{"id":147945,"date":"2026-02-02T20:39:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/147945\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T20:39:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:39:14","slug":"texas-tech-alumna-makes-history-as-executive-vp-of-fort-worth-stock-show-rodeo-february-2026-texas-tech-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/147945\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Tech Alumna Makes History as Executive VP of Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo | February 2026 | Texas Tech Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lauren Lovelace Murray is the first woman to serve in the role and, as Texas Tech
\n Day approaches, she reflects on how her alma mater prepared her to become a leader
\n in agriculture.<\/p>\n

\t\tCREATORS<\/p>\n

\"Portrait<\/p>\n

Lauren Lovelace Murray has loved horses ever since she was a child.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She longed to learn how to ride but didn\u2019t grow up in a rural setting \u2013 rather, Grapevine.
\n Her father, a coach, had to find a way to connect his daughter with her passion.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad had a student that was teaching at a riding school in Southlake, and so I
\n ended up taking riding lessons from there,\u201d Murray recalled. \u201cThat turned into me
\n volunteering out there, getting a job out there, and then eventually getting my own
\n horse to compete in barrel racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray\u2019s father, Leon Lovelace, and both of her uncles did pass along a family tradition
\n that would further her interest in agriculture. All three played football at Texas Tech University<\/a> in the 1960s and she grew up picturing herself on campus one day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When it came time to enroll, Murray found a natural fit in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources<\/a>. She quickly recognized the opportunities the program offered and the direction it
\n could provide for her future.<\/p>\n

\"LaurenLauren Lovelace Murray <\/p>\n

Over the next five years, Murray developed the skills and perspective that would prepare
\n her to lead one of the most recognized livestock shows in the country. When she was
\n named executive vice president of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) in April
\n 2025, she became the first woman to serve in the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such an honor,\u201d Murray said. \u201cHaving a new role gives you new challenges and
\n opportunities to grow. I\u2019m excited to continue learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray leverages the gifts of curiosity and discernment in this position, traits that
\n were revealed during her college education.<\/p>\n

Building Confidence at Davis College\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was no doubt that Murray fit in with her peers and professors from day one on
\n campus. She joined an ag sorority, Sigma Alpha, where she was able to make friends
\n with similar interests and eventually earn the role of vice president.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI really loved my time at Tech,\u201d she shared. \u201cIt was the traditions, the relationships
\n and a lot of great professors that really led me in a direction I might not have been
\n familiar with because I wasn\u2019t from a rural background.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Murray began to struggle with more than anything was her major of choice: animal science<\/a>. She initially believed she would like to be a veterinarian, but chemistry turned
\n out not to be her knack.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Lauren<\/p>\n

By her junior year, Murray had to send her horses back home as she juggled classes
\n with her work at the Cotton Economics Research Institute, helping coordinate conventions
\n and newsletters along with organizing speakers and meetings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you just have to pick something to get through all of it for a while,\u201d
\n she said. \u201cSo, I had to let riding go to the back burner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the Texas Tech Equestrian Center<\/a> came about, and Murray was once again drawn to horses \u2013 this time not the science
\n behind them, but the marketing side. Her eyes were open to such opportunities with
\n event planning and management, which she believed aligned more with her strengths.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After Murray graduated with her bachelor\u2019s degree in animal science in 2003, she decided
\n to pursue her master\u2019s in animal science and agricultural communications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She was guided through this path by Cindy Akers<\/a>, the vice provost for administrative affairs who was an assistant professor in agricultural
\n communications at the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLeaders just kind of shine, and she was one of those students,\u201d Akers said. \u201cShe
\n was engaged and wanted to learn as much as she could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akers noted that Murray\u2019s lack of an ag upraising was actually a strength in her case.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents that grew up in an ag background normally aren\u2019t going to ask the questions,\u201d
\n she said. \u201cThey think they know, but they probably need to hear the answer. So, it\u2019s
\n really refreshing to have someone that doesn’t have that background because we get
\n to come at things from the same perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

