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King Ranch Institute, Texas AgFinance partner on ranch management certificationTexas Thanks to a generous gift from Texas AgFinance, the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville will broaden the educational services it offers. With a $1 million commitment, the institute will initiate the Texas AgFinance Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management aimed at ranchers and landowners who want to expand their skills to keep up with the ever-changing ranching industry. "The ranch manager and landowner of the 21st century manages a myriad of resources and business interests including energy, recreation, pollution mitigation, water, consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife management and food production," said Dr. Barry Dunn, executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. "Dealing with this complexity requires these individuals to have an exceptional set of managerial skills. The new certificate program will provide an organized method for ranchers and other interested parties to acquire these skills," he added. "Upon completion of the program, participants will return with knowledge and skills that will enhance the management and stewardship of land resources across our nation and the world, and potentially, other large landscapes like state and federal lands." "Every now and then an opportunity comes along that allows an organization to do something that is far greater than what is expected--an opportunity that will allow the organization to be a part of identifying itself with future generations in agriculture and allow us to have a permanent footprint in the future of agriculture," said Jimmy Wright, president and chief executive officer of Texas AgFinance. "Such an opportunity presented itself to us in the certificate in advanced ranch management program. "We are very excited about this concerted effort for continued education and feel extremely proud that we can contribute to such a worthy cause," Wright added. "This is an opportunity to be a part of something that will go far beyond what we typically do on a daily basis and will allow Texas AgFinance along with the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management and Texas A&M-Kingsville to join together as leaders in the continuing education for Texas producers and landowners." "The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management awards the only master of science degree of its kind in the world, making it a unique entity in higher education. This new certificate program singles them out again as they work hand-in hand with Texas AgFinance to continue the education of working ranchers," said Dr. Rumaldo Z. Juárez, university president. "We thank Texas AgFinance for the opportunity to assist ranchers to keep up with many changes facing the industry today." About the Texas AgFinance Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management Program The target audience for the new certificate program will not only be ranchers and landowners, but also others actively engaged in ranch management, loan officers from banking interests, accountants, attorneys, appraisers of agricultural land, extension educators, university faculty and teachers of ranch and farm management courses from high schools and colleges. By involving loan officers and land owners, Dunn said, the program will be able to provide those constituents with a greater understanding of the nuances involved in successful ranching and has the potential to create a more meaningful partnership between lenders and land owners and managers. In order to earn the Texas AgFinance Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management, a participant will be required to complete four lectureships sponsored by the institute and participate in two of the annual HOLT/CAT Symposia on Excellence in Ranch Management. All this must be done over the course of three years. Some of the current and proposed lectureship topics include using managerial accounting in ranching, valuation and economic benefits of water, wildlife and other natural resources, the oil and gas industry and ranching, human resource management, a systems approach to ranch management, habitat management, current ranching issues, meat science and production and equine management for ranch managers. For more information about the Texas AgFinance Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management, call the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at 361-593-5401 or visit their website at krirm.tamuk.edu. About Texas AgFinance Texas AgFinance, based in Robstown with offices throughout South Texas, is an agricultural credit association within the Farm Credit System. Originally chartered in 1933, Texas AgFinance operates as a cooperative that is owned by its stockholders who also are its customers. The mission of the association is to provide the credit needs to rural America. The stockholders are governed by a Board of Directors, led by Ray Henry, chairman and Uvalde County rancher; and David Henneke, vice chairman and investment advisor from Alice. Both are graduates of Texas A&I University. Another member of the eight-person board is John Prukop, agricultural producer in Jim Wells, Nueces and Kleberg County. He also is alumnus of Texas A&I. For more information about Texas AgFinance, visit their website at texasagfinance.com. 6/9/08 Date: 6/5/08 Advertisement
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