Writer: Kathleen Phillips, 979-845-2872, ka-phillips@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION — Texas Comptroller-elect Glenn Hegar will be the keynote speaker at the Texas A&M AgriLife Conference Jan. 6 in Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.
About 600 faculty staff of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will convene for the weeklong conference. The theme is “Lone Star State of Mind: Shining a Light on Service.”
“This event provides a forum for both professional enrichment and future planning,” said Dr. Bill Dugas, acting vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M. “We will focus on how we, as land-grant professionals, serve our state, nation and world.”
Conferees also will hear from Forest Service director Tom Boggus who will present “100 Years and It’s Not Over Yet,”as that agency begins its centennial celebration. State-of-the-agency addresses will also be given by Dr. Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director, and Dr. Craig Nessler, AgriLife Research director, both of College Station.
Other topics will include how invasive insects and their pathogens challenge our health care and our animal and plant production systems; a South Texas health initiative; improving crops and turf by optimizing genetic potential; Texas drought response; advanced remote sensing; and investing in youth through 4-H.
Each agency and the college will host a variety of topical meetings throughout the week and awards will be presented to more than 40 individuals and teams.
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