The Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Team (CREET) is composed of facilities, scientists and administartors of:
- West Texas A&M University's Agricultural Division, Canyon
- Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES), Amarillo
- Texas Agricultural Extension Service (TAEX), Amarillo
- Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (TVDML), Amarillo
- U.S. Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Bushland
- Panhandle County Extension Agents
The Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Team is a consortium of The Texas A&M University System's Agriculture Program and close partnering agencies. It operates with a one-program concept which emphasizes the breadth, depth and range of scientific and educational expertise of the combined faculties and scientists of these five agencies.
The CREET Administrative Council is composed of six leaders from the agencies. The Council meets quarterly and develops joint policies; plans programs for field days and conferences; addresses relationships with other entities; develops strategic opportunities and legislative initiative plans; interpretation events; and other related matters that build scientific and educational capacity for the Texas Panhandle.
The CREET members have a shared commitment to upgrading scientific excellence and multidisciplinary teamwork among scientists and engineers in five different agencies/universities and at multiple locations. CREET maintains a critical mass of outstanding faculty expertise to address issues and problems at many levels with holistic systems approaches.
CREET exemplifies the cooperation expected by our clientele, and is an excellent example of interagency coordination and cooperation.
The spirit of cooperation embodied by CREET has led to many interdisciplinary and interagency research projects and educational programs that were made possible by the critical mass of scientists involved. An example is the faculty-organized and self-directed Beef Cattle Research Team which: coordinates major research programs on feedlot and stocker cattle nutrition and health and on water and air quality protection; helps inform groups such as the Texas Cattle Feeders Association about current programs and research/educational needs data and information; and plans several conferences for clientele. Faculty from Texas Tech University and New Mexico State University have joined in the CREET Beef Cattle Research Team.
