The McMillan-Leverett
Agricultural Scholarship Program at Kilgore College
Application form may be requested from Mr. Bob Young at
the Kilgore College Farm. Please call (903) 834-6255.
The McMillan-Leverett Agricultural Scholarship Program was initiated in 1992 to encourage qualified high school graduates to major in a field of agriculture at Kilgore College and make agriculture their professional career upon graduating from a major university.
This program is dedicated in memory of Dr. Bruce McMillan and Mr. Donald B. Leverett, close friends and colleagues, who served for many years with distinction on the Boards of Trustees of Kilgore College and the Bruce McMillan, Jr. Foundation. Both men were advocates of higher education and the advancement of agricultural science.
Recipients receive varied stipends depending on scholastic ability and activity participation. Funds are provided by the Bruce McMillan Jr. Foundation, Inc. Kilgore College is responsible for student selection, determination of stipend amount, and notification of recipients.
Applicants must satisfy each of the following requirements:
Mission Statement: "The Kilgore College Agricultural and Environmental Science Department provides students with freshman- and sophomore-level courses that meet the standards of the Higher Education Coordinating Board of the State of Texas. Courses taught provide an excellent combination of theory, modern technology, and practical hands-on laboratory work. This curriculum leads to an Associates Degree and/or transfer credits toward a baccalaureate degree. The program seeks to challenge and stimulate students' desire to enhance their knowledge base in fundamental and application sciences."
A Close-Knit "Family": Reminiscent of early rural life, students in this department learn quickly to depend on each other and work together. They interact closely with the instructor and administrators to accomplish academic and community service feats largely unavailable to first- or second-year students at senior colleges. It is not uncommon to see several students studying together and helping each other during the evening at the College Farm Classroom Building or elsewhere throughout the semester. During show season, several students will be at the College Farm on weekends training the show animals. This cooperation helps each student more fully appreciate and enjoy their accomplishments while preparing for the next academic level.
The Instructor: Mr. Bob G. Young is only the third agriculture instructor at Kilgore college in the program's history. Mr. Young earned his B.S. and M.Ed. in agricultural education at Sam Houston State University. He taught high school agriculture for eight years before entering the feed, fertilizer, and hardware business for an 11-year stint. Mr. Young has taught at Kilgore College since 1992 and operates a commercial cattle herd in Rusk and Smith Counties.
Mr. Young is past president of the Overton-New London Chamber of Commerce, the Overton Rotary Club, and the Rusk County Rodeo Association. He serves on the Rusk County Go-Texan Committee which earns academic scholarships for local students through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Mr. Young often sacrifices his spring break to serve as Steer Show Superintendent for the Rusk County Youth Project Show. He is president of the Parish Council for Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Overton.
Mr. Young brings a multi-facet background of experienced instruction, agri-business, agricultural production, and community leadership to his position at Kilgore College. He travels extensively with students to meetings, FFA Conventions, club service activities, breed association functions, and academic consultation with senior college administrators for the benefit of Kilgore College students. He expects high standards in personal morals and work ethics from each student.
Administrative/Advisory Support: The Kilgore College Agriculture Program enjoys extraordinary support and appreciation from top-level administrators. Dr. Bill Holda, KC President; Dr. Gerald Stanglin, Vice-President for Instruction; and Mrs. Genie Bartlett, Dean for Math, Science, and Health Science, enjoy interaction with students and are available for consultation to discuss individual situations.
The Kilgore College Advisory Committee, composed of area persons representing varied agricultural backgrounds, meets frequently to review current programs and develop means for the Program to better serve its students and the public.
Kilgore College Agriculture Club: All agriculture students are urged to participate in the Kilgore College Agriculture Club, a member of the Texas Junior College Agriculture Association (TJCAA), a highly competitive state-wide organization of 33 community colleges where agriculture courses are taught.
This club is consistently a model of excellence, having been selected TJCAA "Chapter of the Year" five of the past seven years and has had state officers elected each of the past seven years. Members travel across the state to participate in competitive academic events. In doing so, they build camaraderie with fellow students from other colleges, creating lifetime friendships and associations.
