This week's business news includes honors, WT career expo, more

Texas A&M System Chancellor Sharp named ‘Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture’

John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, is the recipient of the 2024 “Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture” award, presented by the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association, TCAAA.

Sharp received the honor during the association’s abbreviated state meeting, held at the conclusion of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s recent staff conference. The association’s state meeting was unique this year because Texas hosted the National Association of County Agricultural Agents meeting July 14-19.

“This year, our board of directors voted to give only one award,” said Tommy Phillips, TCAAA president and AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Kaufman County. “Chancellor Sharp has been a true friend to agents in the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service as well as to TCAAA. We wanted to recognize him for all his efforts in supporting our state’s agricultural economy, our state agency, and our association of ag agents at both the state and national levels. His leadership stands apart, and it was only fitting that we honor him as this year’s sole award recipient.”

During his professional career in the Texas Legislature and other statewide offices, Sharp has maintained a strong relationship with AgriLife Extension agents and agency leaders around Texas. Serving as chancellor of The Texas A&M University System since 2011, Sharp recently announced he would retire in 2025.

The RANGE launches survey to pinpoint optimal broadband installation sites across the Texas Panhandle

In its effort to spearhead a $110 million initiative to expand internet access across the Panhandle, The RANGE, a 501(c (6) nonprofit organization, is currently working to develop maps identifying future underground fiber routes and the locations of access points.

As part of that effort, it’s asking local business owners, ranchers, farmers, dairymen, and landowners to complete a short survey identifying which areas have the greatest need. The survey can be found at http://therange.org/survey and takes less than five minutes to complete.

“I can’t stress how important it is to get feedback from our community on this project,” said Matt Garner, Ph.D., Executive Director of The RANGE. “It’s critical that we have an accurate dataset to work off of and that we make sure this infrastructure is built where it is needed most.”

The survey aims to identify gaps in existing internet services, assess speed trends, and identify where to place new fiber and access points.

The RANGE is an industry-led organization in the Texas Panhandle, driving innovation in food, beef, dairy, crop, and energy production industries.

Hagy Center, Child Development Lab School earn NAEYC accreditation

Amarillo College’s Child Development Lab School has done it again – received reaccreditation from the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children – as well as AC’s Hagy Center for Young Children.

After a rigorous and thorough process, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has granted its accreditation to both of the College’s early childhood-serving entities. NAEYC accreditation is achieved by less than 10 percent of all childcare centers, preschools, and kindergartens in the nation, according to a news release.

“We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to teaching the highest professional standards,” Patricia Keith, AC’s director of childcare, said. “This is the highest standard in the world, and I’m proud of our dedicated staff who work so hard to make our facilities the best that they can be.”

AC’s longstanding Child Development Lab School on the West Campus received its first NAEYC accreditation in 2009, and this marks its third successful reaccreditation since then. For AC’s Hagy Center, which opened in the Amarillo hospital district in 2017, this marks its initial NAEYC accreditation. NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments.

WT’s 50th Career Expo set for Sept. 26; employer registration due Sept. 12

CANYON — The West Texas A&M University Office of Career and Professional Development will hold its 50th annual Fall Career and Internship Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 in the First United Bank Center on WT’s Canyon campus.

Deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sept. 12 for potential employers. To sign up, visit bit.ly/wtexpo.

“We are thankful for every hand that has contributed to the expo over the last 50 years,” said Sam Green, associate director for career and professional development. “The work of many great minds has allowed us to foster valuable connections both for our students and for local and regional employers.”

The expo is designed for students graduating within the next year, those looking for summer internships or part-time positions now and in the future, and those with questions for employers about their future career options. A full list of companies will be available to students at the registration link.

Other upcoming job fairs include the Graduate and Professional Schools Fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center Legacy Hall: Designed to connect students to opportunities in such fields as medicine, law, pharmacy, osteopathy and more; and Meet the Accountants, 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at Legacy Hall: Designed for accounting majors.

For information, call 806-651-2345, email wtcareer@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu/career.

