The MILE Program has opened the application process for its fifth cohort, which will begin during the spring 2026 semester and conclude at the end of the spring 2027 semester.
The MILE Program is a competitive three-semester leadership certificate program in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources that seeks to develop participants’ personal and professional skills through high-impact learning experiences in agriculture and policy. During the three-semester program, MILE participants enroll in three academic courses focused on the personal, service and community aspects of leadership.
Lindsay Kennedy, the Patti Peck Wood Endowed MILE Program Director, said MILE uses travel experiences to expose students to all facets of agriculture.
“Providing students with real-world exposure to the issues affecting agricultural and our rural communities is a key component of the MILE Program,” she said. “The program utilizes three regional agriculture tours in the Texas Panhandle, Rio Grande Valley and South Plains to see these issues firsthand, as well as trips to Washington, D.C. and Austin to learn about the policy affecting the industry.”
Kennedy said MILE students also participate in professional development seminars that teach dining and travel etiquette, media training, and career readiness to produce well-rounded leaders who can communicate effectively.
Eligible applicants must be on-campus, full-time undergraduate students in the Davis College who have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additionally, students must be full-time students at Texas Tech through the end of the fifth MILE cohort, which ends in May 2027. Each MILE cohort accepts a maximum of 14 students into the program, with an effort to have representation from each of Davis College’s six undergraduate academic departments. The MILE Program is funded through industry and private support and is offered at no cost to student members.
The deadline to apply to MILE is Oct. 24, 2025. The application process includes an online survey and recommendation forms. Following the deadline, applications will be evaluated for quality and completeness. Only completed and correctly submitted applications received by the deadline will be considered. Incomplete applications (i.e., missing recommendation forms, resumes, etc.) will not be considered. Students can apply online at https://ttumileprogram.com/.
Selected applicants will be invited to participate in face-to-face interviews on campus with the MILE Advisory Committee in November 2025. Applicants will be notified via email to sign up for a 20-minute interview. The final selection of the 14-member cohort will be made following the interview process.
The program now has 56 alumni following the graduation of the program’s fourth cohort in May 2025. Since its inception in 2018, MILE has helped place graduates in a wide range of career fields, including state and federal policy, farm credit services, livestock pharmaceutical sales, agribusinesses, and agricultural commodity organizations. Several of the program’s graduates have also attended law school, and there are currently three MILE alumni attending the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.
Maggie Fouts, a MILE I (2018-2019) graduate, is an attorney with the Fouts Law Firm and said her MILE experience was one of the most meaningful things she did as a student at Texas Tech.
“MILE exposes students to the world around them, and its many challenges, and then encourages its students to analyze these issues and consider how they might contribute to a solution,” Fouts said. “That mindset prepared me and enabled me to serve the communities around me and find creative solutions to complex problems.”
John Owen, a member of MILE III (2022-2023), now serves as coordinator of global programs for the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council in Washington, D.C. Owen said his MILE experience helped open doors for his career.
“The MILE Program prepared me for my career by exposing me to agricultural trade during our visit to D.C., which included a visit to the Council, ” Owen said. “MILE sharpened my interpersonal skills, knowledge of the agricultural industry, and curiosity, which are three traits I rely on daily.”
Kyndal Edwards, a recent MILE IV (2024-2025) graduate and current animal science major, said the MILE Program helped her gain new perspectives, lifelong connections, and valuable exposure to agricultural issues.
“The MILE Program has provided me with professional capital to help me confidently lead and reach my fullest potential as a leader and agriculturalist,” Edwards said. “Learning from leaders across the country and different areas of agriculture has been a unique and impactful experience. Through MILE, I gained confidence, a broader perspective of the world around me, and stronger communication skills. “
For more information about the Texas Tech MILE Program, visit https://ttumileprogram.com/ or contact Dr. Lindsay Kennedy, the Patti Peck Wood Endowed MILE Program Director, at lindsay.kennedy@ttu.edu.
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