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USDA Awards $9.75 Million for WT Beef Cattle Research Center

West Texas A&M University has received a $9.75 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support a new research center focused on beef cattle care, feeding and production.

The award, made through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research Facilities Act Program, is the largest federal award in WT history. With a required dollar-for-dollar match, the project represents a total investment of $19.5 million, including $4.875 million from The Texas A&M University System and $4.875 million from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, its members, WTAMU donors and other sources.

The Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences is located in one of the nation’s leading cattle-producing regions. Approximately 25 percent of the nation’s fed cattle are produced within 150 miles of WT’s campus, while the Texas Panhandle is also the third-largest milk-producing region in the United States. The new center will expand applied research, workforce development and collaboration with the beef and dairy industries across the High Plains.

The facility will include 90 small research pens and 45 commercial-scale pens, providing space for applied research, student training and industry collaboration. Plans also include a precision cattle-handling facility, veterinary care and research hospital, advanced feed and production center, and metabolism and physiology center.

Researchers will be able to evaluate feeding, health and handling practices, including traditional methods and artificial intelligence-powered technologies, with the goal of improving production efficiency and feedlot management. The facility will also allow research under conditions that more closely reflect commercial cattle operations.

Ground was broken on the research feedlot in November 2025 adjacent to WT’s Nance Ranch. The research feedlot is being developed alongside the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation Feedlot Education Facility, which is under construction following federal community project funding secured by U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13). That funding included $2.1 million in fiscal year 2024 and $1 million in fiscal year 2026.

The research project has received significant support from agricultural organizations, businesses and individual donors, including the Engler Foundation, Champion Feeders, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Merck Animal Health, GKB Cattle, Cobalt Cattle Co., Kuhlman & Sons and others.

The new facilities will expand WT’s opportunities for research and hands-on education while strengthening the University’s role in the Texas beef cattle industry. The project also builds on WT’s growing agriculture research portfolio, with agricultural research funding increasing by 618 percent since 2021.

The research feedlot is part of WT’s broader efforts to expand agricultural education and research through the Center for Advancing Food Animal Production in the Panhandle and the Feedlot Research Group.

Panhandle Agriculture Consortium Showcases Ag Row at Open House

The Panhandle Agriculture Consortium brought together agricultural organizations from across the Texas Panhandle for an open house Oct. 10, giving community members an inside look at the research, education, outreach and diagnostic work happening along Russell Long Boulevard on the West Texas A&M University campus.

Known locally as "Ag Row," the stretch of campus is now home to several organizations working together to support agriculture throughout the region. The open house gave visitors the opportunity to tour facilities, meet the people behind the work and learn more about how the organizations collaborate to address the needs of Texas Panhandle agriculture.

The event marked an important milestone for the consortium following the relocation of the Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center to the WT campus and The Texas A&M University System's Charles W. "Doc" Graham '53 DVM Center. With the move complete, the region's agricultural institutions are positioned to work more closely together while sharing facilities, resources and expertise.

The organizations also recently revived their longstanding partnership, formerly known as the Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Team, under the new name Panhandle Agriculture Consortium.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors moved between facilities along Russell Long Boulevard, where each organization highlighted its role in serving the region.

At the Ag Science Complex, guests toured the Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center, Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building, Piehl-Schaeffer Pavilion and Bain Event Center. A 4-H sheep and goal demonstration also gave visitors a closer look at hands-on agricultural education.

The VERO program showcased teaching models used in areas including ultrasound and ophthalmology, while TVMDL highlighted its diagnostic work.

At AgriLife, visitors learned about wheat research and Extension programming. Billie Peden, AgriLife Extension family and community health agent in Armstrong County, demonstrated breads made from several of the center's elite wheat varieties. Guests also saw how a bicycle-powered blender could be used to prepare fresh salsa.

USDA - ARS in Bushland also participated with a booth at the AgriLife center.

Visitors could collect a “passport” at any participating location and visit each site for a chance to win a door prize. The afternoon also included ice cream and opportunities to talk with faculty, researchers, Extension professionals and other agricultural experts.

More than an open house, the event served as an introduction to the newly unified vision behind Ag Row — bringing agricultural organizations together to make the most of shared resources while preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals.

The consortium’s executive team was also recognized during halftime of the WT Buffaloes football game against The University of Texas Permian Basin that evening, further highlighting the partnership’s commitment to agriculture across the Texas Panhandle.

Equestrian Team Earns Reserve High Point Finish

The WT Equestrian Hunt Seat Team had a strong showing at Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 3, finishing as the Reserve High Point Team. The team also earned several strong individual results across multiple divisions.

In Open Fences, Ashley Vaught placed third and Hannah Minton placed second. In Open Flat, Violet Hodgson placed second and Hannah Minton placed third.

Catherine Borchardt earned sixth in Intermediate Fences and first in Intermediate Flat. In Limit Fences, Carly Cunningham placed second and Cayleigh Aycock placed fifth. Aycock also placed second in Limit Flat, while Sarah Johnson placed third.

In Novice Flat, Amber Cox and Jessica Schoolfield each placed second, and Helen March placed fifth. Susanna Howell and Carrie Miller each placed third in Pre-Novice Flat.

In Introductory Flat, Lauryn Bromonsky placed fourth, while Kaycee Conner and Alana Sharpe each placed sixth.

Congratulations to all the riders!

WT Rodeo Athletes See Success at Clarendon College Rodeo

West Texas A&M University rodeo athletes earned several strong finishes at the Clarendon College Rodeo, highlighted by Clayton Veldhuizen claiming the steer wrestling championship.

Henry Jones finished second in the short round of tie-down roping and third in the average. Heath Harkins placed fourth in the short round of tie-down roping and sixth in the average. Carsyn Campbell finished third in the short round of steer wrestling and seventh in the average.

Mason Neese placed seventh through 10th in the short round of team roping and finished seventh in the average. In goat tying, Trinity Kruse and Savannah Wilson each earned seventh- through 11th-place finishes in the short round, with average finishes of seventh and eighth. Avery Armstrong also earned seventh- through 11th-place finishes in the goat tying short round and finished 11th in the average.

Noah Howe placed ninth and 10th in the steer wrestling short round and finished ninth in the average. Weston Peters earned ninth- through 11th-place finishes in the tie-down roping short round and placed ninth in the average. Kruse also placed 10th and 11th in the breakaway roping short round, finishing 10th and 11th in the average.

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