By Brittni Drennan

Grady Martin

Grady Martin, PCCA’s director of sales, was recently recognized for his leadership in the agriculture industry by being selected to the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) program.

TALL is a two-year program in which a diverse group of class members gain a better understanding of Texas agriculture through intensive training, seminars, tours, discussions, and guest speakers involved in all aspects of the industry. Class members will travel all over the state of Texas learning about key political issues, the legislative process, and how society depends on agriculture. Members also will meet more than 2,000 active leaders at the local, state, national and international levels.

“TALL helps broaden our horizons, and it helps us see what really happens in other areas of the agriculture industry,” Martin said. “With a higher understanding of how one aspect of the industry affects another, we can be better ambassadors for agriculture.”

About 25 class members are selected from about 300 applicants for each class based on their application, interview and recommendations. An applicant also can be nominated by a previous class member. John Johnson, PCCA’s communications director, is a 1989 graduate from the first class, and PCCA’s Grower Services Director Charley Triplett graduated from the tenth class.

With about 257 alumni and 10 graduated classes since 1989, the program positively impacts the agriculture industry and society as a whole. Alumni are more involved in their communities and state because they have a more in-depth perspective of critical issues facing our industry today.