Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) are back again to help run social media accounts for The American Rodeo.
The American is one of the biggest rodeo events held every year at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The event consists of the top athletes in the world competing alongside underdogs who advanced from the semi-finals and competed for the biggest paycheck of their lives. The American is the richest winnings in rodeo, with the winner receiving $1 million.
“ACT is still a small and growing organization, and so every time we get big opportunities like these, we take them,” ACT President Kinley Mueller said.
Before any individual is considered for the semi-finals and regular competitions, there is a set of requirements and submission forms that they must complete.
Semi-finals were held Feb. 27 through March 1 at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. During these days, fans were also able to enjoy musical entertainment, western fashion shows, vendors and many other attractions.
This was not the first time ACT ran the social media accounts for The American. In the past, they were given social media control before contestants started competing, giving them the opportunity to capture the pre-show nerves.
Several ACT members attended this year and had plenty of hands-on experience in conducting on-field interviews for social media, helping with the pre-game show and working in the broadcasting booth, according to ACT Treasurer Yuzmara Garcia.
Opportunities like this allow students to get a real idea of their progress as well as see ways that they can improve and be better for the next year’s competitions.
Other organizations and colleges from around the United States were also in attendance to help run social media accounts.
“We here at SHSU were thrilled to be one of the schools chosen,” Mueller said.
ACT prides itself on giving members real life experiences in a variety of areas such as its most popular outreach— interviewing at rodeos.
Within the agricultural industry, The American provides an opportunity to gain experience for college students all around the world.