Rick is responsible for cow/calf, stocker and feedlot educational efforts in Southwest Texas.  Education efforts for beef cattle producers involve educational meetings, field trips, short courses and applied, on-ranch research projects, all of which are coordinated through local county extension agents.  His primary beef cattle emphasis is nutrition, selection and management and marketing.

The Producers of tomorrow.  Rick is an advocate of the 4-H program and as a result is involved with Junior livestock shows and judging contest at the county, state and national levels.

Dr. Machen is recognized as a national leader in the meat goat  industry.  His education and applied research efforts involving the Boer goat are considered by many as pioneer projects for the US meat goat industry.  He is recognized as an accomplished show judge and has been an invited speaker at meat goat conferences across the southern United States.

Fine wool sheep production is a significant agricultural enterprise in central, west and southwest Texas.  Rick grew up in the Texas sheep industry and maintains a working relationship with many Texas breeders.  Education program emphasis is confine to nutrition, selection and health programs for sheep producers.  Rick has exceptional expertise in the area of internal parasite management within small ruminant species (sheep and goat).