At Plains Land Bank, our Board of Directors plays a crucial role in guiding the future of our cooperative. That’s why we’re excited to introduce three reelected board members whose experience and dedication to agriculture will continue to strengthen our mission of serving Texas farmers and ranchers.
Jerrell Key didn’t grow up on a farm, but he found his way to agriculture early on. Raised in Lubbock, Jerrell remembers driving to a feedlot in Sudan, Texas, with his father and grandfather to see the cattle they were feeding. From that point on, he knew horses and cattle would always be part of his life.
After graduating from Texas Tech University, Jerrell began his career as a loan officer trainee with the Federal Land Bank in Brady. “It was a great place to learn the financial side of farming and ranching when you could compare a borrower’s financial statement and tax returns to his operation,” he says.
Jerrell went on to work with cotton gins across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico before becoming general manager of Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman. No matter where he was working, he always leased a small patch of grass to keep a few cows and horses. Over time, he and his father were able to purchase one of those leases with the help of Plains Land Bank.
Jerrell is honored to serve on the board of Plains Land Bank and sees it as an opportunity to give back to something that has given him so many blessings. He acknowledges that the farming side of agriculture is in a tough spot right now with commodity prices the way they are, but he’s confident that Plains Land Bank is here to help producers weather the storm.
Dustin Babcock has only ever known the farm and agricultural lifestyle. He was raised on a farm and developed a passion for working the land from a young age. That same farm has expanded in both acreage and crop diversity, with the addition of cotton to their rotation being one of the biggest changes.
Even as the operation grows and adapts, Dustin says one thing remains constant: his “deep passion for the process of caring for the soil we have been blessed with.”
Dustin understands firsthand the challenges local farmers face, including the difficulties of growing crops in a semi-arid climate, rising input costs, and increasing land prices. “Since growth on the farm or ranch is not always at the time of our choosing,” he says, “it’s nice to know Plains Land Bank is ready to step in and help bring those opportunities in alignment with our current capabilities for growth.”
As he reflects on his journey in agriculture, Dustin credits Plains Land Bank for playing a pivotal role in his life and career. Plains Land Bank helped him and his wife buy their first home and expand the farm that now supports their family. As a board member, he hopes to successfully lead the association into the future so his children and grandchildren can leave their mark on the family legacy.
For Michael Harrell, farming has always been his calling. As a child, he was immersed in agriculture, surrounded by grandparents and parents who farmed. His passion started by helping his dad work the land, hoeing weeds, painting risers, and running the ditch filler.
In his 40 years of farming, Michael has seen how much agriculture has evolved. Advances in irrigation and technology have transformed the landscape, while herbicides have changed the way his family farms. Yet even as practices change, some values have remained the same for Michael. “Dad taught that it’s up to us to take care of and manage property in a way that leaves it better than we found it, be it land, man, or machine,” he says.
Faith and family are also at the center of Michael’s approach to agriculture. Before each planting season, he gathers as many children and grandchildren as possible to visit each farm, pray over it, and give thanks for another year to do what they love.
Like many farmers, Michael has faced his share of challenges, including tough markets, weather, and insects that are always out of a farmer’s control. He has experienced three financial downturns that tested his operation. In the most recent one, Plains Land Bank was there to help with an equity loan and restructuring his land notes, which provided long-term financial security.
Today, Michael continues to adapt. He has started a cow-calf herd that helps keep the doors open, and he has learned to enjoy working with cattle, something he didn’t expect. It’s a joy for Michael to serve on the Plains Land Bank Board of Directors, and while he knows there is much to learn, he is excited to grow and contribute to the future of agriculture.
As we welcome these board members to another term, we’re reminded that leadership rooted in agriculture is what keeps Plains Land Bank strong. Their expertise and shared commitment will help guide us forward, so we can continue to be the partner you count on for generations to come.
