Ranch Horse Team Wins National Championship

The WT Ranch Horse Team secured the title of 2025 D1 Collegiate National Champion Team during the National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance, National Collegiate Show held on April 14-16.

The NRSHA National Collegiate Show was hosted jointly by the National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association at the Tri-State Exposition Center in Amarillo.

Students competed in events such as ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail and cow work. They also competed in different divisions based on their experience and skill.

Congratulations to the members of the WT Ranch Horse Team!

Top 5 Individual Results

Cora Onorato

• 4th Novice

Haylee Triplitt

• Limited Non-Pro Reserve Champion

Camry Mangum

• 4th Limited Non Pro

Cutter McLaughlin

• Non-Pro Champion
• Top Hand Award

Parker Ralston

• 4th Non-Pro

Ashley Wortham

• 5th Non-Pro

Thunder XV Visits Buffalo Sport Park

For the first time in WTAMU history, the Herdsman ran Thunder XV at WT softball and baseball games.



Traditionally, WT's live mascot is run on the field by the Herdsman at the WT football games. This year, the team decided to expand on the tradition and ran Thunder XV at the Buffalo Sport Park on April 11.

Herdsmen Jozie Petit, junior agricultural media & communication major explained what it's like to be a part of this tradition.

"Running with Thunder with a crowd is always really exciting," Petit said. "We have never run at a softball or baseball game, so it was a challenge to figure out what was going to work best. The actual day of was really fun, especially since we made WT history! The crowd absolutely loved it. I absolutely love being a Herdsman and could not be more thankful for my team and the opportunity we have to carry on the traditions of WT."

Buffs Travel to AFA Conference

The Agriculture Future of America Animal Institute was held in Kansas City, MO on April 13-15.

AFA Animal Institute attendees are selected through an application process. Of the 82 students selected to attend this year’s institute, only two were from Texas; both are from WTAMU.

Ridley Strackbein, junior animal science major, and Katharine Porter, freshman agriculture major, were selected.

Strackbein explained the process of being chosen for this opportunity.

"The AFA Animal Institute application requires academic leadership, work experience, and community service as well as a series of essays," Strackbein said. "The applicants are selected nationally, and I was very honored to represent Texas and WTAMU."

 The AFA Animal Institute provides students the opportunities to engage with industry professionals through facility tours and through career exploration

"The AFA Animal Institute was an opportunity to refine my leadership skills, develop professional connections, and explore animal agriculture beyond my home state," Steinbeck said. "I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet with industry leaders such as Merck, Cargill, and the USDA to discuss the future of Animal Science."

Kentucky Cattlemen's Association WTAMU Tour

Members of the Kentucky Beef Network, LLC., a division of the Kentucky Cattleman's Association arrived at the Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building on the West Texas A&M University campus to tour and network with agricultural sciences faculty.

KCA organizes the Beyond the Bluegrass- Ag Industry Tour, where emerging state leaders and industry producers learn about the cattle industry processes that occur once cattle leave their farms.

While in the Texas panhandle, the Beyond the Bluegrass Industry Tour visited WTAMU, 5 Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC, Palo Duro Canyon State Park and JBS Packing, Inc.

Animal Science Quadrathlon

Team Competes

The WT Animal Science Quadrathlon Team traveled to Stephenville, TX and Arlington, TX, last week to compete at the American Society of Animal Science Southern/Western Section 2025 Joint Meeting.

The academic quadrathlon is designed to test student's skills in animal science through a hands-on laboratory practicum evaluation, a written exam, quiz bowl and oral presentation.

The team competed against 12 teams in the region and earned 3^rd overall. This was the second time WTAMU has entered a team and the first time in over 10 years that I non-land grant institution has placed in the top 3.

Team Results

• 3^rd Laboratory Practicum
• 3^rd Quiz Bowl
• 2^nd Oral Presentation
• 7^th Written Exam

Team members include: Francisco Ortega, Audrey Rangel, Clayton Stevenson and Cole Lehman. Graduate student coaches were Kasi Schneid and Macy Lawrence. Dr. Kendall Samuelson serves as the faculty coordinator. 

Faculty Focus | Dr. Landry Lockett

#ICYMI

In Case You Missed It

Entries Due April 24 for WT Alumni Association FORE County Golf Scramble

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