anonymously. Through a rubric given, applicants can earn up to 80 points. Each committee member will review and award points to each application. Once all applications are sent in, the Director of Youth and Communications will add all points together. The highest scores will be interviewed. Applicants will be notified of their status by May 15th.

Interviews will be conducted virtually during June with the applicant, an outside group of industry professionals, and the Director of Youth and Communications. The applicant will be asked questions formed by the outside group of industry professionals.

After all interviews are completed, the interview panel will rank the applicants individually. Rankings will determine which youth members will be selected to serve as a Texas Pork Producers Association Junior Ambassador. Junior ambassadors will be announced within 24 hours of the final interview.

Each year, four (4) junior ambassadors will be selected to serve a two (2) year term. Every year during June, a new group of four (4) members be elected. For the first year (2023), we will elect six (6) junior ambassadors. Following 2023, we will move forward with selecting four (4) junior ambassadors each year.

For more information, visit www.texaspork.org or contact riley@texaspork.org.