One of the most active groups on campus, the KC Agriculture Club annually participates in dozens of events from constructing award-winning Christmas parade floats, coordinating breed association judging events, supervising FFA and 4-H judging contests, assisting with the Bull Evaluation Center, and many more service activities in the area. Membership is open to all students, regardless of major. These students learn to develop teamwork, cooperation and sportsmanship while having a good time together.
Kilgore College Livestock Show Team: The KC Livestock Show Team completed its first year of competition participating at the East Texas State Fair (Tyler), State Fair of Texas (Dallas), Fort Worth Stock Show, and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Team members showed animals chosen from the College Farm's herd of purebred Angus.
The College Farm: The 448-acre Kilgore College Agricultural and Environmental Science Center east of Overton on State Highway 135 (only nine miles from campus) houses all lecture and laboratory classes which usually meet one afternoon per week per course. The College Farm is home to a purebred Angus herd, commercial cattle (for embryo transfer), Suffolk sheep, Boer goats, Yorkshire hogs, an all-breeds Bull Evaluation Center, an alfalfa demonstration meadow, and greenhouse. Students not only study on location but have access to all hands-on management practices for livestock and plant species during laboratories. Facilities and operations on the KC Farm rival that of many senior colleges.
Bull Evaluation Center: Kilgore College operates the only Bull Evaluation Center between Dallas and Shreveport, Paris and College Station. Established in 1973, the Center's purposes are to: (1) provide common environmental test conditions for evaluating rate of gain, soundness, structural frame, muscling, and other traits of economic importance to beef cattle producers, and (2) promote performance testing and the identification of genetically superior beef cattle.
Two tests are conducted each year. Following the conclusion of the test, each bull is given an ultrasound procedure which measures marbling, rib eye, and back fat thickness. Scrotal circumference is measured for spiralness. Animals are also measured at hip height which helps determine frame score.
Members of the KC Agriculture Club glean practical experience working with the animals, especially at check-in and each weighing period. It's an intense education that students at some senior colleges do not often realize.
Educational Affiliations: 1) Kilgore College maintains an excellent data-sharing relationship with the nearby Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Center at Overton. A&M faculty members, some of whom serve on the Advisory Committee of this Program, bring current technological breakthroughs right into the KC classroom. KC also hosts A&M research projects at the Farm so students can observe scientific progress as it occurs. 2) KC is an active member of the Agricultural Consortium of Texas (ACT), an organization of all senior and community colleges that teach agriculture in the state, which meets regularly to address common educational and academic situations related to agricultural education. 3) KC is also a leading member of the Texas Junior College Agricultural Association (TJCAA), an organization which offers community college students competitive leadership opportunities. 4) KC is a member of the American Angus Association and Texas Angus Association. Through these organizations, the College Farm has been a recipient of generous animal donations while building a quality herd for scientific and educational purposes.
Transfer Opportunities: Requirements vary among senior colleges in mathematics, chemistry, biology, speech, and computer science courses. Some catalog course descriptions may be very misleading or confusing, as can be the advice or information from other students. Don't take a chance ... ask before you register for a course if any uncertainty exists. Mr. Young has spent many hours in consultation with senior college administrators to determine the preferences and requirements of institutions where most KC graduates transfer. A major goal at Kilgore College is to make certain that every recommended course taken here ... counts there.
The agriculture courses taught at Kilgore College are fully transferable and usable as core courses or electives at any senior level institution which grants undergraduate agriculture degrees in the State of Texas. These courses, when taken in conjunction with required courses or other disciplines, offer students sufficient variety to satisfy all subject matter fields with enough specificity that students are fully prepared for proper academic transition.
(The numbers in parentheses represent: Semester Hours Credit - Hours Lecture per Week - Hours Lab per week)
AGRI 1307. Agronomy Crop Production (3-2-2)
A general introductory course dealing with the classification
and distribution of farm crops, crop improvement, preparation of seed beds,
commercial fertilizer, seeding practices, crop tillage, harvesting, pastures and
pasture management, weeds, crop rotation, diseases, and insect pests.
