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Agricultural & Applied
Economics
Agricultural Education
& Communications
Dr. David Doerfert served as a development team member for the National Research Agenda in Agricultural Education and Communication,
2007-2010.
Dr. Steve Fraze recently accepted a 25% appointment in the CASNR
Dean’s Office as Interim Director of the Agricultural Recruiting and Career Center. Fraze was also selected to participate in the 2007-2008 USDALead21 Program. This program is designed to equip current and future
leaders in higher education, extension, and research programs.
Drs. Scott Burris and Cindy Akers secured a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Food and Fiber Research Program for developing and
maintaining a statewide agricultural research database.
Collegiate FFA members held the 26th Annual Jerry Stockton Collegiate
FFA Barrow Sale on October 14. To date, funds from this sale have provided
travel funding for members to participate in the National FFA Convention
and have endowed a scholarship with a principal of over $115,000.
The Agricultural Education and Communications Alumni Scholarship endowment has grown to over $121,000. Current officers are President Donnie
Swink, Vice President Mark Marley, and Secretary-Treasurer Farris Hightower.
Departmental scholarship endowments have grown to over $639,000.
In 2007, interest from these accounts generated over $34,000 which was
awarded to 108 deserving students in the department.
Divina Gracia Rodriguez, who completed her master’s degree in
Agricultural and Applied Economics in December, was presented the
Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis
Award on Feb. 7 at the organization’s annual meeting in Mobile, Alabama.
The award is based on relevance of the topic addressed, application of
appropriate economic methods, and contribution of the results/methods in
advancing the agricultural economics profession.
Rodriguez’s thesis, “Impacts of a Poverty Alleviation Program for Coconut Producers in the Philippines: A Panel Data Approach,” was supervised
by Roderick Rejesus, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. It examined the economic impact of a multifaceted poverty alleviation program specifically designed for low income
coconut producers in the Philippines.
Sukant Misra, associate dean for research, was presented the President’s
Excellence in Teaching Award, while David Wester, a professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management, was presented a President’s
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30 ] Landmarks 2008
Academic Achievement Award, which is given to faculty who have demonstrated distinction in teaching, research and service.
Don Ethridge, a professor with Texas Tech University’s Department of
Agricultural and Applied Economics, is featured in the premiere episode of
a new 13-part public television documentary, called “State of Tomorrow.”
Phil Johnson, an associate professor with Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, discussed an integrated approach to water
conservation, while Tom Knight, a professor with Tech’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, reviewed combining area- and individual-level insurance coverage at the cotton economics symposium.
From examining the distribution of cropping patterns on the High Plains
to agricultural producer’s land use decisions, Chenggang Wang said he is
dedicated to improving Texas agriculture. Wang was recently hired as an
assistant professor for Texas Tech University’s Department of Agricultural
and Applied Economics. He will hold a joint appointment with Texas A&M
University, as well.
Four faculty members received college-wide honors in 2007. Dr. Steve Fraze
was named the CASNR nominee for the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished
Teaching Award and won the CASNR Teaching Award, Dr. Cindy Akers was
named the CASNR nominee for the American Association for State Colleges of
Agriculture and Renewable Resources Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Scott
Burris was named the CASNR nominee for the Hemphill Wells New Professor
Excellence in Teaching Award, and Dr. Todd Brashears was the CASNR nominee for the TTU Alumni Association New Faculty Award.
Dr. Scott Burris was named the Student Agricultural Council’s Outstanding
Faculty Award in Fall 2006. Dr. Matt Baker received this award in Spring 2007.
Instructor Erica Irlbeck presented a paper at the Southwest Education
Council for Journalism and Mass Communication, October 26-27, 2007 in
Norman, Oklahoma. The paper was entitled: Not even once – The success
of the Montana Meth Project: A Case Study. The paper was co-authored by
Drs. David Doerfert, Cindy Akers, and Judy Oskam of Texas State University.
Former graduate student Lindsay West, won the Livestock Publications
Council Most Improved Publication for her work as editor of the Ozarks Farm
and Neighbor. West has recently relocated from Arkansas to Lubbock, where
she has been employed as communications director for Texas Corn Producers.
Former undergraduate Diane Mashburn of Edom presented a poster at
the 2007 Association for Leadership Education’s Annual Meeting in Fort
Worth. Mashburn’s poster was entitled Service Learning on Goal and Mode
Values. Her faculty advisor on the project was Dr. Scott Burris. Mashburn
is currently on a graduate assistantship at the University of Florida.
