In March, a group of ABM students participated in a learning journey to Texas. The group took a deep dive into Texas history, culture and agriculture and focused on the differences between North Carolina and Texas.
Students visited the Alamo in San Antonio, the State Capitol Building in Austin and the site of the JFK assassination in Dallas. At the famous King Ranch, students learned about the ranch’s history, how life was and is today and the livestock that call the ranch home.
In Stephenville, the group had a full day of farm tours. They visited Dutchman’s Market (a meat processing plant), Wildseed Farms (a wildflower seed farm and vineyard), Weinheimer Ranch (a Hereford cattle farm) and Allied Ag (a farm supply store and a peach orchard).
An exciting stop in Burnet allowed students time to visit the Tributary Sporting Club. Students took a scenic drive through the 21,000-acre ranch, seeing Wildebeests, Gazelle, Water Buffalo and more. LoneHollow Whitetails, also onsite, is a whitetail deer breeding facility. The students learned about breeding deer using A.I., toured the facility and saw some of the champion bucks used to create genetics sought out nationally.
While in Fort Worth, the group visited the historic Stockyards and learned about the history of Texas cattle drives, toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and attended an authentic Texas Rodeo! The students also took a day trip to Frost, Texas, where they toured Williams Grain & Gin and learned about the gin, were served a delicious lunch including wagyu brisket and were gifted t-shirts from the hosts.
“We loved the hospitality and food in Texas about as much as home,” Undergraduate Program Director Dr. John S. Russ said. “We came home with cowboy hats, boots and bolo ties!”
