The West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute (WTACI) is an unincorporated organization of dealers, industry representatives, agricultural producers, scientists, educators, and agribusiness members who support education and research programs promoting safe and effective use of agricultural chemicals and protection and preservation of the area's natural resources.
The West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute (WTACI) is an unincorporated organization of dealers, industry representatives, agricultural producers, scientists, educators, and agribusiness members who support education and research programs promoting safe and effective use of agricultural chemicals and protection and preservation of the area's natural resources.
The institute was founded in 1953. Since that time it has organized and sponsored an annual West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Conference, as well as education seminars on timely issues, and programs and publications to communicate the latest technology to the agricultural industry of West Texas. It also awards scholarships to students majoring in agriculture programs at six area universities and to students who were reared in West Texas going to universities outside the area.
Under the bylaws, "Membership is open to any individual, business, or professional group interested in improving educational programs related to agricultural chemicals and their safe use."
Annual membership is accomplished by being a paid registrant at the annual conference. Collected fees are used to pay expenses of the conference, promote programs of interest to the West Texas agricultural community and provide scholarship funds for agricultural students at designated universities.
September 12, 2024
Lubbock Scottish Rite
1101 70th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79412
The 2024 WTACI Conference registration is now open!
Links are provided below to view presentations from the West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute annual conference.
For additional resources and information related to cotton, crop and pest management please check out the following resources:
Cotton Cultivated from Cotton Incorporated
Grow: Plant Health Exchange from The American Phytopathological Society
Grow: Plant Health Exchange Focus on Cotton page.
A portion of the registration fees collected at the annual conference, as well as scholarship fund donations from industry and private individuals, is awarded to students majoring in agricultural fields. Since 1983, one to three scholarships per year have been awarded to students attending any of six universities in the West Texas area (Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, Sul Ross State, Texas Tech, and West Texas A&M).
Scholarships are awarded through a scholarship committee appointed by the WTACI Board of Directors. Scholarship recipients are selected from applications on the basis of GPA, career goals, degree being sought, and financial need.
In addition, the Institute makes periodic contributions to the WTACI Endowment Fund established at Texas Tech University. Although scholarships are not being funded at this time, the endowment is designed to eventually be self-sustaining through interest income. The Institute has also made contributions to the A. W. Young Scholarship Fund at Texas Tech University.
Click below for 2023 scholarship information, requirements and application.
The deadline for application is May 16, 2023. Recipients will be notified by July 1, 2023.
Click to view previous undergraduate scholarship award winners.
Undergraduate RecipientsClick to view previous graduate scholarship award winners.
Graduate RecipientsEach year since 1968, the WTACI has presented awards to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the agriculture industry of West Texas. The Commercial Award is presented to a person directly employed in the industry. Included are dealer representatives, distributors, consultants and applicators. The Institutional Award is given to a person representing a state, federal or private agency or an institution of higher education. The Environmental, Innovator and Special awards are given at random.
Click below to view past award winners.
Award WinnersThe 12-member Board of Directors is elected by the general membership. One-third of the directors are elected each year, and each director serves a three-year term. Two-thirds of the board members must be employed by commercial enterprises and one-third by government supported institutions. The institutional members shall include one each from Texas Tech University, the Texas AgriLife Research, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and one other governmental agency. The officers-president, vice president, treasurer and secretary - are elected from the Board of Directors.
President - Joni Blount
Vice President - Scott Asher
Secretary - Kelby Riley
Treasurer - Brendan Kelly
Will Keeling
Ryan Webb
Katie Lewis
Michelle Harre
Brent Besler
Garret Wesley
Shawn Wade
Phillip Drake
Julie Dingus
Peter Dotray
Kerry Siders
Wayne Keeling
Kara Bishop
West Texas Agricutural Chemicals Institute
1102 E. Drew St.
Lubbock, TX 79403-6603
(806) 746-6101