A delegation of Polish government officials and academics visited Tarleton’s Southwest Regional Dairy Center April 22 as part of a U.S. tour to study aspects of the agriculture and petroleum industries.

 

The primary purpose of the visit is for the officials to examine shale gas production in the United States. Large shale gas fields have been discovered in Poland but production is lagging. The delegation also visited shale gas sites in Pennsylvania.

 

Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio, Dr. Don Cawthon, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and local officials welcomed the delegation to the dairy for a tour and Texas barbecue.

 

Dr. Jim Mazurkiewicz of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in College Station helped coordinate a portion of the delegation’s Texas visit. He said Tarleton’s state-of-the-art dairy center was of interest to the delegation since Poland has a huge dairy industry.

 

“They also wanted to see how the petroleum industry is developing in tandem with agricultural interests, such as dairies,” Mazurkiewicz said.

 

Mazurkiewicz, who has established contacts with Polish officials over the years, also said the visit may facilitate student and faculty exchange programs.