THE FUTURE OF RURAL TEXAS A Texas Tribune Symposium

The Texas Tribune is pleased to present a symposium on rural policy and affairs in Texas. Join us as we dive into the future of rural education, health care, natural resource preservation and infrastructure investment, and explore the current political climate in rural Texas and the state's economic future. Also on the agenda — a keynote conversation and reception with state legislators from across Texas on the rural agenda heading into the 86th legislative session.

MONDAY, NOV. 12 Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George W. Bush Presidential Library 1002 George Bush Dr. West, College Station, TX 77843

5:30-7:15 PM | The 86th Legislative Agenda State Rep. , R-Lufkin; state Rep. , R-San Angelo; state Rep. Mary González, D-Clint; state Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass; state Rep. , R-Amarillo Moderated by Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of The Texas Tribune; reception to follow

TUESDAY, NOV. 13 Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center 177 Joe Routt Blvd, College Station, TX 77840

7:30 AM | Breakfast and Expo Open

8:20-8:40 AM | Setting the Table: What is Rural Texas? Tom Luce, founder and chairman of Texas 2036

8:45-9:05 AM | Public Opinion and Rural Texas Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project

9:15-10:05 AM | Educating the Next Generation Kim Alexander, superintendent of the Roscoe Independent School District; Jimmie Don Aycock, former state Representative and former chair of the House Public Education Committee; Sylvia Leal, senior program officer for Education and Economic Development at the T.L.L Temple Foundation; Cheryl Sparks, president of Howard College Moderated by Alana Rocha, multimedia reporter for The Texas Tribune

10:15-11:05 AM | Investing in Infrastructure Will Conley, chairman of CAMPO and a former Hays County commissioner; state Rep. Ben Leman, R-Anderson, and former Grimes County judge; state Rep. , R-Victoria and chair of the House Transportation Committee; Bill Stockton, executive associate agency director for the Interdisciplinary Research Group at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute Moderated by Brandon Formby, urban affairs reporter for The Texas Tribune

11:15AM-12:05 PM | Preserving Natural Resources Blair Fitzsimons, CEO of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust; Marilu Hastings, vice president for sustainability at the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation; state Rep. , R-College Station; Roel Lopez, director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Moderated by Andrew Sansom, executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University

12:05 PM | Lunch

Page 1 of 2 12:45-1:35 PM | The View from Rural Communities Donnie Allred, Oldham County judge; Shelley Brophy, mayor of Nacogdoches; Alma Moreno, San Patricio County commissioner; Ramiro Rodriguez, mayor of Palmhurst Moderated by Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of The Texas Tribune

1:45-2:15 PM | The State of the Rural Economy Glenn Hegar, Texas comptroller of public accounts

2:25-3:15 PM | Building an Economic Future Becky Garlick, executive dean of Blinn College; Arleene Loyd, executive director of the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation; Joe Outlaw, professor and extension economist in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University; Ines Polonius, CEO of Communities Unlimited Moderated by Alana Rocha, multimedia reporter for The Texas Tribune

3:25-4:15 PM | Ensuring Rural Health John Henderson, president and CEO of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals; Susan Rushing, CEO of Burke; state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown; state Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville Moderated by Marissa Evans, health and human services policy reporter for The Texas Tribune

EVENT DETAILS This event will be held on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station and is free and open to the public. On Monday, Nov. 12, the event will be held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. The opening reception will include complimentary light bites and a cash bar. On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the events will be held at the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. A light breakfast and lunch are included.

WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU We know that many Texans interested in these issues may not be able to travel to College Station to attend the event in person nor be able to view the livestream or video. That’s why we’ve created the “Future of Rural Texas Community Conversation Toolkit” — a step-by-step guide to hosting a watch party in your community and sparking meaningful conversations on how the issues discussed at the event impact you.

Download our community conversation toolkit at trib.it/rural-texas-conversation

PRESENTED BY

Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation

MAJOR SPONSORS Texas Agriculture Council

HOSTED BY MEDIA SUPPORT BY

SUPPORTED BY AgWorkers Insurance, Association of Rural Communities in Texas, Ducks Unlimited, Farm Credit Bank of Texas, Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas Forestry Association, Texas Grain and Feed Association, Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Texas Poultry Federation, Texas Seed Trade and the Western Equipment Dealers Association.

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