Annual Meeting

Buddy Allen has experience in agriculture from several vantage points. Allen has been involved in legislative and regulatory matters through his service to the staff of United States Senator Thad Cochran and his partnership in The Macon Edwards Company, a Washington based government affairs firm. He has engaged in agricultural financial services through his participation in the creation and opening of Covenant Bank. Allen is an active stakeholder in a vertically integrated agribusiness encompassing a production farming operation, ground and areal application services, seed and crop protection retail, ginning, an extensive grain storage and shipping operation, and agricultural real estate holdings in Mississippi. Additionally, Allen is a partner in Miss Cal Orchards, a California based almond farm.

Allen serves in numerous leadership positions throughout agriculture and conservation spaces. In 2015, he was named a “Champion of Change for Sustainable Agriculture” by President Obama. Allen currently serves on the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

In January of 2019, Allen was named President and CEO of The American Cotton Shippers Association, where he leads their policy development and advocacy on both domestic and international matters.

Allen is a native of Belzoni, Mississippi, an Ole Miss graduate, and is married to the former Allison Allen of Tunica, MS. Together, they have three daughters.

Brent Besler has been employed by Syngenta Crop Protection for over 18 years as an Agronomy Service Representative.  His territory covers West Texas, Western Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Prior to that Besler worked 12 years for the Texas A&M Experiment Station primarily conducting field trials evaluating experimental and commercially registered compounds for weed control in row crops.

He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Kevin Brinkley is the president and CEO of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. PCCA is a grower-owned marketing cooperative supplying high-quality, sustainable cotton from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to textile mills worldwide.

Originally from Burnet, Texas, Brinkley graduated from Texas Tech University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural & Applied Economics. He served as an economist for the National Cotton Council until 2000, when he joined The Seam, an online trading and agri-tech company, eventually becoming chairman and CEO. He became CEO of PCCA in 2015.

Since 1989, Brinkley has used his knowledge and experience to promote U.S. cotton and ensure the success of American cotton farmers in global markets. He is Vice Chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He is an advisor on trade policy to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Mike is a Relationship Manager in the Regional Agribusiness Banking Group at CoBank, based out of Texas, and has over 25 years of banking experience.  He joined CoBank in 2016 in the Rural Infrastructure Banking Group where he spent over 7 years financing electric, communications, and water infrastructure.  He joined the Regional Agribusiness Banking Group at CoBank in October 2023.  Mike is strong believer in CoBank’s mission to provide dependable credit to rural America, and has a strong interest in how energy, fiscal, and monetary policy influence value chains and investment throughout the broader economy.  Prior to CoBank, Mike was involved in Agricultural lending in South Texas for over 17 years.  He holds a B.S. from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Michigan State University.  Mike resides in Meyersville, Texas.

Clint Cryer serves as Senior Vice President of Lending and Relationship Management for Capital Farm Credit.

Prior to joining Capital Farm Credit, Cryer served as the director of ag lending at Plains Capital Bank in Lubbock, Texas, supervising production ag and commercial ag customer portfolios.  Before his career at Plains Capital Bank, he served as Texas’ regional agribusiness manager for CoBank in Lubbock.

Cryer is a graduate of Texas Tech University and possesses a strong financial and agricultural network. He maintains memberships in numerous agricultural organizations and remains involved at Texas Tech University and within the Lubbock community.

Robert Lacy, Jr. – President & CEO, PYCO Industries, Inc.

Robert grew up in a farming and ranching family in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.  He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1982 with a BBA degree.  In 1984-1990, Robert worked at Paymaster Oil Mill in Lubbock, Texas holding positions of scale clerk, transportation, and marketing.  From 1990 until the present time Robert has been with PYCO Industries, Inc. (formerly Plains Cooperative Oil Mill).  His job duties have been marketing, VP Marketing, Senior Vice-President, and currently he is the President and CEO.  Robert has a combined 39 years of experience in the cottonseed processing business and has been active in many industry and community organizations over the years.  He has been married for 41 years to his wife Karyn and has two children and two grandchildren.

