Pond's Ponder

Life experiences can be more bizarre than the wildest fiction. Hence my favorite and often used statement:

"You can’t make this stuff up!"

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Shocking Discovery

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) at WTAMU held a recruiting and science demonstration event in the lobby of the Natural Sciences Building. Interested attendees were able to view Van de Graaff generators being used to create sparks, shocks and hair-raising static electricity demonstrations.

SPS President Mahan Khorsand, SPS Vice President Griffin McUne, SPS Secretary Tucker Beekman, SPS Faculty Advisor Dr. Christopher S. Baird and other SPS members led the event.

2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress Judging Reserve Champions

The WTAMU Horse Judging Team returned from Columbus, OH as Reserve Champions at the prestigious All American Quarter Horse Congress. Competing against 14 teams and 59 individuals, the team achieved impressive results, including:

2nd in Reasons
2nd in Performance
4th in Halter

Individual Highlights:

Andrea Byrd finished 4th overall, earning a reserve in Halter, along with 9th in Performance and 7th in Reasons.

Karlee Frank secured 5th overall, with achievements that included 2nd in Performance, 2nd in Halter, and 4th in Reasons.

Aislin McStay placed 8th overall, achieving 4th in Performance and 2nd in Reasons.

Additional team members included Chloe Hamaker, Katelynn Horn, and Zachary Rich. The team is expertly coached by Dr. Christy Adams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Agricultural Business & Economics, with support from Lyndi Starr, Assistant Coach and graduate student, and Haley Bucher, Junior Coach.

Soil Judging Team Qualifies for Nationals

The WT Soil Judging Team achieved an impressive 3rd place overall and also secured 2nd place in the team-judged pit at the Region IV Soil Judging Competition, hosted Oct. 13-18 by Texas A&M University. This achievement marks their third consecutive qualification for the national competition.

Soil judging is a competitive activity that equips students with essential skills for careers in soil conservation, soil science, agronomy and agricultural education. During contests, participants analyze and describe soil morphology, geomorphology and landscape characteristics. Their evaluations are then scored against those of professional soil scientists in the region.

Individually, the team saw notable successes:

Riley Siders finished 5th overall and 1st in contest pit three.

Dayson Schacher placed 6th overall.

Kassidy Langley finished 13th overall.

Paige Richardson closely followed in 14th place.

Other team members included Abigail Watson, Aspen Hughes, Bela Juarez, Christian Lockhart, Cristian Camacho, Landon Langenbau, Mia Key and Ryon Howell.

Celebrating Boss's Day

In observance of National Boss's Day, faculty and staff in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences acknowledged the contributions of Department Head Dr. Jason Yarbrough and Assistant Department Head Dr. Erik Crosman.

This recognition highlights their dedication to leadership and the positive impact they make within the departments and broader academic community. Faculty and staff used this day to express their appreciation for Dr. Yarbrough and Dr. Crosman's professional guidance and support.

Lunch & Learn

On Oct. 15, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted a Lunch and Learn session featuring an informational presentation from Josh Brooks, District 1 Extension Administrator. Brooks provided an overview of AgriLife Extension programs and services and highlighted the 20 paid-internship positions available for the summer of 2025. Internship applications are now available and will close in early November. Following the presentation, students interested in these internship opportunities were invited to participate in on-site interviews.

Additionally on Oct. 18, Raley Kirk, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council's (TACC) Director of Member Services, spoke about TACC’s summer internship program. Kirk outlined TACC’s mission to support educational initiatives for agricultural cooperatives and disseminate information relating to the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products through cooperative organizations. The TACC internship program offers students the chance to gain hands-on experience at various co-ops across the state, engaging with daily operations and programs.

Both events provided WT students with valuable insights and direct access to internship opportunities in agriculture and cooperative systems.

Area Optometrist to Speak at WT Science Community Night Nov. 2

An area optometrist will headline an evening dedicated to showing the impact of science education from West Texas A&M University.

Science Community Night, hosted by the Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Physics in the Paul Engler College Agriculture and Natural Sciences, will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 2 in Legacy Hall inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.

“This year, we’re focusing on building community and helping connect our students and faculty to the surrounding area, including our alumni, friends and related industries,” said Dr. Sara-Louise Newcomer, WT’s Russell and Natrelle Hedrick Long Professor of Companion Animal Studies.

Tickets, which include dinner, are $40. For reservations, visit wtamu.schoolauction.net/sciencenight24.

The event is sponsored by Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association...