Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

10/14/2026

We are pleased to recognize Penny Jones, MLS, CFP® CKA® AFC® AFFP® as the 2026 recipient of the Jeanie Izurieta '07 Selfless Service Award, presented at our Fall Conference on October 1!

Service is at the heart of Penny’s career and community involvement. Whether it’s providing pro bono planning to families in need, or bringing Aggie Planners together across Deep Texas, when Penny sees a need, she takes action.

Her willingness to support others continues to strengthen both the financial planning profession and the Aggie Planner community.

Congratulations Penny, and thank you for setting such a meaningful example of selfless service.

Please join us in celebrating Penny 👍

10/12/2026

Will Herd is from Bryan, Texas, and is the son of Larry and Cecilee Herd. He grew up on his family’s large-scale cow-calf operation, where his family also backgrounds and feeds cattle through the feedyard. From an early age, Will developed a passion for the livestock industry, exhibiting steers and heifers at all of the major Texas livestock shows and national shows. After high school, Will attended Texas A&M University, where he is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Agricultural Sales. During his time at Texas A&M, he became actively involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, serving as Recruitment Chairman and President, and is also a member of the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team. Some of his accolades include 12 High individual at Griswold’s,5th High Individual at the Denver Carload Contest, 8th in Sheep and Goats at San Antonio, and 3rd Overall, Champion Sheep/Goats, Champion Placings, 6th Cattle, 10th Reasons at Houston.

After graduation, Will plans to work in the oil and gas industry before returning to the family ranch, where his long-term goal is to raise high-quality commercial Charolais bulls, show steers, and show heifers while continuing his family’s tradition in the livestock industry.

“Growing up in the College Station area as a third-generation Aggie, I never wanted to attend any other university. Texas A&M is a place where anyone can find where they belong, build lifelong friendships, and create opportunities that last beyond college. I will always be grateful for the friends I have made, along with my coaches, teammates, professors, and mentors who have helped shape me. My advice is to get involved in everything you can, meet new people, build relationships, and take advantage of every opportunity. Most importantly, leave an impact on the people and organizations that made your college experience special.”

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

Imagine a perfect 70-degree day, clear skies, and winds of just 10 mph. Those were the conditions Caden Varner ’27 and George Kugle ’28 enjoyed when they secured a tee time through the St. Andrews Old Course ballot—a lottery that gives golfers a chance to play the celebrated course.

During the Scotland Agribusiness Study Abroad program this past summer, students spent two weeks traveling from Edinburgh to Inverness, with stops along the way. One of those stops was St. Andrews, a town known for its rich history and beautiful sights. Known around the world as the “Home of Golf,” St. Andrews has more than 600 years of golfing history, making a round on its famed Old Course an opportunity to experience the sport’s history firsthand.

Caden says, “Getting to hit the first tee shot with about half of our study abroad watching was a really amazing experience. We both had caddies and got to listen to them tell stories and talk about the history that makes the place special. Being able to walk the course and see all of the places that I had only seen on television was so memorable. All in all, it was my favorite golf experience of all time, getting to play such an amazing course.”

10/07/2026

This past weekend our Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS) Team competed in Hershey, PA at the National FDRS Student Food Marketing Challenge, winning second place! There, Surcy Peoples IV, Presley Schell, Nataly Taylor, and David Kendrick solved real-world focused food marketing cases through multidisciplinary solutions. Congratulations! 👍🏼

10/07/2026

Conference photos are live 📸 Follow the link to access our 2026 albums: https://tx.ag/tamuFPC26photos