Dr. Ken Legé is a native of Winnie, TX, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.  His professional career began as Extension Cotton Specialist for Clemson University, and continued by serving in various technical, R&D and commercial roles for cottonseed companies for over three decades, working in cooperation with every land grant university across the cotton belt.    He was awarded the Agronomy Industry Award from the Agronomy Society of America in 2021, as well as numerous company recognitions and awards.  He now serves as Assistant Professor and Extension Cotton Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife in Lubbock.  His career goal has been to convert data into actionable information, and communicate that information in effective ways to a broad range of audiences.  Ken is passionate about cotton, and supporting the industry in every way.  He and his wife Cassie have lived in Lubbock since 2013, and they have two adult sons.  Ken enjoys singing and playing gospel music at church, and classic country music at various local venues.

Western Region Agronomic Manager,

BASF – FiberMax and Stoneville Cotton

Kenny grew up on a farm near Plainview, Texas.  He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Entomology from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Texas Tech University.  Kenny currently manages the Western Agronomic Services team for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and the cotton growing regions of Kansas.  He also supports seed sales and field production teams in Arizona and California.  Kenny went to work with the Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company in June 2000 and has been with legacy companies leading up to joining BASF in August 2018.

Cameron Oliver- Born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. Oliver attended Texas Tech University where he earned a bachelor’s degree  in Agriculture and Applied Economics as well as a master’s degree in Plant and Soil Science with a focus on Agronomy. He began working for PhytoGen/Corteva in 2016 as part of the Lubbock Cotton Breeding team where he managed both the conventional and traited yield trials spanning Kansas to the Concho Valley. In 2021, he left R&D to join the commercial team selling PhytoGen cottonseed South and West of Lubbock out to the El Paso and Mesilla valleys. In September of 2023, he moved to his current role as a PhytoGen Field Agronomist supporting cotton in New Mexico, West Texas, the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, and all of Kansas. He’s married to the daughter of a cotton producer and father to three wonderful boys 8, 6, and 4, residing outside of Ropesville, TX.

Matt is currently the Area Business Manager for Bayer Crop Science where he is responsible for managing the DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine seed and traits sales team and is responsible for the P&L for the West Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico regions. Matt began his 24-year career in 1999 with Deltapine. During his 24-year career with Deltapine/Monsanto/Bayer, Matt has worked in the Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Quality Organizations and currently works in the Commercial Organization.

Matt, his wife Marlana of 20 years and their 4 daughters live in New Home, Texas.

State Senator Charles Perry is a life-long West Texan and a practicing CPA from Lubbock. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 2014 after serving two terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

Sen. Perry currently chairs the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs and is Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. He also sits on the Senate Committees for Finance, Redistricting, State Affairs, Transportation, and Sunset Commission, and he co-chairs the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) Advisory Committee and the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund (TIRF). Governor Abbott appointed him to the Southwestern States Water Commission and the Western States Water Council.

Outside his work in the Legislature, Sen. Perry has served his community as past president of the Lubbock Boys and Girls Club, American Business Clubs, and Community Partners, and previously served on the board of the National Council on Family Violence and the Women’s Protective Services of Lubbock. He also serves as a deacon at his church, Southcrest Baptist in Lubbock.

Sen. Perry grew up in the district he currently represents, graduating from Sweetwater High School. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and management information systems from Texas Tech University.

Sen. Perry has been married to his wife, Jacklyn, for over 40 years and together they have a daughter, Jordan, and a son, Matthew, and five grandchildren. The entire family are graduates of Texas Tech University.

Kayla began her career with AgTexas Farm Credit in 2003 as an intern while attending Texas Tech University. During her internship, she focused efforts on the development of a risk rating model for the association.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, Kayla obtained full time employment as a Credit Officer in the Lubbock branch office. In 2014, she was promoted to Regional Vice President of Credit Services in the South Plains territory. In addition to credit analysis and management functions, she worked to develop a structured intern program and led efforts to modernize training materials into e-learning courses. In 2016, Kayla was offered an opportunity to completely change roles in the association to become the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In 2021, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and in January 2023, Kayla was named Chief Executive Officer.

Kayla holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. She remains active in the Texas Tech community by speaking in classrooms and serving on the College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources Advisory Board and MILE (Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement Program) Board.

