Ag Gathering Honors Top WT Agriculture Students

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Eleven students in West Texas A&M University’s Department of Agricultural Sciences won major awards and dozens of others were honored at the department’s end-of-year banquet.

Two students—Henry Downing, a junior agricultural business and economics major from McCamey, and Campbell Offield, a senior agriculture major from Plainview—were presented Smallwood Leader Awards, which comes with a $1,000 scholarship. The award is named for Dr. Charles Smallwood, who was head of the Department of Agriculture from 1958 to 1978.

Selected as outstanding seniors in their respective programs in the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences were Elijah Weisensee, an agribusiness major from Limon, Colorado; Emma Bohnen, an agricultural business and economics major from Bethune, Colorado; Kassidy Langley, an agricultural education major from Hico; Addie Brown, an agricultural media and communication major from Beeville; Lindee Miller, an agriculture major from Floydada; Audrey Rangel, an animal science major from Lyford; Haley Bucher, an equine industry and business major from Washington, Illinois; Dayson Schacher, a plant, soil and environmental science major from Nazareth; and Cole Lehman, a pre-vet major from Garden City, Kansas.

The students were honored during The Ag Gathering 2025 on May 7. The Kentucky Derby-themed event was organized by students in Program and Event Planning, taught by Ellis Vidmar, instructor of agricultural media and communication and events coordinator for the department.

“We have outstanding students in our Ag program,” said Dr. David Lust, head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences. “They are among the best in the nation, and their many accomplishments are proof of their abilities. It is very exciting to honor our students at TAG and showcase their hard work, dedication, and success. The cumulative achievement of our students is simply remarkable – they excel at the highest level on campus, nationally, and even globally.  We are very proud to recognize their outstanding performance.”

Helene Keiser, a junior animal science major from Gothenburg, Nebraska, was recognized for being named WT Intern of the Year in November

The successful competitive teams throughout the department were recognized.

Members of the department’s active student organizations also were recognized.

Three top graduate students were recognized: McKinley Begert of Allison, outstanding master’s student; Megan Eckhardt of New Braunfels, outstanding Ph.D. student; and Kasi Schneid of Richmond, Kentucky, outstanding Ph.D. student.

The banquet also recognized other top students in each undergraduate program:

Agribusiness: Ethan Bohnen, a sophomore from Bethune, Colorado; Callie Compton, a sophomore from Mathis; Braygon Conrad, a sophomore from Claude; Mackenzie Gardner, a sophomore from McAdoo; Paul McCalister, a sophomore from Abernathy: Trista Pennington, a freshman from Amarillo; and Parker Ralston, a sophomore from Collbran, Colorado.

Agricultural business and economics: Laurel Benson, a sophomore from Hale Center; Skyla Harr, a freshman from Simla, Colorado; Helen March, a sophomore from Orlando; Chase Weaver, a sophomore from Hamilton; Fenner Weller, a sophomore from Missouri City; and Abigail Wiles, a freshman from Farmington, Arkansas.

Agricultural education: Boone Begert, a junior from Allison; Emily Carlson, a junior from Hereford; Liberty Heidenreich, a junior from Sunray; Cayden Hodnett, a sophomore from Lubbock; Raquel Lieurance, a sophomore from Grant, Nebraska; and Emily Montgomery, a junior from Shallowater.

Agricultural media and communication: Addysen Folmar, a freshman from Artesia, New Mexico; Sage Gaillard, a sophomore from Morse; Julianna Hover, a sophomore from San Antonio; Payton Malone, a sophomore from Fort Morgan, Colorado; Madyson McAshlan, a sophomore from Santa Fe, Texas; Yancey Parson, a freshman from Devine; and Rylie Tabor, a sophomore from Post.

Animal science: Jacqueline Ghormley, a junior from Fate; Kennedi Gordon, a sophomore from Waco; Kade Lawrence, a sophomore from Canyon; Lanie Reiter, a sophomore from Gainesville; Regan Stoker, a sophomore from La Junta, Colorado; Ellie Swain, a sophomore from Robinson; and Avel Zermeno, a freshman from Lubbock.

Equine industry and business: Jenna Arens, a sophomore from Shawano, Wisconsin; Cat Borchardt, a freshman from Spring; Rylynn Bradford, a sophomore from Pinehurst; Sarah Johnson, a sophomore from Plano; Kurtlee Smith, a freshman from Athens; and Willow Stanfield, a freshman from Geneva, Illinois.

Plant, soil and environmental science: Luke Anderson, a sophomore from Seguin; Reagan Decoulaz, a sophomore from San Antonio; and Edwin Osuna, a sophomore from San Antonio.

Pre-vet: Lilyenne Hyland, a sophomore from Alamogordo, New Mexico; Kimber Preece, a sophomore from Converse; Madelyn Schickendanz, a freshman from Perryton; and Charli Wells, a sophomore from Holdrege, Nebraska.

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding the best students is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which 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 more than $165 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University students Campbell Offield, second from right, and Henry Downing were presented Smallwood Leader Awards by Ag Development Association board members Garrett Robinson, left, and Christina and Matthew Winters, right and second from right, at The Ag Gathering 2025 on May 7.

—WT—