The fourth-generation farmer from Kress, Texas, has committed decades to the cotton and sorghum industries. Throughout his farming career, Evans constantly worked on his craft of improving his farming practices. “It is important to tell our story,” Evans said. “Every farmer I know cares about the soil, sustainability, and more. There is a story about being the stewards of the land.”

Texas attorney Garrett Couts grew up in a household that bled scarlet and black for Texas Tech University. It was in Pampa, Texas, where he was surrounded by agriculture, showing and breeding swine. He was a book worm with strong interest in politics and wanting to go to Washington, D.C., and had two teachers in high school who pushed him to attend law school.

In 2020, following Covid-19, Scott Burris, Ph.D., chair for the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, and his team implemented three value statements that would go on to shape the department into what it is now. The values served as a road map for navigating the unusual and trying time that they would soon face. Go Beyond, Invest in Others, and Create a Collaborative Culture are demonstrated daily amongst the students and faculty.

The agricultural communications program at Texas Tech University introduced a new high-impact learning experience called the “ACOM Block” in 2017. The Block is a series of four courses designed to mimic a comprehensive, real-world workplace experience for students before they graduate from the program.