Written by Cash Martin, TPPA Intern
LUBBOCK, Texas (Sept. 5, 2025) – The Texas Pork Junior Ambassadors (TPJA) completed a four-day leadership and industry tour from Sept. 2-5 across the Texas Panhandle and Central Texas, engaging with agricultural leaders, industry experts, and policymakers.
The tour began Sept. 2 in Canyon at West Texas A&M University, where the ambassadors heard about Purple Circle and Premier Initiative from owners Austin and Dylan Voyles. Then, Associate Dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences and Professor of Agricultural Education, Dr. Lance Kieth, hosted a personality and leadership workshop with Dr. Lance Kieth, to further explore each ambassador’s strengths. After lunch, the team toured the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo and met with representatives from Plains Land Bank before traveling to Dalhart.
Wednesday morning, the team visited JBS Live Pork – a 52,000 sow operation that ships out over 1 million pigs per year. Texas Pork Producers Association President (TPPA), Peter Baumert, discussed with the group about operational logistics and servant leadership. Afterwards, the ambassadors left for Amarillo to meet with District 13 staff at Rep. Ronnie Jackson’s office, before flying to Dallas, where the day concluded with some team-building over dinner.
The tour continued on Thursday with a stop at Bryant Grain Company in Aledo, hosted by TPPA board member Josh Campbell. Ambassadors then traveled to Waco to connect with Texas Farm Bureau staff about educational and policy issues, as well as hear from the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo staff on their efforts within the industry.
The final day of the 2025 TPJA Industry Tour featured state-level engagement in Austin. Ambassadors met with staff from the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Office of Governor Greg Abbott, and the Texas Department of Agriculture to connect with their staff on current priority issues within the state.
“The Texas tour of our ambassador program was such an eye-opening trip,” Bryce Borchardt, second-year ambassador from Krum, Texas, said. “Experiencing and connecting with each of these individuals truly was a major learning experience within this program.”
The ambassador’s industry tour was designed to support our mission in creating visible youth advocates for agriculture, specifically the pork industry. By engaging directly with industry leaders, financial institutions, and policymakers, ambassadors gain first-hand experience in issues shaping the future of Texas agriculture. TPPA is proud of these students and looks forward to supporting their efforts in becoming future leaders.
For more information about the Texas Pork Junior Ambassador program, click here.