There is a university program in Texas where old-school manners are taught and expected, agriculture is promoted and appreciated, and students gain both classroom and real-world experiences to understand what it takes to be successful in agriculture-related businesses and the world of farming and ranching. This 68-year-old program resides in a small unassuming building on the Texas Christian University campus and is known as the TCU Ranch Management Program. Over the years, it has graduated over 1400 students from around the world. These students are passionate about a career in agriculture, with some aiming to apply their knowledge back home to a family ranch, enhancing the profitability of heritage operations. Ask anyone who has been part of the program and, while beaming with pride, they will tell you how grateful they are for the experience and encourage anyone interested in agriculture to go through the nine-month program.
If a student is accepted into the nine-month program after a lengthy application and interview process, there are only 36 potential seats to be filled. The intent is not to fill all 36 seats with just anyone able to pay the tuition; candidates must qualify and meet a stringent criterion established by the program. Candidates must possess the academic acumen and agricultural experience to be admitted. Dr. Matthew Garcia, Director of the TCU Ranch Management Program, explains, “Although many students come to us with a BA or Master’s degree from another university; some are admitted based on significant work experience. You must be able to speak the language of agriculture. Our students aspire to complete the Ranch Management Certificate and become better equipped to meet the demands of modern ranching and farming.” In talking to the students, it is clear Dr. Garcia, along with professors Kerry Cornelius, Jason Faubion, and Jeff Geider, provide exceptional leadership for the small cadre of range managers.
The students practically live together, spending eight hours a day in the classroom, five days a week, for nine months. They take their classroom knowledge to the field, observing land operators in action. Each ranch and farm is unique, requiring different strategies for success. The students analyze soil, range, animals, wildlife, and crops grown on various properties. Additionally, they consider factors such as the presence of oil wells, solar panels, and wind turbines, which impact properties differently. Real-world adaptations are observed firsthand on farms and ranches.
“What sets us apart from other programs is that it is a true applied approach to agricultural systems,” Dr. Garcia continues. “We look at the whole picture. Through five week-long field trips a year and multiple day trips, students witness firsthand how classroom teachings are applied in agricultural settings.” Due to the program's nine-month duration, students condensed a week’s worth of college classes into a single day. When they aren’t touring ag operations, they’ll spend three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon in the classroom. During weeklong field trips, students visit 9-10 different locations, exposing them to 45-50 operations per semester. Day trips allow students to see classroom teachings applied in real-time. With over 10,000 miles traveled together and roughly 200 hours spent traversing the state, students have ample time to learn from one another. They are taught that there is no universal fix for every problem; everyone must adapt their knowledge to the variety of ecosystems in which they operate.
The goal of every field trip is to visit one location representing each aspect of the cattle industry, including feed yards, stocker operators, cow/calf operators, purebred and seed stock producers, and packing houses. They also visit large-scale chicken farms specializing in broilers and egg-laying hens. Archie McFadin has hosted student groups at his farm in Uvalde for over 20 years. He reminisces, “They started coming to Uvalde when the Governor, Dolph Briscoe, and I were in business together. Dolph was so pro-youth and proud to see these young adults come into his bank and tour our farming operation. These students have been some of the finest young men and women I’ve ever seen. It is a privilege to meet with them and talk to them.” It is evident that, regardless of their origin, the students all share a common motivation: passion for contributing to the sustainable future of agriculture.
Kelton Eason, a South Texas native, is part of the Ranch Management program this year. He attributes his increased knowledge and retention to the combination of classroom learning and real-world experiences with a small group of like-minded students. Kelton appreciates the project-based assignments and camaraderie built with his classmates, stating, “Touring different operations and working on experiential projects is how I learn best. It also helps that there are only 16 of us in the program this year. Not only do we build a strong bond, but we also learn from and challenge each other to excel.”
For one assignment, Kelton is developing a five-year business plan for a230,000-acre working ranch in deep South Texas. “When I’m finished, I’ll give it to the rancher at no cost, and he can use whatever part of the plan he likes.” The comprehensive business plan covers everything from cattle and wildlife feed to pen design and cost, vegetation plans, loan amortization schedules, detailed expense spreadsheets, revenue diversification strategies, and more.
Roy Kothmann, Executive Vice-President of First State Bank of Uvalde, has been part of the trip schedule for the past twenty years. He educates students on various agricultural financing needs, emphasizing the process for obtaining financing for different agricultural ventures.Meetings occur inone of the theMcFadin farm barns, where Kothmann,McFadin, and his son-in-law, Nathan Phillips, provide combined insights into farming, ranching, and financing. The students not only get to see how the ranching/farming operation works, they learn what it takes to work smoothly and successfully with a lending source.
Kothmann describes the students as “an exceptional group” who are eager to learn. “They ask wonderful questions, take notes, and have a clear vision for their future in agriculture.” The students’ professionalism is evident, with clean attire, adherence to high standards of manners, and respectful behavior towards others.
Morgan Brown, manager of the UX Cattle Company ranch operation outside of Brackettville, Texas is an alumna of the TCU Ranch Management program. She also holds a BA in Agriculture from Texas A & M. She credits much of her success in managing the ranch and cattle operation to the program. She explains, “The program provided direction and taught me things I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Even though I grew up on a ranch and would have gained knowledge and experience by coming straight home after my undergraduate degree, it is important to remember how rapidly the agricultural industry is changing. We can’t ranch the way we used to and the program gives the tools and resources needed to be successful and adaptable in the face of big changes.”
Archie McFadinobserves, “The students gain more experience with each visit. They are determined to shape the future of agriculture.” As someone deeply invested in agriculture, McFadin feels optimistic about the industry’s future, finding joy in sharing his knowledge with students.
TCU Ranch Management program is investing in the diverse backgrounds of young agricultural leaders, preparing them to become future operators of ranches and farms, ultimately responsible for feeding the nation's future population.