Board of Directors

Daniel L. Krienke, Chairman

Daniel Krienke, age 68, is a farmer from Perryton, Ochiltree County, Texas, experienced in both dryland and irrigated farming. He is presently a director of the Texas Grain Sorghum Association and National Sorghum Check-off, as well as a member of the Region A State Water Planning Committee. Mr. Krienke was elected to the board in 1999 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

Lyle Miller, Vice Chairman

Lyle Miller, age 64, is an operator in Floydada, Floyd County, Texas. Mr. Miller is one of three partners in Four M Brothers partnership which owns farm land and equipment. He is also one of 5 partners in Miller Farms Texas. He currently serves as president of the Floydada School Board of Trustees. Mr. Miller was elected to the board in 2015 and currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the board.

Don R. James, Director

Don James, age 67, farms in Plainview, Hale County, Texas. He attended Wayland Baptist University and Texas Tech University, and is a past board member of United Farm Industries and Llano Estacado Regional Planning Group. Mr. James was elected to the board in 2004.

Steve Rader, Director

Steve Rader, age 65, manages a family cow calf operation in Ellis County, Oklahoma, as well as Lipscomb County and Canadian, Hemphill County, Texas. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in general agriculture. He is also a partner in RNR Seeding which specializes in reclaiming oil field pipelines and locations. Mr. Rader was elected to the board in 2002.

Dennis Babcock, Director

Dennis Babcock, age 67, is a farmer and rancher in Groom, Carson County, Texas, as well as Gray and Hutchinson counties with his 2 sons, experienced in both dryland and irrigated farming. Mr. Babcock has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Economics from West Texas State University. He currently serves as a director of Groom Irrigation Gas, Inc. and is co-owner of Hutchco Farms, Inc. Mr. Babcock was elected to the board in 1998.

Walter "Rusty" Henson, Director

Walter “Rusty” Henson, age 62, is a farmer/rancher from Quitaque, Briscoe County, Texas, for the last 40 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness from West Texas State University and currently serves as a director of the Caprock Soil & Water Conservation District. Mr. Henson serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and was first appointed to the board to fill an unexpired board term in October 2000 and was then elected to the board in 2001.

Perry Kirkland, Director

Perry Kirkland, age 69, is a farmer, stockman, and agribusiness man in Vega, Oldham County, Texas. He owns and is general manager of Kirkland Feedyard, Inc., a 20,000-head custom feeding operation. Mr. Kirkland serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and was elected to the board in 2012.

Randy Darnell, Director

Randy Darnell, age 58, is a farmer/stockman in northeast Deaf Smith County and northwest Amarillo, Randall County, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Economics. He is a member and past president of the Canyon Independent School District board. Mr. Darnell was elected to the board in 2002.

Lea Stukey, CPA, Director-Elected-Director

Lea Stukey, CPA, age 50, is a CPA who is a shareholder/owner of Lewis, Kaufman, Reid, Stukey, Gattis & Co., PC, which is a CPA firm located in Plainview, Hale County, Texas. Her practice consists primarily of tax planning and preparation, payroll services, and business consultation services. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from West Texas A&M University. Mrs. Stukey was appointed to the board as an outside director in December 2016 and currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Mallory Vestal, Ph.D., Director-Elected-Director

Mallory K. Vestal, Ph.D., age 35, resides in Amarillo, Randall County, Texas. Dr. Vestal is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Business and Economics, Department of Agricultural Sciences at West Texas A&M University since January of 2018, and was an Assistant Professor beginning in 2012. She is also an educational consultant for the National Reining Horse Association. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness/Equine Industry and Business from West Texas A&M University. Dr. Vestal was appointed to the board as an outside director in December 2016.

Jerrell K. Key, Director

Jerrell K. Key, age 55, resides in Gruver, Hansford County, Texas, and is the General Manager of Adobe Walls Gin, LP, as well as a farmer/rancher with commodities in cotton, corn and wheat. Mr. Key holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech University and serves on the Hansford County FSA Committee. Mr. Key serves as Vice Chairman of the Compensation Committee and was elected to the board in 2019.