Horsemen’s Association hosts national collegiate convention

By Emma Coffman and Amanda Denson The Texas A&M University Horsemen’s Association hosted the 2018 American Collegiate Horsemen’s Association National Convention March 8-11. This convention is held each year and hosted by different universities to bring together students interested in careers with an equine focus.  The 3-day program provides exposure to a variety of equine professionals leading to networking opportunities and potential internships or jobs for the convention attendees. This year saw the largest convention attendance to date at 150 from 14 universities across the U.S. The convention… Read More →

Texas A&M Qatar Leadership Exchange Group Pauses for an Equestrian Experience at N.W. “Dick” Freeman Arena

For the fifth year, Dr. Martha Vogelsang, senior lecturer in equine science, has coordinated an “Equestrian Experience” for engineering students from Texas A&M Qatar participating in the Spring Leadership Exchange sponsored by the Department of Student Activities.  These young people, almost all from middle eastern countries, spend a week at Texas A&M-College Station in leadership development activities. At the request of a former coordinator of this program, a “Texas Night” was planned in 2014 which included information on horses and barbeque with the opportunity to experience both.  With… Read More →

Equine Summer Study Abroad in Scotland

Honors Students away from campus for study abroad, co-ops, or internships are encouraged to write about their experiences to share them with the Honors community. In the post below, senior animal science major Jessica Kuyawa ’18 describes her summer experience in Scotland which was funded by a Gilman Scholarship. By Jessica Kuyawa During the early part of the summer I was lucky enough to go on a 4 week study abroad program to Scotland to work with horses. During my program I took 2 equine classes, Equine Anatomy… Read More →

United States Army veteran receives top honor at Texas A&M

By Emily Berger COLLEGE STATION — Army veteran in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was awarded one of the highest honors at Texas A&M University. Raymond Dilworth, an animal science major, received the Senior Merit Award given by the college to its top 30 graduating seniors. Dilworth enlisted in the army in 2009 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. In 2011, he was awarded the Purple Heart while serving with the First Infantry Division in Afghanistan. Today, Dilworth draws upon his experiences to teach future… Read More →

International horsemanship

By Chelsie Huseman, chelsie.huseman@tamu.edu, 979-845-5264 Have you ever wondered what horse industries are like in other countries? Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Department of Animal Science are teaming up to bring you perspectives from around the world! The TAMU International Horsemanship Program was developed to provide a means for both undergraduate and graduate students to learn about the scope of other horse industries and cultures. The inaugural country to participate in the program, was China. Dr. Jessica Leatherwood, assistant professor of equine science, Chelsie Huseman, Extension horse program… Read More →

Mohammad receives Grand Challenges award

Zahra Mohammad, a graduate student studying under Dr. Alejandro Castillo, associate professor of meat science in the Department of Animal Science, recently received a 2018 Grand Innovation Challenge Award. The challenge was a team-based competition for graduate and undergraduate students offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The teams were tasked with identifying a solution to one of the College’s five Grand Challenges: Protecting Our Environment Enriching Our Youth Improving Our Health Growing Our Economy Feeding Our World Mohammad and her team received the award for… Read More →

Texas Horse Help App

By Elizabeth Ennis The Texas Horse Help App is the latest step made by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horse Program and Dr. Jennifer Zoller, Extension horse specialist, to foster connections in the Texas equine industry and encourage education for all of its members. Zoller wanted to provide an outlet for Texas horse owners and enthusiasts to connect with equine professionals in all breeds and disciplines throughout the state, discover events such as competitions and seminars in their area, and get connected to their county extension agents and… Read More →

Beef influence on dairy cattle could improve marketing options, bottom line

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Ted McCollum, 806-677-5600, ted.mccollum@ag.tamu.edu AMARILLO – Dairy owners might be able to add more to their bottom line if they introduce a beef bull into their breeding program for some of the producing cows in their herd, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist said. But just any bull from the sale barn won’t work, said Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, who spoke at the High Plains Dairy Conference recently in Amarillo. “At today’s costs, dairy calves generally… Read More →

Herring named March volunteer of the month

Dr. Herring was nominated by the Myanmar team because of his ability to quickly absorb the local situation in the field and adapt those observations into an informative presentation and training. He got along well with all the farmers he met, was well prepared and focused on the work. “Dr. Herring’s assignment and shared information delighted the host and cattle farmers, it presented real opportunities in livestock export if they practice cattle farming systematically. It pointed out potential investment areas and possible collaboration between US and Myanmar” Ai… Read More →

Panel highlights importance of dairy workforce training, documentation

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu Contact: Dr. Ellen Jordan, 972-952-9212, e-jordan2@tamu.edu Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, 806-677-5668, tdowell@tamu.edu AMARILLO – After a number of U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, audits of dairies in New Mexico and Texas last year, Dr. Ellen Jordan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service dairy specialist in Dallas, said the industry is working to help dairies get laborers properly documented. Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo, led an employee immigration panel discussion on “Navigating the Dairy Workforce Crisis” recently at the High… Read More →