Ryleigh Whitaker ’28

Biography

Ryleigh Whitaker ’28 grew up on her family’s purebred Simmental and Simbrah ranch. She has traveled the U.S. showing heifers and is a proud member of the American Junior Simmental Association and the Texas Junior Simmental Simbrah Association, where she recently served as president of the junior board of directors.

Ryleigh is experienced in agricultural leadership and involvement. She is a 10-year member of Texas 4-H and served as state 4-H Secretary in 2022-2023. She was also the 2023-2024 Area IV Vice President for FFA, a Texas Youth Livestock Ambassador, and a Texas Beef Ambassador. In these roles, she promoted agriculture and beef production while educating the public. Passionate about agricultural advocacy, Ryleigh has earned several public speaking titles, including State 4-H Champion in 2023 and top 10 placements in state FFA competitions.

At Texas A&M, Ryleigh is involved in Saddle and Sirloin and the Texas A&M Farm Bureau Club, and she is a Texas A&M Terry Scholar. She aims to deepen her involvement in agricultural organizations, expand her professional network and continue her commitment to community service. Ryleigh’s goal is to become an agricultural attorney to advocate for the industry that feeds the world. She is grateful for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Excellence Scholarship, which helps her explore more programs within her major without financial stress.