According to Agriculture department Head Dr. Dean Hawkins, the lectureship is a great way to expose students to these successful businessmen and women in hopes that this is where they will be in a few short years.
The lecture series included a presentation for the freshman Agriculture majors in the afternoon followed by a reception, dinner, lecture and question and answer session for all juniors and seniors.
The event allowed students within the Agriculture department to hear from successful business leaders around the region, including Ed Wright, a successful national leader as a cattle buyer.
“This lecture series is such an amazing and unique opportunity as it allows students to hear from successful business owners in the community directly,” Kristi Benedict, senior Equine Business major, said. “There are not many places that we can hear from the individual and get a personal view of the business world from them. It not only is an opportunity to learn but it is also a confidence builder as we graduate and experience the business world for ourselves.”
Each one of the presenters was given their own individual time to speak and tell their story of how they made it to the top of the business world.
Chyna Tynney, a senior Agriculture Media and Communications major, said it was a great opportunity to listen to successful people and hear their advice while listening to the story of how they got to where they are.
“The secret to any success is how to manage the stress and use it as a motivator,” Wright said. “People who can handle stress are in the top two of money makers in this country.”
This year’s lecture offered the first businesswoman to speak at the series. Laura Conniff shared her story of being a fifth-generation farmer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Director and co-owner of her own business.
“I think it is a level playing field between men and women,” Conniff said. “If anything it is tilted towards females in some ways. My advice is to take advantage of it. Take every opportunity that knocks on your door and run with it. Life changes, you have to be flexible, you have to continue learning. You can have it all. You just can’t have it all every day.”
