Immersed in Agriculture: Tarleton Students Embarked on an Innovative Learning Experience Through Industry Site Tours and Networking Opportunities

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Students from Tarleton State University’s Agricultural Education and Communication (AGEC) Department embarked on an innovative learning experience offering a front-row view of the agricultural industry through site visits and tours, networking opportunities, and professional development scenarios.  

The AGSD 4390:010 Special Topics: Agricultural Industry and Agency Immersion course, coordinated by Associate Professor Dr. Brant Poe and Graduate Student Scarlett Vanek, took place Dec. 16, 2024, through Jan. 9, 2025.  

“The immersive nature of this experience allowed students to directly engage with industry leaders,” Poe said, “inspiring them to pursue meaningful careers in agriculture.” 

Tarleton alumnus and President of Nelson Wholesale in Brownwood, TX, gave students a tour of the warehouse, discussed the value of internships, and shared the importance of out-of-the-box thinking in agriculture. 
Students tour the GKB Cattle operation and on-site fire station.

The course, created to expose students to a deeper level of understanding of the agricultural landscape, encouraged students engagement through on-site learning at a unique line-up of industry tours.  

These tours connected students with industry leaders, Tarleton alumni, and potential employers, allowing them to learn about industry practices and approaches across various agricultural sectors.  

“This whole trip gave us a new perspective on the ag industry,” an unnamed student stated in the course feedback. “[It] opened my eyes to things I never even knew about.” 

Course feedback reported the quality of the various learning experiences, personal connections with peers and industry professionals, and skill development. Significant growth was reported in communication, networking, professionalism, critical thinking, and agricultural practice knowledge. 

Mr. Gary Buchholz shares the story of the GKB Cattle’s working and sales facility and how his life experiences shaped its creation.
Rep. Glenn Rogers explains the forage-based bred heifer development program at Holt River Ranch in Graford, TX. 

Over 15 industry tour stops were made over the three-and-a-half-week program. The stops included:  

  • Purina Feed Mill  
  • Superior Livestock 
  • The Livestock Marketing Group LLC/Mock Livestock (Kevin Mock) 
  • United Ag & Turf 
  • Ben E. Kieth Foods Dallas/Fort Worth Distribution Center 
  • Ranch Bot Monitoring 
  • American Paint Horse Association 
  • Crazy Water 
  • Clark Botanical Gardens 
  • Rep. Glenn Rogers, DVM – District 60/Holt Ranch 
  • Hay Chix 
  • Datamars 
  • City Meats & Market 
  • Extraco Event Center/Heart of Texas Fair 
  • Texas Farm Bureau 
  • Homestead Heritage 
  • Sorrells Farms 
  • Nelson Wholesale 
  • GKB Cattle  

For more information about future opportunities in Tarleton State’s AGEC Department, contact Dr. Brant Poe at bpoe@tarleton.edu.