Greg grew up on a six-hundred-acre cattle and cotton farm south of Ralls, Texas. Since January 1994 he has been a shareholder with D. Williams & Co., Inc., overseeing the firm’s assurance, litigation support and valuation services. He has extensive experience with agri-business entities including all facets of the cotton and cottonseed processing industries, grain merchandising, farm supply, cattle feedyards, fertilizer production, and wholesale-retail operations. His experience also includes banks and financial institutions and not-for-profit and governmental entities. His litigation support and valuation experience include services to debtors-in-possession and creditor committees in bankruptcy proceedings, and other civil and criminal cases in state court venues. He joined D. Williams & Co., Inc. in 1989 after working with Doshier, Pickens & Francis, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas and in the Lubbock office of KPMG Peat Marwick (where he met his mentor Donald D. Williams, CPA).

Greg received his BBA in finance and accounting from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in 1983 and his MBA from West Texas State University in 1988.

Greg holds the CVA designation (Certified Valuation Analyst) and is a member of NACVA. He is also a member of the Lubbock Cotton Exchange, the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT), the AICPA, TSCPA and the Texas Chapter of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC). Greg served as the National President of NSAC in 2008-2009. He also served NSAC as the chairman of the Accounting and Auditing Committee (2002 – 2013), in that capacity he consulted with the staff and members of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) regarding the impact of proposed accounting pronouncements on the cooperative sector. In 2013, NSAC recognized Greg for his efforts on behalf of NSAC and cooperatives with the Silver Bowl award. Since January of 2022 he has edited the ACCTFAX section of NSAC’s The Cooperative Accountant, a quarterly publication that addresses important developments in accounting, auditing, taxation, finance, and law; and their impact on cooperatives.

From November 2013 through December 2018, Greg served the City of Lubbock as Chairman of the Electric Utility Board (EUB); he continued to serve on the EUB as board secretary and a board member until February 2022. The EUB oversees the activities of Lubbock Power and Light. From November 2014 through May of 2022, he also served the City of Lubbock as chairman of its Audit and Investment Committee. An Eagle Scout and active Boy Scout volunteer, he currently serves the South Plains Council BSA as Treasurer and was Council President in 2013 and 2014.

Greg has three children, Nicole 32 (a graduate of UC Berkeley and Princeton and a research scientist with Bristol-Meyers Squibb), Jackson 21 (a junior at the University of Oregon studying architecture), and Mason 18 (a senior at Lubbock High School). His wife, Jill, a native of Lamesa, Texas holds BBA and MBA degrees from Texas Tech, is also a CPA, and works as a corporate controller in private industry.

Carl Tepper represents House District 84, which is entirely within Lubbock County, Texas. He serves on the House Committees on Appropriations and Urban Affairs. Carl is a father, Air Force veteran, and commercial real estate professional. With over twenty years of proven performance, he has managed, sold, and leased millions of square feet of property and is an active real estate investor. His daughter is a high school senior and active FFA member, and his beloved rescue dog is named Margaret Thatcher. Carl is also an avid horseman and endurance rider. He races horses long-distance and has successfully raced 50 miles in a day.

Carl joined the United States Air Force immediately after graduating high school. Sergeant Tepper was a military flyer (C-130 Flight Engineer) with the 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron, the “Red Devils,” and is a recipient of the prestigious Air Medal. During his military career, he lived in Texas (Reese AFB), Arkansas, England, and the United Arab Emirates. Carl flew missions worldwide, culminating in his service in the Persian Gulf War.

After the war, Carl attended Texas Tech University and graduated Class of 1995. After graduating, he lived in Austin for twelve years practicing commercial real estate at the highest levels. Carl returned to Lubbock in 2009 to help manage downtown redevelopment initiatives.

Carl is a board member of the Lubbock Corps of The Salvation Army and a Life Member of VFW Post 2466. He has been a regular guest host on various radio talk shows.

Eric is the CEO of Farmers Cooperative Compress in Lubbock, Texas. A Lubbock native, Eric attended Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor’s in Agricultural Economics and his Master of Agriculture. He has worked at Farmers Cooperative Compress since 2005 and took on the role as CEO in July of 2020. Eric and his wife Christine have three children, Sarah, Ben, and Hugh, and two international students from China that have become a part of the family, Chen and Eric. Christine is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Dioceses of Lubbock and Amarillo.  Sarah earned her food science degree from Texas Tech University and now works as a business development manager for HEB’s seafood category.  Their second, Ben, is an Officer in the US Air Force and is currently in pilot training.  Their youngest, Hugh, attends Texas A&M University and is studying Agricultural Economics.