Join The Texas Tribune for a weeklong virtual symposium on the future of rural Texas. In conversation with legislators, local officials and other natives of rural Texas, we’ll discuss how a state with a proud ranching and agricultural history honors its heritage while acknowledging the realities of the modern world.
Against a backdrop of COVID-19 and the economic downturn it precipitated, we'll ask at this event if state government can continue to provide the resources necessary to accommodate and uplift the nearly 3 million Texans who live in rural communities, especially in an era of rapid urbanization.
Join us online each day Nov. 9-13 over lunch — from 12-1 p.m. Central — to dive in to public and higher education, health care, natural resources, infrastructure investment, economic development, broadband access and more. And we’ll preview the priorities and likely hot-button topics of the 87th legislative session.
with state Sen. Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen; state Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville; state Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria; state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster; and state Rep. James White, R-Hillister. Moderated by Ross Ramsey, executive editor of The Texas Tribune.Â
This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Texas Farm Bureau, Water Grows, Texas Corn Producers Association, Texas Municipal League, Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Agriculture Council, Texas Tech University and Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
In rural Texas, public schools are the heart and soul of their communities. Working in conjunction with the top teaching universities across the state, Raising Texas Teachers and the Charles Butt Scholarship are recruiting more of our best and brightest students to the teaching profession in rural Texas.
Presented and produced by Raise Your Hand Texas, a sponsor of this Texas Tribune event.
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Texas Ag Today is a daily podcast covering the latest news in Texas agriculture, from farming and ranching to politics and wildlife. Anchored by veteran farm broadcaster Carey Martin, Texas Ag Today features content from a stable of correspondents from the Piney Woods of East Texas to the rocky ranges of the Trans Pecos and from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley. The podcast is produced by the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network and backed by the largest and most experienced farm news team in the state. If you want to know the latest news in Texas agriculture, you can find it every weekday on Texas Ag Today. Listen to this podcast here.
This session is presented and produced by the Texas Farm Bureau, a sponsor of this Texas Tribune event.
with Donna Hale, superintendent of Miami ISD; Georgina C. Pérez, member of the State Board of Education; and state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston. Moderated by Aliyya Swaby, public education reporter for The Texas Tribune.
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This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Raise Your Hand Texas.
with Brenda Kays, president of Kilgore College; Mike Reeser, chancellor and CEO of Texas State Technical College; and Sandra Woodley, president of the University of Texas Permian Basin. Moderated by Kate McGee, higher education reporter for The Texas Tribune.
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This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Texas Tech University and the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
ITHRIVE! Rural America is Texas Tech University's response to the growing issues facing rural America. Combining expertise from across disciplines, researchers are working to tackle challenges in six areas affecting rural life: energy, water, agriculture, education, obesity and nutrition, and mental health. By addressing concerns in the rural regions of West Texas, THRIVE! is finding solutions that can be scaled nationally and globally. Investing in rural America is an investment in our nation's future.
Presented and produced by Texas Tech University, a sponsor of this Texas Tribune event.
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with Sudip Bose, Emergency Physician at Pecos County Memorial Hospital in Fort Stockton and Medical Center Health System in Odessa; state Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls; and Leticia Rodriguez, CEO of Ward Memorial Hospital in Monahans. Moderated by Shannon Najmabadi, women's health reporter for The Texas Tribune.
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This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by TORCH - Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute / The Hackett Center, Texas Rural Health Association, Office of Public Insurance Counsel, TEXAS 2036 and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
with Charlie Cano, CEO of Etex Telephone Cooperative; Annette Gutierrez, executive director of the Rio Grande Council of Governments; and Jennifer Harris, Texas state director for Connected Nation. Moderated by Chris Cobler, former editor and publisher of the Victoria Advocate.
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This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, TEXAS 2036, TORCH - Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute / The Hackett Center and the Texas Rural Health Association.
Connected Nation Texas sits down with Teresa Burnett, executive director of the Monahans Chamber of Commerce, to discuss her effort to connect her whole community to high-speed internet access, the challenges she’s faced and the progress made — and what other communities can learn from her experiences, including the one takeaway she says every community leader should hear. Watch the conversation here.
This session is presented and produced by the Texas Rural Funders, a sponsor of this Texas Tribune event.
with Lindsey Bowers, grain merchandiser for United Ag and farmer in Jackson and Victoria Counties; state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and Katie Lingor, executive director of the Borger Economic Development Corporation. Moderated by Mitchell Ferman, energy and economy reporter for The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Texas Agriculture Council, Texas Municipal League, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Water Grows, Texas Association of Community Colleges and Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
with Roel Lopez, director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute; Michael Young, senior research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology; and Lara Zent, executive director of the Texas Rural Water Association. Moderated by Joe Nick Patoski, writer-at-large for Texas Highways.
This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Agriculture Council, Water Grows, Texas Corn Producers and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
with Merlyn Holmes, member of the Kilgore City Council; John Howard, Donley County judge; Bella Rubio, Real County judge; and Anthony Williams, mayor of Abilene. Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune.
This session is presented by Texas Rural Funders and supported by Texas Tech University, TORCH - Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals and Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation • Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation
Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation • Educate Texas/Communities Foundation of Texas • Episcopal Health Foundation
Greater Texas Foundation • Hogg Foundation for Mental Health • Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
St. David’s Foundation • Still Water Foundation • Texas Pioneer Foundation • The Meadows Foundation
The Rapoport Foundation • The Stanzel Family Foundation • T.L.L. Temple Foundation • Tocker Foundation • United Ways of Texas
Plains Cotton Growers • Texas Forestry Association • Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council • Texas Grain and Feed Association
 Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association • Texas Grain Sorghum Association • Texas Association of Dairymen
Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT) • Texas Poultry Federation
Email us at events@texastribune.org
