KILGORE, TX — Logic dictates that it should have happened sooner. Much sooner. But not before nearly four decades elapsed have any first-year females been elected to the top leadership positions in the Kilgore College Agriculture Club.

That scenario held true until three spirited freshman ladies with unparalleled determination enrolled during the fall semester and told the guys unequivocally to "either lead or move it on over." Soon thereafter, Monika Brindley, Jaci Jaggers, and Courtney Spoon accomplished a feat of epic proportions.

It was during an emergency officer election just days before the Christmas break, that these three over-achievers--- Brindley of Waskom, Jaggers of Sulphur Bluff, and Spoon of Henderson—all with strong FFA leadership backgrounds and academic potential, emerged as influential club officeholders capturing president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively.

Brindley wasted little time in her new presidential role by developing a set of stimulating, challenging initiatives for the tradition-rich club, which for seven of the past ten years has captured the Texas Junior College Agriculture Association "Chapter of the Year" award.

Essentially, she has proposed that the KC Agriculture Club enhance its reputation with the TJCAA, become more assertive to let the campus and administration know exactly what the club does, offer more services to agriculture science teachers and bull test owners in the area, and be more responsible in student recruitment. Those objectives are in addition to a full list of activities which already makes the KC Ag Club the most active academic organization on the campus.

Brindley noted that the window of opportunity for leadership is much shorter at the community college level—normally one academic year as compared to the senior college which can extend out two or three years in exceptional circumstances—and has the tendency to incur the "everyone for themselves" syndrome in order to accomplish their objectives. In the process, teamwork can suffer, something these three young ladies will work in earnest to avoid.

"The three of us are extremely grateful and happy with the positions we were recently elected to serve," Brindley pointed out. "This election gives us the opportunity to bring everyone in the club together to work as a unified team. Good teamwork is critical to our success and maintaining it is a challenge which must be transmitted to each person on a consistent basis."

Although she considers teamwork of utmost importance, Brindley believes the ag club can be the catalyst for an even more important change of campus philosophy.

"I want our ag club to begin changing the image of Kilgore College and other community colleges from ‘ last resort’ to ‘first choice’ so that all students attending this institution will be proud to be here," she explains. "We have opportunities here, especially in agriculture, that students of the same classifications at senior colleges do not have. Senior colleges recognize our academic and leadership areas of emphasis and recruit Kilgore College students specifically. I’m here by choice and I’m proud I made that choice."

Jaggers, who shares a dorm room this semester with Brindley, echoes many of her roommate’s sentiments about the club and its proposed direction as they brainstorm and plan together. However, the new secretary is quick to point out that more of a parliamentary approach at meetings and a firmer organization structure will be welcomed. She, too, believes in the ‘"first choice" theory.

"There are endless opportunities in all areas of the agriculture program here at Kilgore College, " she emphasizes. "One of our strongest assets is a tremendous college farm which gives us the potential to do many things. In fact, it is primarily responsible for me being here. Our show team gains a lot of visibility for those students willing to work above and beyond what is necessary. I really believe this club has more potential than ever with upbeat progressive leadership and a new direction."

Spoon, the treasurer and third member of the historic female trio, believes better leadership and more intense student recruiting will pay advanced dividends for the club next year. It’s just another avenue, she feels, that will give the club more personnel to complete their tasks.

"Leadership is vitally important," she points out, "but we need to recruit more ag majors for our academic program and more non-ag majors with FFA or 4-H backgrounds, who can identify with and appreciate the activities our club performs. Better leadership will give us the edge in organization; better recruiting will give us more people to work with and, hopefully, more projects to complete with less stress per individual. From an academic perspective, most high school students are not aware of the immense opportunities available at the college farm until they enroll and see for themselves. Sadly, many students are missing out on a lot by not being here. We believe we have a distinct advantage over freshman and sophomore students at senior colleges just in the animal science and agronomic areas, alone. This is really an exciting time to be an agricultural student at Kilgore College."

And excited these young ladies are, which is highly justifiable. They went up against overwhelming odds and conquered the gender world through confidence, diplomacy, ingenuity and potential. That feat behind them, perhaps their greatest challenges await.

(Article published locally and provided by writer, Ralph Ward Jr.)