Gov. Abbott appoints Lee to Texas Commission On The Arts

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Robert “Bobby” Lee to the Texas Commission on the Arts for a term set to expire on Aug. 31, 2029. The commission fosters the development of a receptive climate for the arts that will culturally enrich and benefit state citizens in their daily lives and attract outstanding artists to become state residents.

Lee is co-owner of The Big Texan Steak Ranch and is also a member of the Route 66 Centennial Commission’s National Working Groups. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from West Texas A&M University.

Look for more information about this in a story in an upcoming Globe-News edition.

WT launches new marketing campaign reflecting university quality, excellence

CANYON — As West Texas A&M University’s 2024-2025 academic year launches, the university is officially kicking off a new marketing campaign highlighting WT’s commitment to quality in all forms.

“WT: Excellence Redefined” reflects the university’s commitment to growth and improvements in research, campus life, facilities and other key aspects of academic excellence and student success. The multi-year marketing campaign will shine a spotlight on the successes inspired by the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World and the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign.

WT 125 focused the university on a mission to become a regional research university, encouraging faculty and students to embark on regionally important research that has national and global impacts. The One West campaign, which fuels WT 125, reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

“Excellence Redefined” takes that a step further, by highlighting and celebrating outstanding achievements of faculty, significant renovations and construction around campus, innovations in the classroom, and advances in support services.

USDA accepts more than 2.2 million acres through 2024 Grassland, General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program offers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland, General, and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). With these accepted acres, enrollment is very near the 27 million CRP acreage cap, a recent news release says.

“The popularity of our suite of Conservation Reserve Programs, including the significant success of Grassland Conservation Reserve Program and the fact that we are nearing the Conservation Reserve Program acreage cap, is a testament to the commitments made by the farmers, ranchers and landowners we serve to mitigate the impacts of climate change by conserving, protecting and enhancing our natural resources,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “It’s through all FSA’s conservation programs that we are able to work directly with agricultural producers to implement climate smart conservation practices that ultimately benefit everyone.”

Including the nearly 1.44 million acres recently accepted in Grassland CRP for offers received in 2024, producers will have enrolled more than 10 million acres in this popular working-lands program. Grassland CRP allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and further CRP’s impacts. Grassland CRP leverages working lands practices to improve biodiversity and conserve environmentally sensitive land. Additionally, to target conservation in key geographies, USDA prioritizes land within two National Priority Zones: The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Dust Bowl area.

FSA also has accepted nearly 200,000 acres through the General signup, bringing total acres enrolled in General CRP to 7.9 million acres. Producers can still make an offer to participate in CRP through the Continuous CRP signup, which is ongoing, by contacting FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

For more information, visit, fsa.usda.gov.

WTAMU Foundation adds 6 board members

CANYON — Six community leaders have joined the West Texas A&M University Foundation Board of Directors. Each were formally voted onto the board at its Aug. 20 meeting, joining 36 others.

New members include:

Debbie Farnum, serving as the representative of the WT Alumni Association: Farnum earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from WT in 1971 and 1994 and was a longtime teacher. After leaving the classroom, she joined the meeting planning industry and worked for about a decade with the Texas Association of School Boards.

Dr. Darryl Flusche, superintendent of Canyon Independent School District: Flusche, a WT graduate, has 36 years of experience in public education and joined Canyon Independent School District as superintendent in July 2015. Prior to coming to Canyon ISD, he spent his career at Frenship ISD near Lubbock. Flusche has experience as a teacher, principal, director of elementary education and assistant superintendent of curriculum.

Joseph Peterson Jr., a financial adviser with Edward Jones: Peterson, a 2010 graduate of WT, has worked for Edward Jones for 10 years, earning his Certified Financial Planner certification in 2022. He has served on the board of directors for United Way of Amarillo and Canyon, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Panhandle Builders Association.

