Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program Accepting Applications

Jan 05, 2026

By Blair Fannin

Applications for the Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership, TALL, program will be accepted through March 15.

This 2026-2028 cohort with be TALL XX, the 20th class to convene since the organization began in 1987.

“The two-year program includes 520 hours for each cohort through seminars, speakers, and domestic and international study trips,” said Jim Mazurkiewicz, Ph.D., program director and professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Bryan-College Station. “The class time is equivalent to obtaining a master’s degree in agriculture.”

The first session will begin July 21 in College Station. Applications are available on the program website.

Past participants have represented a variety of professions including farmers, ranchers, politicians, government employees, bankers and agribusiness professionals, as well as those who work in agricultural corporations, horticultural industries, insurance and media. Participants come from all geographic regions of Texas.

Standing TALL with agriculture

TALL offers intensive agricultural studies across a wide range of topics and issues. The program helps cohorts further develop their leadership strengths and understanding of domestic and international agriculture.

Source : tamu.edu

Video: Next Mile Ep 1: Navigating Disease Prevention

The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

Cara then brings the conversation down to the farm level, sharing how Pipestone scores biosecurity across seven key areas: air, feed, water, people, supplies, trucks and pigs, plus everything within the farm perimeter. She and Meredith dig into why farm leadership and daily culture, not just protocols on paper, ultimately determine whether biosecurity efforts stick.

Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.