Dr. Bob Williams, left, and other faculty members at TAMU-C were support personnel at Wednesday night's
conference, held on campus.

 

TAMU-C Ag Department Hosts

Ag Networking Conference, Wednesday

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

TAMU-C Ag Students were able to visit on a personal basis with agricultural industry leaders, about career
opportunities in their respective organizations.

 

On Wednesday night, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Agriculture Department hosed an Ag Networking Conference to develop potential agricultural employers in Northeast Texas a chance to spotlight their industry, among students who are hoping to enter the agribusiness field, when they complete their educations. "In today's job market, it is crucial for a job seeker to develop a network with potential ag industry employers, to gain information about possible career opportunities," advised Dr. Bob Williams, Ag Department Head at TAMU-C. "With that in mind, the TAMU-C Career Development and the Agriculture Department collaborated to assist some 50 students in various majors, make connections with key agricultural professionals in our region."

"This is our first effort at doing this," advised Tina Boitnott, Director of Career Development. "But, with the success of this networking opportunity and sharing, I feel we'll be offering the same opportunities on a regular basis."

 

Russ Garmon, left, a graduate of TAMU-C and now in the agricultural industry, visits with students about the
many opportunities available in the Agricultural field.

 

 

 

 

Students were able to learn more about the careers they have chosen to pursue and to gather information on opportunities that they might not have considered.

In attendance with the students were ten faculty and graduate assistants from the Agriculture Department, as they assisted students in making introductions to key Agricultural leaders. The industry representatives were informative and willing to help the students learn about the job opportunities in the agriculture industry. Industries represented included: Fannin County State Park, United States Department of Agriculture, Cooper ISD, Pilgrim's Pride, Cross Timbers Wildlife Ranch, B.W. Organics, Inc., Hunt County Wildlife and Game, and the Hopkins County Wildlife and Game Department.

 

 

 

 

"It was great to be able to visit with those people who are actually working in jobs related to my field of study," advised one of the TAMU-C students. "They can tell you the pluses and minuses of the field and the areas of particular importance, that you need to focus your studies on, as they're actually doing the jobs in the real world!"

 

Plans for future events include inviting other industries such as biology, business, health, and education, that complement the ag curriculum, also.

The conference planners invite any Ag industry businesses to participate in future events and ask you to contact Gregory Shirley, at (903)886-5110 or

gregory_shirley@tamu-commerce.edu to be contacted about future events planned at the university.

 

Students were able to visit in an informal setting, with potential employers and learn about new fields
of work that are available in the Agricultural field.

 

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