Northeast Texans selected for latest ag leadership class

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

July 15, 2004 - "Given the critical issues facing agriculture today, there is a need to provide intensive leadership development experiences for a promising new generation of leaders," said Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz, director of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) Program.

The TALL program was formed during the late 1980s.

Twenty-five people have recently been accepted to TALL Class IX. Participants will meet eight times over the course of two years. Six of the meetings will be held at sites across Texas. The program, supported by the Texas Cooperative Extension, was designed to provide leaders for the future of the food and fiber industry in Texas.

The group will attend seminars with experts and have the opportunity to gain knowledge about the vast agricultural industries in Texas, the nation, and throughout the world.

"By participating in these seminars, we hope class members broaden their views and vision of agriculture on the state level, as well as internationally," said Mazurkiewicz.

Phil Jensen, of Bullard, and a member of the new TALL Class IX, says he is excited about the numerous people and experiences he will meet during the next few years.

"I hope to take away an appreciation and understanding for the complexity of agriculture, not just on the production side, but on the political side as well, in Texas and the world," said Jensen. He is the owner of the Red Rock Ranch.

Participants will have the chance to witness the agricultural spectrum through several tours of agriculture-related businesses and industries and will witness the unique problems encountered at the various production and distribution phases in agriculture.

Trey Teaff lives in Quitman, is a member of the new TALL class and works at the Wood County Electric Cooperative. Teaff believes that experiencing the multitude of agricultural sectors will benefit in his role as an electric provider.

"I feel TALL could have a significant impact on our relations with the members that we serve. We are primarily rural and serve a number of businesses related to agriculture including dairies, poultry houses, and nurseries. Knowing the industries that we serve will help us better serve them," said Teaff.

During the first year of the program, TALL participants will travel to another state and then to Washington, D.C.. In the second year of the program, international studies will top the agenda for the class. Members of the newest class will travel to areas of Texas, Mexico, Washington D.C., New York, and Brazil.

Several members of TALL agreed the time demands of work, home, and TALL will change their schedules.

"During the program period, I expect to have more than a few nights spent at the office catching up in the responsibilities of my job, as I will be devoting a great deal of time to the program," said Class IX member Jim Phillips, a resident of Tyler and owner and operator of Tolbert Ranch.

TALL members pay to be part of the group or have sponsors that finance the cost. This year's class paid a tuition of $2,000 per person. To many, the cost incurred is trivial in comparison to the episode ahead.

"Agriculture needs more proponents in Texas. Adding to the knowledge base of people involved in agriculture who are in positions to potentially make a difference will be of extreme importance in coming years," said Phillips.

Class IX will begin TALL sessions mid-July in College Station, at the same location where the class will graduate in June 2006.

Other members of the TALL Class IX are:

- Jeff Camp of Wellington, owner and operator of Camp Farms, a producer of cotton, peanuts, sorghum, small grains and cattle;

- July Danley of Stephenville, executive director of TriCounty Agribusiness Association (Erath, Comanche and Hamilton counties);

- Richard De Los Santos of Austin, director of horticulture and forestry marketing, Texas Department of Agriculture;

- Steve Donnell of Canyon, vice president of Panhandle-Plains Federal Land Bank Association of Amarillo, a producer of commercial cattle and a stocker beef calf operator;

- Dr. Mike Fanning of Mansfield, executive vice president of Agrilogic Inc., agricultural risk management consultant;

- Jim Ed Field of Abilene, credit office president of First Ag Credit;

- Marc Hartzendorf of Sinton, manager of Hartzendorf Gin and a producer of cotton and corn and owner of a land leveling business;

- Kody King of Comfort, district manager of Purina Mills and consulting partner with Spike-S-Ranch in Mertzon, a commercial cattle operation;

- Tuffy Loftin of Centerville, cattle manager of Champion Ranch, a commercial and registered cattle operation;

- Dr. Charles Looney of Bryan, president and owner of OvaGenix LP, a bio-technical company specializing in beef cattle breeding using embryo transfer technology;

- Robert S. Mayer of Sonora, manager and CEO of Arroyo Grande Ranch Co., producer of sheep, cattle, horses and goats as well as a consultant for exotic and wildlife management;

- Rachel Myers of Claude, executive assistant at Texas Wheat Producers Board and partner in the family wheat, hay and commercial cattle operation;

- Dean Nelson of Bellville, president and owner of Nelson Plant Food and board member of the Southeast Texas Nursery Growers Association;

- Eric Opiela of Karnes City, attorney and partner of Rancho Grande Trust and a producer of commercial cattle;

- Travis Reynolds of Franklin, commercial coordinator for M&M Farm Supply for sales and management of Purnia Feeds, fertilizers and chemicals;

- John Smith of Caldwell, loan review officer for Citizens State Bank of Somerville and a producer of commercial and purebred cattle and hay;

- Danny Sosebee of McAllen, southwest area sales manager for Netafim USA water irrigation systems;

- Michael Tolbert of Tyler, real estate sales agent and owner and operator of Tolbert Ranch, a producer of registered Brangus cattle, bison and timber;

- Joshua Walker of Austin, warehouse examiner for the U. S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, producer of commercial cattle and owner of a horse breeding and training facility;

- Nishi Whiteley of Austin, director of international marketing for the Texas Department of Agriculture;

- Matt Williams of Lockney, chief of marketing for the Texas Department of Agriculture and owner and manager of JK Angus Farm/MJ Livestock, a producer of registered Angus cattle, wheat, milo, cotton and hay; and

- Cord Willms of Corpus Christi, district sales manager for Delta & Pine Land Co., providing sales and technical support for cottonseed, soybean and biotechnology traits, and a producer of commercial cattle, hay and pecans.