Clarendon College RFO • Ranch & Feedlot Operations

10/09/2026

We had a diverse and educational week filled with opportunities to learn from industry professionals and explore future possibilities!

We kicked off the week with a visit from Dr. Bain Wilson with Ranchbot. He shared his in site into some of the technologies available in the ag space as well information about the various technologies Ranchbot offers to help producers improve their operations.

Next, we attended a town hall with our District 88 Representative, Ken King. Representative King provided insight into current events and discussed what we can expect during the upcoming legislative session.

We then welcomed representatives from West Texas A&M University, who shared information about the many opportunities available to students interested in transferring to WTAMU after completing their degrees at Clarendon College.

Later in the week, Braden and Reagan with Capital Farm Credit joined us for a great discussion about the financial side of agriculture. Students learned about borrowing money, building good borrowing habits, and the importance of being responsible borrowers and successful agricultural producers.

We wrapped up the week with Sarah Jane Abatti, a range nutritionist with Hi-Pro Feeds. She led an informative classroom session on nutrition before taking students into the field to practice plant identification. The afternoon concluded with a friendly competition to see which group could collect the best grass sample!

We’re grateful to all our guest speakers and industry partners for sharing their knowledge and helping provide our students with valuable, hands-on learning experiences.

10/05/2026

Students were fortunate to spend last week gaining valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in the art of artificial insemination (A.I.) and pregnancy determination in beef cattle.

Representatives from American Breeders Service (ABS) and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service spent the week sharing their knowledge, expertise, and real-world experience with the students. This program is recognized as one of the top week-long A.I. and palpation schools in the country, largely due to the number of cattle available for students to gain hands-on practice.

We cannot thank Gene and Kathy Hommel of Clarendon enough for opening their operation and allowing us to utilize their cattle for the school. Their generosity and support provide students with an exceptional opportunity to learn and develop these important skills.

Upon completion of the program, students received an ABS A.I. Management School certificate and a Beef Cattle Pregnancy Determination Clinic Certificate of Completion from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

A special thank you to Max Payne (Class of ’83), Laban Tubbs (Retired RFO Director), Dr. Bruce Carpenter, and Gene and Kathy Hommel for their contributions and support in making this outstanding learning opportunity possible.

10/01/2026

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS!

We have officially begun interviews for next year’s class!

If you are interested in being part of the RFO Class of 2028, now is the time to get your interview scheduled.

Don’t wait interviews are underway and spots are filling up! Contact us today to schedule your interview and take the first step toward joining the Class of 2028.

09/25/2026

The group can clean up and look sharp!
We spent yesterday evening in Childress at the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Ranch Gathering.

Thank you to all of the sponsors who made the event possible.

09/23/2026

We spent the afternoon assisting the Saints' Roost Museum set up for the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cook off.

09/22/2026

We had another great guest speaker yesterday! Special Ranger and Region 1 Supervisor Chris Ward with the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association shared his story and the path that led him from the Highway Patrol to becoming a Special Ranger.

Chris also gave us a great overview of the history of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and explained the important role Special Rangers play in assisting association members.

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is also a strong supporter of education and provides each RFO student with a complimentary student membership.

Thank you, Chris, and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, for taking the time to invest in and support our students!

09/18/2026

It was a long day of learning, hands-on experiences, and new opportunities for our RFO students!

We began the morning at MVP Equine, where students had an in-depth discussion about equine veterinary medicine and the management and care of their horses. A huge thank you to Dr. Morrow and Dr. Pomeroy for taking the time to visit with our students and share their knowledge and expertise!

We then made our way to West Texas A&M University for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Beef Showcase. Students put their skills to the test by judging steers from videos, participating in carcass matching, and completing a beef industry knowledge and skills test.

Thank you to all of the sponsors who helped make this event possible and provided our students with these valuable learning opportunities. We are grateful for your continued support of our students and the agriculture industry!

09/17/2026

It isn’t always about receiving; it’s also about giving back. Throughout the year, we have various opportunities to lend a helping hand.

This time, we were proud to assist the Saints' Roost Museum as they prepared for the annual Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cook-Off. Our crew gathered firewood for the chuckwagons to use during the competition.

09/16/2026

Yesterday, the class made its annual trip to the Taylor Ranch, where students spent the day with Jimmy and Tracy Taylor touring the ranch and learning about how they manage their operation.

Students got an inside look at how the Taylors utilize rotational grazing to improve and sustain their native range. We also dove into the genetics they have assembled and how they use genomic testing on their replacement females to build cattle that not only push the limits for terminal merit, but also produce females capable of thriving in their environment.

Several students also had the opportunity to join Jimmy Clark on the radio for his show, Today in Ag. It was a great opportunity for students to put “Agvocacy to work.”

A big thank you to the Taylor family and Jimmy Clark for investing in our students and providing them with such a valuable learning experience.

09/15/2026