At the Western Region – American Association for Agricultural Education Confference in Cody, Wyoming, Dr. Steve Fraze was elected regional
secretary. Dr. Cindy Akers was elected to the Communications/Member
Services Committee, Dr. Matt Baker to the Journal of Agricultural Education’s Editing/Managing Board, and Dr. Steve Fraze to the Research Committee. Baker and Fraze will be joining Dr. David Doerfert who serves on
both the Research Committee and the Journal’s Editing/Managing Board.
Andrew Arnold, Rebecca Coffman, Andrew Hokanson, Kimberly Menchaca,
Rachel Oates, and Jarrott Wilkinson were recently named to the Who’s Who
Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Two of the four members of the 2007 National Championship Collegiate
Livestock Judging Team include agricultural education majors Andrew Hokanson (Dumas) and Garrett Holder (Andrews). Graduate student Todd Beyers served as an assistant coach to the team.
Dr. David Lawver accompanied a group of seven graduate students to
Chihuahua Mexico. This year’s itinerary included stops in Camargo (agribusess), Parral (ranches, silver mines), Guachochi (saw mill, Sinferosa
Canyon), Creel Cooper Canyon and Tarahumarra Indian Ejido, and Chihuahua City (shopping).
Doctoral student and graduate assistant Kevin Williams of Spearman has
successfully defended his dissertation and has accepted an assistant professor
position in Agricultural Education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Twelve Doc@Distance students recently completed their degree programs including: Dr. Kim Alexander (Superintendent, Roscoe), Dr. Cindy
Chaney (Principal, Whitesboro), Dr. Kalico Karr-Leech, (Homemaker, Albany),
Dr. Landry Lockett (Extension Education Unit, Texas A&M, College Station),
Dr. Darrell Dromgoole (Regional Program Director, Texas Cooperative Extension, Lubbock), Dr. Anna Kantor (Instructor, Navarro College, Mexia), Dr.
Steve Lewis (Extension County Director, University of Nevada Extension, Minden, NV), Dr. Rene Miller, (Production Agriculture, Thorntown, IN ), Dr. Brad
Davis (University of Arkansas Extension, Little Rock, AR), Dr. Kim Hays (Amarillo College, Amarillo), Dr. Zana Matthies-Hanson (Principal, Fort Stockton),
and Dr. Carol Woodward (Production Agriculture, Alpine).
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Animal & Food Sciences
Texas Tech University’s Meat Animal Evaluation Team won first place in
the 2007 National Meat Animal Evaluation Contest, a first for Texas Tech in
the championship’s 43-year history.
The contest, which took place March 22-24 at the Oklahoma City Stockyards and Oklahoma State University, required competitors to draw on
wide-ranging knowledge of areas such as livestock evaluation, meat judging and agricultural communications.
Texas Tech boasted eight out of ten of the top individual rankings and
the team claimed 1st place in the Market Animal Division and Breeding Animal Division. Combined with 3rd place rankings in Communications and
Meat Divisions, the team scored a total 8,450 points, earning the top spot
in the overall standings.
Team members include the following: Jeff Berry, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Matthew Stolz, Brenham; Jordan Hicks, Hereford; Brett Gaylord, Jayton; Greg
McNeil, Rosharon;   Clint Halfmann, Wall; Jonathan Hisey, Rule; Landi Woolley, Grandview; Amber Harris, Pearland; Andrew Hokanson, Dumas; Travis
O’Quinn, League City; Garrett Holder, Andrews.
The team was coached by Todd Beyers, John Kellermeier and Rathmann.
Texas Tech University’s Meat Science Academic Quiz Bowl Team was
named 2007 national champion at the 60th annual Reciprocal Meats Conference, marking the second time since 2005 that the team has earned the
national title.
The competition, held from June 17-20 at South Dakota State University
in Brookings, S.D., featured more than 20 university teams from across the
nation. The Texas Tech team defeated Angelo State University in the finals
to take the top spot.
Team members included Landi Woolly, Travis O’Quinn, Matt Sellers, Meagan Mitchell, Travis Chapin and Austin Voyles. The coach of the team is Mark
Miller, Texas Tech professor of Meat Science and Muscle Biology and San
Antonio Livestock Exposition endowed chair in Animal & Food Sciences.
