Board of Directors

Plains Land Bank’s Board of Directors are elected to represent our cooperative and they serve the organization with your voice in mind. As a supervisory board, members attend board meetings and make decisions that influence the way we run our association. Elections are held annually, though, several of our directors have served on the board for many years. Meet our leadership:

Randy Darnell
Vice Chairman
Randy Darnell was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2002. He’s a farmer and stockman in Deaf Smith and Randall Counties as well as a member and past president of the Canyon Independent School District board. Mr. Darnell graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Ag Economics.
Daniel L. Krienke
Director
Daniel Krienke has served as an elected member of the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors since 1999. Residing in Perryton, Texas, Mr. Krienke is an expert in dryland and irrigated farming. He is also a director of the Texas Grain Sorghum Association and National Sorghum Check-off. Mr. Krienke additionally works on water conservation efforts as a member of the Region A State Water Planning Committee.
Walter "Rusty" Henson
Director, Audit Committee Chairman
Walter “Rusty” Henson joined the board in 2000 and serves as chairman on the Audit Committee. A resident of Quitaque, Texas, he’s farmed in Briscoe County for 40 years and is also a director of the Caprock Soil & Water Conservation District. Mr. Henson earned a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from West Texas State University.
Steve Rader
Director
Steve Rader has been a member of the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors since 2002. He manages a cow-calf operation in the Texas counties of Lipscomb, Canadian and Hemphill. Mr. Rader also has an operation in Ellis County, Oklahoma, and is a partner in RNR Seeding – a company that specializes in reclaiming oil fields and pipelines. He has a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
Lea Stukey, CPA
Outside Director, Audit Committee Vice Chairwoman
Lea Stukey was appointed to the board as an outside director in 2016 and is vice chair of the Audit Committee. She’s an owner of Lewis, Kaufman, Reid, Stukey, Gattis & Co., a CPA firm in Plainview, Texas and specializes in tax planning, preparation, payroll services and business consultation. Ms. Stukey holds a Business Administration degree from West Texas A&M University.
Mallory Vestal, Ph.D.
Outside Director, Compensation Committee Vice Chairwoman
Mallory Vestal, Ph.D., was appointed to the board as an outside director in 2016 and serves as vice chair of the Compensation Committee. She’s an associate professor of Agricultural Business and Economics at West Texas A&M University and is also an educational consultant to the National Reining Horse Association. Dr. Vestal earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness/Equine Industry and Business from West Texas A&M University.
Jerrell K. Key
Director, Compensation Committee Chairman
Jerrell Key was elected to the Plains Land Bank board of directors in 2019 and serves as chairman of the Compensation Committee. He’s the general manager of Adobe Walls Gin, LP, and is a cattlemen in Hansford County with experience as a producer in cotton, corn, and wheat. Mr. Key is a member of the Hansford County FSA Committee and holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech University.
Ryan T. Berry
Director
Ryan T. Berry was elected to the Plains Land Bank board of directors in June of 2021. He resides in Panhandle, Texas and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Texas Tech University where he graduated Cum Laude in 2012. He started his operation in 2016, primarily producing cotton, sorghum, and corn, after years of working on local farms. Mr. Berry’s operation has since grown to include his brother.