Join Texas rural leaders for a symposium on what it takes for rural Texas to thrive

We’ll gather policymakers, community leaders and local innovators to tackle the hardest questions, from economic growth and essential services to keeping the next generation home.

by Texas Tribune Events Staff July 9, 2026, 10:44 a.m. Central

Rural communities are rich with natural resources and human know-how. However, many small Texas towns grapple with affording basic services and struggle to keep young people. Agricultural economics continue to strain. The future increasingly feels digital and urban. This doesn’t have to be the case.

Join The Texas Tribune along with rural leaders and innovators from across the state and nation on Nov. 18 and 19 at Abilene Christian University to discuss how rural communities can thrive economically, deliver essential services, and build a future worth staying for.

RSVP here

The agenda for the symposium is as follows:

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18

2 to 5 p.m. — Check-in

3:45 to 4:45 p.m. — Lightning talks

5 to 6 p.m. — Welcome remarks

5:15 to 6:15 p.m. — Rural Texas and 90th Legislature
A discussion about the 90th Texas Legislature with rural lawmakers.

6:15 p.m. — BBQ Dinner

THURSDAY, NOV. 19

8 a.m. — Doors open and breakfast

8:30 a.m. — Opening remarks

9 to 10 a.m. — Making Agriculture Work
A discussion with agricultural leaders about the pressures of the industry, including tariffs, workforce, water, screwworm climate and regulations.

10 to 11 a.m. — Technology: The Good, the Bad and the AI
A discussion on how technology is changing the agriculture industry — and disrupting rural life with the encroachment of data centers.

11 to 12 p.m. — Families First
An exploration of how rural communities are working to support families and what will keep young farmers in their hometowns.

12 to 1 p.m. — Lunch

1 to 1:30 p.m. — Keynote Conversation

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — From Small Towns to Planned Communities
Texas is home to many of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. We discuss how rural cities on the outskirts of Dallas and Houston are being transformed, and how their leaders are trying to keep up.

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Water and Energy
Everything is bigger in Texas. But is there enough water and power to sustain the Texas Miracle? We discuss the latest forecasts on the state’s most precious resources and what, if anything, is being done to conserve them.