The Texas Tech University Livestock Judging Team was named national
champions at the 2007 North American International Livestock Exposition,
held Nov. 12 in Louisville, KY.
Texas Tech claimed for of the top 10 individual rankings in the competition and earned first place in the cattle and oral reasons divisions, second
in sheep, and third overall in swine to win the national championship for
the first time since 1985.
In addition, the team set and all-time record in the oral reasons division,
scoring 1,881 points.
Landscape Architecture
Texas Tech was named
2005 national champion at
the International Congress
of Meat Science and Technology conference, held
from August 7-12 in Baltimore.
Chance Brooks, an assistant professor with the
Department of Animal and
Food Sciences, received the
Texas Tech Alumni Association New Faculty Award.
Sung Woo Kim, an assistant professor in monogastric nutrition and digestive
physiology in Texas Tech
University’s Department of
Animal and Food Sciences,
recently received the “Outstanding Young Animal Scientist Award – Research”
from American Society
of Animal Science during
their annual meeting in Alabama.
He received a plaque,
$500 and recognition while
at the meeting. Kim’s research is working to facilitate animal production with nutrition and digestive physiology specialized in monogastric animals. The program also focuses on the use of animals as a model for human nutrition.
Established in 1908, the American Society of Animal Science is a professional organization for animal scientists designed to help members provide
effective leadership through research, extension, teaching and service for
the dynamic and rapidly changing livestock and meat industries.
Texas Tech University’s Therapeutic Riding Center has become accredited under the Premier Accredited Center Program offered by the North
American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA).
The 2007 Alumni Workshop had a fantastic turn out this year and we
would like to thank everyone who participated! After a presentation by class
of ‘99 graduate Eric Shultz, there was roundtable discussions, rotational discussions, resume/portfolio reviews, third year presentations, dinner/socializing, raidergate, and the homecoming game. A special thanks to all alumni
who made an appearance and hope to see everyone again next year!
On April 28th, 2007, Graduate Student Nicole Kalina recruited people
from the Landscape Architecture Department and the community to install
her thesis design at the Ramar Communications building. This community
outreach project is intended to teach the people of Lubbock about responsible planting choices
After a brief illness, Jean Stephans Kavanagh passed away on January 25,
2008. Jean was a very active member of the Landscape Architecture faculty
and was a valuable asset to the college. Jean went above and beyond for her
students, such as in the Spring of 2007 the LARC 3403: planting Design class
visited famous Dallas gardens and sculpture exhibits, including Pioneer Plaza, Thanksgiving Square, Sundance Square, the Dallas Arboretum and the
Nasher Garden. She will be greatly missed.
The Jean Stephans Kavanagh Memorial Scholarship has been established
in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Anyone interested in more information can call 806-742-2802 or can send checks payable
to Texas Tech Foundation and mail to TTU – CASNR, Attn: Memory Bennett,
Box 42123, Lubbock, TX 79409-2123. Please note Jean Stephans Kavanagh
Scholarship in the memo line of the check.
Landscape Architecture students Katie Truitt and Jeff Alexander won second prize in the All-America Rose Selections Annual Competition.
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Plant & Soil Science
Natural Resources
Management
Nithya Rajan, an agronomy graduate student from CASNR’s Department
of Plant and Soil Science, placed first on March 22 in the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources division of the 6th Annual Graduate Student
Research Poster Competition in Lubbock.
Rajan’s poster was titled, “Estimating of Crop Water Use Using Remote
Sensing and Crop Modeling.” In winning first prize, she received a certificate and an award of $125. The event was sponsored by the Texas Tech
University Graduate School.
Mission The department has a broad but unified mission: to provide
quality instruction to our students, conduct top-quality research in the
broad field of natural resources management, and offer outstanding service to the public at large. Our mission is accomplished by conducting
state-of-the-art research in range, wildlife, and fisheries sciences and by
disseminating this information to our students and community. The interests of our faculty span a wide range of topics and multiple levels of ecological organization, a diversity that helps produce a cohesive understanding
and a detailed appreciation of fundamental ecological processes and the
roles humans play in them.
Current research interests Four major areas of scholarship are represented in the research of the department’s faculty: (1) range management,
(2) wildlife management, (3) fisheries management, and (4) conservation
biology. These areas of scholarship often overlap, and we collaboratively
work to explore the linkages among them. Faculty from other departments
often add to the strength of these programs.
