Eddie Lee Fortenberry is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher in Floyd County, Texas. His roots run deep in the industry, carrying forward a family legacy that began in the 1890s when his great- great-grandfather settled in the area with 40 cows and a handful of horses.
But Eddie is not just a producer. He also serves as a director on the Plains Land Bank board, advocating for the needs of farmers and ranchers like himself.
His journey reflects the very mission of Plains Land Bank—to provide financing solutions that help producers grow, sustain, and strengthen their operations for generations to come.
A Lifelong Passion for Agriculture
Eddie’s earliest memories are tied to the land—riding the combine with his grandfather during wheat harvest and hauling grain to the elevator with his father in an old Western Star semi. “I’ve never known life outside of the ag industry,” Eddie says.
His immediate family has been in every sector of the cattle business, from conception to retail meat. “I have continued that legacy through my operation with cow/calf, stockers for grazing, and a recent addition of our own grow yard thanks to Plains Land Bank.”
His heritage and community connections developed his passion for ag, which led him to build his operation from the ground up. While in college, Eddie started small. He purchased roping calves from his school’s rodeo team at the end of each semester, raising them on wheat and grass pastures until they were ready for market. Then, he used those proceeds to buy replacement heifers. When a retiring neighbor offered him the opportunity to lease land, he seized the moment—growing his herd, expanding his acreage, and steadily growing his operation in the industry.
As a young farmer in 2012, he saw an opportunity to purchase a section of ranch land his family had been leasing for years. Thankfully, he knew exactly where to turn. “Our family was already customers of PLB, and I knew that was the best place to get a young guy started.”
Stockman to Steward
Eddie’s commitment to agriculture goes beyond his operation. He has served as the local Lockney High School FFA president and even competed in high school, collegiate, amateur, and pro rodeos.
More recently, he was nominated and elected to the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors. “Being nominated along with the opportunity to represent and serve our area was and is such a huge honor,” shares Eddie. “It is a great opportunity to learn about the finance side of agriculture and to learn from some of the best minds in the finance industry.”
He also saw his nomination as an opportunity to give back—to help shape the future of ag financing and advocate for the hardworking people who depend on it.
As a board member, Eddie helps uphold Plains Land Bank’s mission to improve the means and well-being of farmers, ranchers, and rural life in the Texas Panhandle. He and his fellow board members bring their agricultural experience to ensure that every decision is made with producers in mind.
Values Driving Our Future
Eddie believes that Plains Land Bank’s commitment to its core values is what sets them apart. Staying true to those values of integrity, dedication, family legacy, purpose, and resilience will drive its continued success.
“We are one of the last true land banks,” he says. “I know if we can stick to our core values and focus on our agriculture customers through the Farm Credit system as we have always done, I know we will see growth by leaps and bounds for our ag community.”
Now more than ever, Eddie believes farmers and ranchers must have a trusted ag lending partner in such a volatile industry. It’s what will bring them into the future and help them continue to supply food and fiber to the world.
For farmers and ranchers like Eddie looking to take their next step, Plains Land Bank is ready to stand by their side through every season.
