The
2004 national champion meat judging team went undefeated the entire season.
(Stephenville)—At Tarleton State University, sounds of construction are common, there are more students than in years past, and new academic programs in areas such as hydrology, nursing and distance education are part of the university’s continuing efforts to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Despite recent growth, however, Tarleton remains true to its heritage as the largest non-land–grant agriculture university in the United States.
“Agriculture and home economics were the basis of this university when it was founded by John Tarleton in 1899,” said Don Cawthon, dean of Tarleton’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.
Established as John Tarleton Agricultural College, Tarleton has the second-largest undergraduate agriculture program in Texas. The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences is home to about 1,500 of Tarleton’s 9,100 students.
“I’m a third-generation Tarleton student and the friendliness and openness of the campus attracted me when I initially came for campus tours,” said Julie Zimmerman, a graduate student in agriculture from Bertram. “A lot of the people I look up to in the industry were Tarleton grads.”
Central to the program is a 600-acre agricultural facility, located a short drive from Tarleton’s main campus. The center houses dairy, sheep, goat and swine operations, an enclosed equine center, wildlife field laboratory, meat laboratory, turf grass teaching and research center, and a beef cattle operation complete with a 1,200-acre ranch managed for livestock and wildlife. In addition to teaching Tarleton students, the facility is used to host thousands of Texas FFA and 4-H students each spring.
The 2004-2005 collegiate competitions saw Tarleton agriculture students rise to many challenges, bringing home an unprecedented three national championships. The 2004 national champion meat judging team went undefeated the entire season in their continuation of Tarleton’s historically strong meat judging program. Four team members were named All-Americans.
In 2005, Tarleton’s men’s and women’s collegiate rodeo teams won the College National Finals Rodeo Championships, making Tarleton one of only five teams in the nation to ever achieve dual championships in one year.
The team is the sixth to bring the national championship to Tarleton. The livestock judging team also maintains a nationally recognized tradition with numerous top-five team finishes and high-point individuals in the nation.
“At the helm of student activities is a tremendous group of faculty that is truly dedicated to students,” Cawthon said. “That dedication plays a large part in our students’ accomplishments. Student activities and organizations are so important in preparing students for society and for their personal enrichment, and so it is doubly rewarding when student efforts are recognized on state and national levels.”
Ag
students benefit from Tarleton’s 600-acre ag facility and 1,200-acre
ranch. (Photo by Jeremy Enlow)
Also a huge success for Tarleton has been its Department of Agricultural Services and Development (AS&D), which offers students varied opportunities for degrees ranging from general AS&D degrees to teaching, as well as degrees in extension and industry, communications and international AS&D.
Producing 30 to 45 agriculture science instructors each year, the department has consistently been one of the largest producers of ag teachers—a feat David Drueckhammer, Tarleton’s agriculture services and development department head, says has been a consistent accomplishment throughout the years.
“We have had one of the larger AS&D programs in the nation for several years, consistently remaining in the top three schools in the United States, and have often been the top producer in the nation,” Drueckhammer said. “While some universities may go up and down in their numbers, we’ve consistently maintained a large supply of teachers.”
The AS&D program has recently incorporated an online master of science degree in agricultural education. Twenty-five students are enrolled in the 36-semester-hour program that focuses on the needs of extension agents, ag teachers and other working professionals in agriculture. While most of the students are from Texas, some have lived as far away as Oklahoma, Idaho and New Mexico.
“The online masters program in agricultural education provides the fully employed student, regardless of location, the opportunity to earn a degree,” Drueckhammer said. “A large number of agricultural extension agents, high school agriculture teachers and people from a variety of other occupations enroll in our program.”
Drueckhammer said the faculty are now working to offer the upper level of the international agricultural services degree program online in cooperation with community colleges around the state and hope to offer undergraduate courses online by fall 2007. In addition, the department is working with community colleges to establish transferable two-year programs leading to the completion of a baccalaureate degree.
“One of the greatest things about Tarleton faculty and students is they are not just going to become complacent with previous successes,” Cawthon said. “While it is very important that we not give up core values that are important to us—our traditions, the importance of hands-on learning, and one-on-one teaching—to continue our successes and growth, we must continue to embrace new opportunities, expand our capabilities and grow.”