Graduate students represent Texas A&M at global livestock forum

Five Texas A&M Department of Animal Science graduate students were selected to participate in the  International Livestock Congress, a global forum on the future of animal agriculture held during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston. They were selected by the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation. 

The students selected were Benjamin Carpenter, Jimena Rodriguez, Alyson Fontenot, Gabriela Schneider and Kent Toyonaga.

The congress brings together livestock producers, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers from around the world to discuss challenges and opportunities shaping the global livestock sector. The students selection reflects their strong academic preparation and engagement with the livestock industry through research, graduate training and professional development within the department.

Five Texas A&M Department of Animal Science graduate students who were selected to participate in the  International Livestock Congress. They are posing for a photo holding "2026 Student Fellowship Award" Flags

Faculty expertise represented at the congress

Texas A&M Animal Science and  Texas A&M AgriLife leaders also attended the congress, highlighting the department’s continued involvement in national and international livestock conversations.

Faculty participants included Dan Hale, associate director for agriculture and natural resources for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; Jerrad Legako, associate professor and Gary ’68 and Kay Smith Endowed Chair in Meat Science; Penny Riggs, associate professor of functional genomics; and G. Cliff Lamb, director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and professor.

Also attending were H. Russell Cross, professor emeritus, and Teresa A. Davis, director of the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture.

Five Texas A&M Department of Animal Science graduate students who were selected to participate in the  International Livestock Congress. They are posing for a photo holding "2026 Student Fellowship Award" Flags. Faculty from the department is also present in the photo

Preparing the next generation of industry leaders

Events like the International Livestock Congress connect graduate students with leaders across the livestock industry and broaden their understanding of issues shaping animal agriculture.

These prestigious opportunities support the department’s commitment to preparing graduate students for leadership roles in research, industry, and the global livestock sector, enhancing the vision for the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science to be the global leader in animal agriculture.