This would not be the last time Murray bravely stepped into an arena she was unfamiliar
\n with. After she earned her master\u2019s in 2004, she worked in the media center of the
\n FWSSR. In this role she made sure the reporters not only left their property with
\n engaging stories but also knew the correct ag terminology in which Murray had worked
\n so hard to become fluent herself. \u00a0<\/p>\n

This was the start of a more than 20-year career with the organization, moving up
\n the ranks from assistant manager of the Horse Show Department to manager and then
\n director.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"LaurenLauren and Blue<\/p>\n

\u201cTexas Tech really gave me a good background with all the animal science classes about
\n all the different breeds and different livestock,\u201d she said. \u201cThat gave me a good
\n transition into learning more and being able to walk in with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akers had the unique opportunity to work with Murray not just as a student but professionally.
\n She was not surprised to learn the news last year that Murray had earned the historic
\n promotion to executive vice president. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s probably the best part of my job is seeing people shine,\u201d she said. \u201cIt just
\n warms my heart to see her flourish and excel and know that she can conquer anything
\n she sets her mind to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading the Future of the Fort Worth Stock Show\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new role was undoubtedly an honor for Murray, but in the moment, she also felt
\n the pressure that came with the extra responsibility. The FWSSR will turn 129 years
\n old this year, and she wants to ensure her work continues that legacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So far Murray is focused on the overall FWSSR production, meeting with volunteers
\n and assisting with critical construction projects to ensure buildings can meet the
\n year-round needs of all livestock\/equestrian shows and graduations, dog shows, banquets
\n and a variety of other events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Lauren<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we have a bright future,\u201d she said. \u201cWith our renovation projects that we\u2019re
\n doing, I think we can keep building and growing and doing bigger and better things
\n each year. It\u2019s fun to think about what that\u2019s going to look like and how that\u2019s going
\n to develop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray intends to continue the rich traditions of the FWSSR while also not becoming
\n complacent by bringing in new, exciting events that will continue to boost growth
\n in years to come.<\/p>\n

One of those events she helped bring about is the annual Texas Tech Day. Hosted Feb.
\n 3 this year, anyone wearing Texas Tech logoed apparel will receive free grounds admission,
\n and half-priced rodeo tickets will be available for anyone with a valid Texas Tech
\n ID.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coordinating the event with Davis College staff and faculty, then seeing red and black
\n flood the arena, always fills Murray with nostalgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also been fun to see folks that are involved with the stock show be excited
\n about having a Tech Day, and I might not even know they were Texas Tech alumni,\u201d she
\n said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to bring in the Masked Rider and have Raider Red at a few events,
\n so it\u2019s been fun to see everybody gather here in Fort Worth and have that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Masked Rider at Texas Tech Day<\/p>\n

Akers notes that Murray\u2019s influence on Red Raiders extends far beyond one day a year,
\n though.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s somebody that I\u2019ve reached out to and said, \u2018Hey, I have a student interested
\n in this, would you be willing to set up a call?\u2019 And she does that,\u201d Akers said. \u201cShe\u2019s
\n willing to be a mentor or even just provide a little advice to help out anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray knows what it was like being a kid in the middle of the city with a big dream
\n to make a difference through her favorite animal. By ignoring the obstacles in her
\n way, she saddled up and is riding high.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important that if you have a passion for something, that you put yourself
\n in a position where you can get yourself surrounded with the right people,\u201d she said.
\n \u201cBe willing to learn, too. Don\u2019t expect it to just come to you \u2013 try things that may
\n be out of your comfort zone. I think that if you do the work it\u2019ll show up, no matter
\n who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about how to make a difference through the Davis College, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Lauren Lovelace Murray is the first woman to serve in the role and, as Texas Tech Day approaches,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7269,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":{"0":"post-147945","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lubbock","8":"tag-lubbock","9":"tag-lubbock-headlines","10":"tag-lubbock-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147945"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147945\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}