(Taught in the Spring semester of even years.)
AGRI 1311. Dairying (3-2-2)
A study of dairy breeds, methods of selection and culling,
records and management of herd, the secretion of milk, composition of milk,
cream separation, butter and ice cream making, and processing of milk.
Laboratory work includes testing of milk, inspection of dairies and milk plants,
and comparative judging of animals. (Taught in Spring semester of odd
years.)
AGRI 1327. Poultry Production (3-2-2)
A general course in poultry including types, breeds, facilities
and construction, brooding and incubation, selection and culling, feeding and
nutrition, and diseases and pests. (Taught in Fall semester of odd years.)
AGRI 1371. Basic Landscape Design (3-2-2)
History, basic concepts and principles of design; formal and
informal designs. Structures, site considerations, plant materials, and
graphic presentation techniques are considered.
AGRI 1415. General Horticulture (4-3-2)
A survey of the field of horticulture, fundamental growth and
fruiting habits, principles and practices of propagation, general study of
common horticulture plants including planting care, culture, harvesting,
and utilization of fruit and vegetable crops. (Taught in Spring
semester of odd years.)
AGRI 2201. Agricultural Industry (2-2-0)
An overview of world agriculture. This course explores the
nature of the industry, resource conservation, and the American agricultural
system, including production, distribution, and marketing. (Taught in Fall
semester of odd years.)
AGRI 2301. Agricultural Tractors and Power Units (3-2-2)
A study of tractors and other internal combustion engines used
as power sources in agriculture. This course includes principles of
operation, maintenance, calculating horsepower, and adjustments of electrical,
ignition, fuel, lubricating, and cooling systems. Laboratory fee
$15. (Taught in Fall semester each year.)
AGRI 2303. Agricultural Engineering Metals (3-2-2)
A course training students of agriculture to recognize the
various types of metals, processes of arc-welding and oxy-acetylene, cutting and
fitting, and techniques of design and construction of farm buildings and
equipment. Laboratory fee $15. (Taught in Fall semester in even
years.)
AGRI 2313. Plant Protection (Formerly General
Entomology) (3-2-2)
A study of the principles and practices of controlling and preventing
economic loss caused by plant pests and related environmental protection
measures. This course includes instruction in entomology, plant pathology,
weed science, crop science, and environmental toxicology. (Taught in
Spring semester of even years.)
AGRI 2317. Agricultural Economics (3-2-0)
The fundamentals of agricultural economics. This course
acquaints students with the characteristics of the economic system and basic
economic concepts, the organization and management of the farm and ranch firm,
the structure and operation of the marketing system, functional and
institutional aspects of agricultural finance, government policies and programs
related to agriculture. (Taught in Fall semester of even years.)
AGRI 2321. General Animal Production (3-2-2)
A study of scientific animal agriculture and the importance of
the livestock and meat industry. This course includes selection,
reproduction, nutrition, management and marketing of beef cattle, sheep, goats,
swine, and horses and evaluation and processing of meat, wool, and mohair.
(Taught in Spring semester of each year.)
AGRI 2330. Wildlife Conservation and Management (3-2-2)
An introduction to the wildlife resources of the United States
with specific reference to Texas. This course includes applications of the
principles of ecology and natural history to the management of wildlife habitats
and control of wildlife populations. Other topics to be studied include
identification of animals, habitat evaluation, and census methods. Special
emphasis is on the economic aspects of wildlife management techniques.
(Taught in Fall semester of even years.)
AGRI 2371. Plant Propagation (3-2-2)
A study of the principles and practices involved in the
reproduction of economically important plants. Plant structure, growth,
and development as relating to sexual and asexual reproduction; methods of
handling seed; starting plant cuttings, layering, grafts, buds, bulbs, and other
specialized structures; a study of planting media and plant-growing structures.
(Taught in Fall semester.)
Application form may be requested from Mr. Bob Young at the Kilgore College Farm. Please call (903) 834-6255.
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