So much attention is focused on Texas’ fast-growing urban areas, but there are 3 million rural Texans who have big needs and wants that state leaders can’t ignore.
We identified some of rural Texas’ biggest challenges — and the steps city and county leaders are taking to address those challenges. Now, we want to hear from you: What about your community are you most proud of? What’s your community’s biggest challenge? Let us know at the bottom of this page.
Texas Tech University
Allen Theatre in the Student Union Building
2625 15th Street, Lubbock TX, 79409
No RSVP required! Before the opening program, explore these special opportunities at Texas Tech University.
Texas Tech University Fiber and Polymer Research Institute
8 a.m. to noon (60 minutes)
1001 E Texas 289 Loop Frontage, Lubbock, TX 79403
Leading research in fiber and textile research, testing and manufacturing.
Texas Tech University VorTECH Tornado Simulator
1009 Canton Ave., MS 3155 Lubbock, TX 79409-3155
10 a.m. to noon (60 minutes)
Designed to simulate tornadic winds in the EF3 range of 150 miles per hour.
Texas Tech University Gordon W. Davis Meat Science Laboratory
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (30-60 minutes)
Davis College, 1308 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX 79415
Texas Tech University Global Laboratory for Energy Asset Management and Manufacturing (GLEAMM) Microgrid
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (30-60 minutes)
Reese Center, Building 458, Lubbock, TX 79416
A dedicated microgrid supporting research projects focused on building a smart, secure and resilient energy system.
A live recording of The Texas Tribune’s weekly podcast on the latest news and headlines — and this time it’s all about rural.
Speakers:
Nic Garcia, regional editor at The Texas Tribune
Jayme Lozano, High Plains reporter at The Texas Tribune
Pooja Salhotra, East Texas reporter at The Texas Tribune
Sarah Self-Walbrick, news director at Texas Tech Public Media
Adam Young, editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Presented by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Water Grows and TEXAS 2036
Next session’s priorities: What’s likely, what’s possible, what’s on the wish list and how the budget surplus can benefit smaller communities across the state.
Speakers:
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock
State Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., D-Eagle Pass
State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa
Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas Association of Counties, Texas Electric Cooperatives, Water Grows, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Texas Agriculture Council
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sits down with Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune, to talk about what the federal government has done in the last two years — and plans to do in the next two — to support rural communities.
Presented by Texas Association of Dairymen, Corteva and BNSF Railway
From pre-K to college, how rural schools are meeting the challenges of preparing their students for life in the 21st century.
Speakers:
State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian
H.T. Sanchez, superintendent of Plainview ISD
Russell Lowery-Hart, president of Amarillo College
JuliAnn Mazachek, president of Midwestern State University
Moderated by Nic Garcia, regional editor at The Texas Tribune
Presented by Raise Your Hand Texas, Texas State Technical College, BNSF Railway and Texas Association of Community Colleges
Supported by Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools and Texas Association of Rural Schools
A prescription for equitable access and outcomes in the state’s most far-flung counties.
Speakers:
Lorenzo Serrano, CEO of the Winkler County Hospital District
John Hodges, family nurse practitioner, Ralls Family Medicine
Lori Rice-Spearman, president of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Jennifer Franklin, chief clinical officer of the Yoakum Community Hospital
Moderated by Jayme Lozano, High Plains reporter at The Texas Tribune
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Texas Farm Bureau, FirstCare Health Plans (part of Baylor Scott & White Health), Texas Association of Counties, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and Texas Agriculture Council
Supported by Texas Rural Health Association and Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH)
Broadband access is finally expanding across rural Texas. What this will mean for education, health care, economic development and more.
Speakers:
Jennifer Harris, federal program officer for Texas, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Charlie Cano, CEO of Etex Telephone Cooperative
Dustin Fawcett, Ector County judge-elect
Moderated by Pooja Salhotra, East Texas reporter at The Texas Tribune
Presented by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Texas Association of Counties, FirstCare Health Plans (part of Baylor Scott & White Health), Texas Electric Cooperatives, Texas Farm Bureau and Texas Rural Funders
Attendees in Lubbock will enjoy a complimentary lunch. If you're registered already, please update your registration to confirm attendance on Friday and alert us to your dietary restrictions.
12:30 P.M. CT — Broadband Hero Award presented by Connected Nation Texas
Presented by FirstCare Health Plans, part of Baylor Scott & White Health
Rural mayors talk local control, spending and taxes, the old way of life vs. the modern world and political realities.
Speakers:
Ginger Nelson, mayor of Amarillo
Steve Massengale, councilman for the City of Lubbock
Mark Hicks, mayor of Lufkin
Moderated by Sewell Chan, editor in chief at The Texas Tribune
Presented by BNSF Railway
Will plentiful water, clean air, and thoughtful land use be the future of rural Texas?
Speakers:
State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
Carlos Rubinstein, former chair of the Texas Water Development Board
Marilu Hastings, executive vice president of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
Moderated by Adam Young, editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Presented by Water Grows, TEXAS 2036, Texas Association of Dairymen, Capital Farm Credit and Texas Agriculture Council
How rural communities are supporting industries, attracting businesses, creating jobs, and training the next generation’s workforce.
Speakers:
Wendie Cook, board member of the Canadian Economic Development Corp.
Judy Canales, executive director of the Eagle Pass Maverick County Economic Development Alliance
Nathan Tafoya, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corp.
Lillian Salerno, rural development state director for Texas at the USDA
Moderated by Sarah Self-Walbrick, news director at Texas Tech Public Media
Presented by Texas State Technical College, Capital Farm Credit, Water Grows, Texas Electric Cooperatives and BNSF Railway
Media Supported by Texas Tech Public Media
This multiday event will be simultaneously streamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.
Friday, Nov. 18, 1 - 1:30 PM
Friday, Nov. 18 - all sessions
If you would like to share this event with a group, consider hosting a watch party for your library, school or organization to bring the rich conversations happening at “The Future of Rural Texas” to your community. Download this toolkit to help make your event a success.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
