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:
Walter “Rusty” Henson
Chairman
Walter “Rusty” Henson was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2000.
Rusty graduated from West Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness. He is a resident of Quitaque, Texas, and has farmed in Briscoe County for 40 years. Rusty is also a director of the Caprock Soil & Water Conservation District.
Jerrell K. Key
Vice Chairman
Jerrell Key was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2019.
Jerrell graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. He is the general manager of Adobe Walls Gin, LP. and is a cattleman in Hansford County with experience as a producer in cotton, corn, and wheat. Jerrell is a member of the Hansford County FSA Committee.
Ryan T. Berry
Director, Audit Committee Vice-Chairman
Ryan Berry was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2021.
Ryan graduated from Texas Tech University, Cum Laude in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics. He resides in Panhandle, Texas and started his operation in 2018 with his brother, Zach, after years of working on local farms. Ryan and his wife Lauren have two kids, Reagan and Elliott.
Michael S. Harrell
Director
Michael Harrell was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2022.
Michael graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Agriculture and Ag Education. He resides in the Hale Center Halfway Community, lives in the house his grandparents built, and farms the same land. Michael and his wife Cristie have two adult children, a son and a daughter.
Dustin Babcock
Director, Compensation Committee Chairman
Dustin Babcock was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2022 and currently serves as the Compensation Committee Chairman.
Dustin graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science. He resides in Groom, Texas, with his wife LeAnn and three children: two sons and a daughter.
Eddie Lee Fortenberry
Director
Eddie Lee Fortenberry was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2024.
Eric Philipp
Director
Eric Philipp was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2023.
Eric graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in general agriculture. He resides in Ochiltree County, where he runs a ranching operation. Eric also serves on the Ochiltree Soil and Water Conservation Board of Directors.
Lynn Cowden
Director
Lynn Cowden was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2023.
Lynn graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Ag-Economics. He moved to the Texas Panhandle in 1990 and resides just north of Skellytown where he is a self-employed cattleman.
Justin Noggler
Director
Justin Noggler was elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2023.
Justin resides in Oldham County, where he co-owns a farming operation that primarily grows wheat, milo, and corn. He is a Hereford Grain Corporation board member. Justin and his wife Jenna have 4 kids and enjoy farming as family.
Lea Stukey, CPA
Audit Committee Chairwoman
Lea Stukey was appointed to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves as the Audit Committee Chairwoman and the board’s financial expert. Lea graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration. She is a CPA, and owner of Lewis, Kaufman, Reid, Stukey, Gattis, & Co., in Plainview, Texas. Lea specializes in tax planning and preparation, and in business consultation services. Lea and her husband Kenneth have two adult daughters.
Mallory Vestal, Ph.D.
Compensation Committee Vice-Chairwoman
Mallory Vestal, Ph.D., was appointed to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves as the Compensation Committee Vice-Chairwoman. Dr. Vestal graduated from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Agribusiness, followed by her Master of Science and Doctoral degrees in Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University. She is an associate professor of Agricultural Economics at West Texas A&M University and the Plug Piehl Professor of Agriculture. Mallory often returns to Tulia to help her parents with their operation.