Patrick Swindell is the owner of Swindell Law Firm, where his practice focuses on bankruptcy law and civil litigation. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar Bankruptcy Section, the Amarillo Area Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute. An Amarillo native, Swindell is chairman of the Board of Regents and Founder of Ascension Academy, a member of the Buffalo Club, past president of the Board of Trustees of the Amarillo Opera and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Llano Cemetery. He and wife Roni are longtime supporters of the arts.

Ben Weinheimer, president and CEO of Texas Cattle Feeders Association, joined TCFA in 1995, previously serving as regulatory manager from 1995 to 2005 and vice president from 2006 to 2021. An honors graduate of Texas A&M University, Weinheimer is active in several industry-related and civic organizations.

Lizzie Ware Williams, director of Community Development at Amarillo National Bank: An Amarillo native, Williams graduated from Southern Methodist University. She coordinates ANB’s financial education program and assists with the Ware Foundation. She founded the nonprofit Hands On Amarillo, which connects volunteers to nonprofits, and has been active on several nonprofit boards and committees.

Amarillo's Vision 2045 wins APA Texas Chapter state planning award

FORT WORTH – The American Planning Association (APA) Texas Chapter recently announced the state’s best planning projects, advocates, and communities for 2024. The Texas Planning Awards Program recognizes outstanding efforts in planning achievements and planning leadership in Texas.

These include Vision 2045, City of Amarillo Comprehensive Plan, winning the Comprehensive Plan award. Under Transportation Planning, a Silver Award was given to TxDOT Connecting Texas 2050 Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan Urban Design.

These awards represent the state’s highest planning honors. The Awards Selection Committee evaluated nominees based on originality and innovation, engagement, implementation and effectiveness, quality, and promotion of planning. The recipients and their projects demonstrate some of the best practices of community planning and will serve as examples for other communities across the state and nation. The 2024 Texas Planning Award Recipients are listed on the following pages by award category.

To read more about each award category and award recipient, visit https://texas.planning.org/community-outreach/chapter-awards/chapter-awards-2024/

Other awards will be announced at the conference.

Amarillo Chamber celebrates Business Excellence Awards

The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated this year's business excellence award winners for 2024.

The top businesses include 1-800-Plumber +Air &Electric, Acton Mechanical, Inc., Allstate Security Industries, Inc., Amarillo Legacy Monument Co., Amarillo Steam Team, Andrews and Associates IT Solutions, LLC, Blue Crane Bakery, CKP Construction, Fire Slice Pizzeria, KT Black Services LLC, Kumon Math and Reading Center of Amarillo, Nothing Bundt Cakes, S&B Services and Snapology Amarillo.

The top emerging businesses include ​​High Plains Health Plan, Lawson's Contracting Services, Moreland Real Estate Group Prolift Garage Doors of Amarillo, Sublime Swag Boutique, The Cactus Cove Inn and Suites and Yolos Restaurant & Food Truck.

The top 20 Under 40 include the following:

• ​Kali Arredondo, Texas Tech Credit Union
• Cody Busby, CB Electric
• Zuleyma Carruba-Rogel, Pantex
• Zachary Garrett, Parkhill
• Jennifer Graham, Women's Healthcare Associates
• Jeffrey Gunn, TD Industries
• Ashley Hampton-Howard, Maverick Boys & Girls Club of Amarillo
• Stefanie Hulcy, Pantex
• Brian Montoya, BSA Health System (BSA Advanced Wound Care)
• Landon Moreland, Moreland Real Estate Group
• Katie Niegos, The Amarillo College Foundation
• Elexi Norton, The Apartment Association of the Panhandle
• Lindsay Reynolds, For The Duration Homes
• Jasen Shreiner, Shreiner Home Comfort, LLC
• Ashlyn Shubert, Sweets and Meats, LLC
• Peyton Sidwell, Amarillo College
• Leanna Taylor, Xcel Energy
• Kendra Timmons, Mosaic Beauty and Boutique
• Jennifer Ufford, Education Credit Union
• John Wingate, Maxivolt

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: This week's business news includes honors, WT career expo, more