Thea Wilkins, Bayer Crop Science Regents Professor at Texas Tech University and former University of California-Davis professor and Professor
and Director of the National Science Foundation Cotton Genome Center at
UCD is the recipient of the 2006 Cotton Biotechnology Award.
The announcement was made during the Cotton Improvement Conference of
the National Cotton Council-coordinated 2007 Beltwide Cotton Conferences.
Wilkins, who received $2,000 in recognition of her efforts, is director of
the TTU Center of Excellence in Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology.
She went to TTU last year.
She was the first to discover the signal for vacuolar sorting and this effort
has remained a research standard for more than 15 years. Her other efforts
include the development of the standard method for RNA isolation in cotton
and identification of candidate genes with critical roles in fiber elongation.
Her pioneering work with cotton transformation, where specific genes
are placed into cotton, has resulted in two issued and two pending patents.
CASNR alumnus Mark Moseley was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award for Stewardship Feb. 16 at the 60th Annual International Society for Range Management Meeting in Reno, Nev.
Moseley, who received a bachelor’s degree in range and wildlife management in 1973, most recently served as the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Coordinator for
Texas. He previously served as a NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist
in Oklahoma.
A native of McCulloch County, Moseley has worked on many national
range judging contests, range camps and high school youth forums. He is
widely recognized for his efforts in rangeland management and sustainability both as a practitioner and promoter.
Gerald Henry has been named a new assistant professor of turfgrass science with Texas Tech University’s Department of Plant and Soil Science.
His research focus will be on turfgrass weed control and management,
along with plant growth regulators and improved turfgrass varieties.
Effective December 1, 2007, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board has approved the merger of the International Textile Center into the
Department of Plant and Soil Science. Both units, housed within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, have well-established
reputations in their respective disciplines, including cotton-related research,
education, and outreach. The resulting combination in one department of
expertise in cotton genetics/genomics, cotton production, and fiber and textile quality evaluation and processing will be unique among U.S. universities.
“The move of the International Textile Center into the College of Agricultural
Sciences and Natural Resources in 1998 was done for strategic reasons,” said
M. Dean Ethridge, managing director of Texas Tech University’s International Textile Center. “So it is for this merger with the Department of Plant and
Soil Science. I believe that joining with the Department will maximize the
synergies available to us; that both the Department and the Center will be
strengthened and the mission of the College will be better served.”
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Brent Trela has joined Texas Tech University’s Department of Plant and
Soil Science as assistant professor of enology, the study of wine and winemaking. He will hold a joint appointment with Texas A&M University as an
Extension specialist, as well.
Liz Ulliman was recently hired as coordinator of student services for Texas Tech University’s Department of Plant and Soil. She will be working at
department’s main office, where she will be developing new opportunities
to increase student enrollment.
The Texas Tech University Agronomy Club took top honors in the Quiz
Bowl competition at the Students in Agronomy, Soils and Environmental
Sciences (SASES) National Meeting, held Nov. 2 – 6 in New Orleans.
sionals and private landowners to hear details concerning quail management in the High Plains. Program highlights included overviews of bobwhite and scaled quail biology, Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP) and wildlife management practices, as well as effects of EQIP practices on quail populations. Grazing and brush management, and the use of
prescribed fire as a management technique were also discussed.
The Wildlife Society, one of the nation’s principal organizations for
wildlife professionals, has announced that it will present this year’s Outstanding Monograph Wildlife Publications Award to team of researchers,
several of whom hold strong ties to Texas Tech University’s Department
of Natural Resources Management. The paper is titled “Pathogens, nutritional deficiency, and climate influences on a declining moose population.”
It was written by Eric Cox, Warren Ballard, Heather Whitlaw, Mark Lenarz,
Thomas Custer, Terri Barnett and Todd Fuller.
Bart Durham, a research assistant in Texas Tech University’s Department
of Natural Resources Management, received the 2007 Wilks Award from
the Southwestern Association of Naturalists in April during their annual
meeting at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
Will Cohen, who received a master’s degree in range science from Texas
Tech University in May 1985, has been appointed director of TTU at Highland Lakes.
A review of a productive environmental quality incentives program,
along with a tour of a field research site, highlighted a USDA-NRCS/MSU
Bobwhite Restoration Project Field Day in Morton and Muleshoe. Hosted
by Brad Dabbert, an associate professor with Texas Tech University’s Department of Natural Resources Management, and graduate research assistant Eric Abercrombie, the event drew some 64 natural resources profes[
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