Faces of Cotton Story Series: Eric Wanjura, Farmers Cooperative Compress President and CEO
Whole-Hearted Package
Eric Wanjura Faces Challenges with Service
By Kara Bishop
There are people out there that do the work — yet few people know they do it. They are quiet, reserved, happy to do things behind the scenes. They don’t need the glory of other men, nor do they handle it well when it’s given to them. Their big hearts are driven to action and good deeds with less talk.
When they do talk, it doesn’t even occur to them to ensure they get credit for their good deeds, often citing someone else’s impact that achieved the goal.
But sometimes, it’s necessary to bring these people out of the woodwork — to give them the spotlight they’re not always comfortable with. When you experience difficult years, especially this one, it’s nice to know that there is hope for humanity in the stories of wholesome people.
Meet Eric Wanjura.
All in the Family
While Wanjura didn’t grow up on a farm, agriculture was a big part of his life growing up. His father, Don Wanjura, served as a research scientist and agricultural engineer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). His research work in irrigation scheduling helped in the development of drip irrigation systems.
His mother, Sue Wanjura, grew up in a family that farmed cotton around Southland, Texas. Wanjura’s brother, John, followed in their father’s footsteps, and is currently an agricultural engineer for the USDA-ARS.
The American Parents
Wanjura and his wife Christine have been married for 27 years and have three children. But in 2015, three children turned into five overnight.
Christine, Eric, Ben, Sarah, Hugh, Chen and Eric Wanjura.
The Wanjura children attended Christ the King Cathedral School, which operates an international exchange student program. From ninth grade to senior year, two such exchange students, Chen and Eric, lived with the Wanjuras and still visit during the summer and holidays.
“They call us mom and dad — their American parents,” Wanjura added. “While it was hard to raise five kids during that time, it was a great reward for us. Having them and their families as a part of ours has been a great blessing.”
Their oldest biological child, Sarah, earned her food science degree from Texas Tech University and now works as product development manager for HEB’s “Meal Simple” programs.
Their second, Ben, is a senior at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A few weeks ago, the academy had job drops, where they figure out what their first assignment will be after graduation.
“Ben has wanted to be a pilot ever since he graduated high school,” Wanjura said. “The pilot slots are very competitive, but he got a pilot assignment. We are very excited for him.”
Their youngest, Hugh, is a freshman at Texas A&M University and part of the Corps of Cadets. Chen is also at Texas A&M, while Eric is attending the University of California, Davis.
“I’ve thought often about the Chinese one-child policy that China had for years and how these parents send their only children to the U.S. for an education,” Wanjura added. “I’m glad we were able to take care of Chen and Eric like they were our own and give their families peace of mind.”
Prepared for the Role
Wanjura wasn’t looking for a job change while working for PCCA in their gin accounting and field services division, but Ron Harkey, then president and CEO of Farmers Cooperative Compress (FCC) had a plan in mind.
“I got a call out of the blue from Ron saying they were looking for a manager for their Plainview location,” Wanjura said.
As manager of the FCC Plainview plant for 10 years, Wanjura gained experience in warehousing, seeing as he wasn’t familiar with it before then moved back to Lubbock as vice president of Administration — maybe that was the plan all along?
Some of the Famers Cooperative Compress executive team from left to right: Steven White, VP of Administration & Operations; Penny Nelson, VP – CFO; Kelle Melton, FCC Shipping Specialist; Eric Wanjura, President & CEO; Bobby Ramirez, Director of Lubbock Operations; Albert Jimenez, Director of Shipping
“Looking back, I can see moments, meetings that I was invited to, and even opportunities that I was given by Ron to prepare me to take over his job,” Wanjura added. “To see how well he prepared me to take his role — he didn’t have to do that. And the Board of Directors didn’t have to appoint me, either. The faith that Farmers Cooperative Compress has put in me over the years is humbling.”
According to Wanjura, one of the greatest things Ron Harkey did was succession planning prior to his retirement. He spent years before the event planning for a smooth transfer of leadership that would benefit FCC. “He truly cared about the organization and wanted to leave it better than he had found it,” Wanjura added. “He was a great mentor and still a wonderful friend.”
Harkey’s love of service lives on in Wanjura’s goals as the new CEO and president of FCC, not just because of Harkey’s mentorship, but also stemming from a life of service.
A Heart for People
Year one: take over Farmers Cooperative Compress (FCC) during global pandemic with short crop year.
Year two: manage record busting 2021 crop amid a worldwide supply chain nightmare.
Year three: enter 2022 — the upcoming new historical benchmark of low yielding cotton due to a ravenous drought.
Eric Wanjura hosts the Texas Tech University MILE program at FCC.The MILE Program provides unique leadership and professional development experiences during a three-semester cohort, which is up of 14 selected students that represent each Davis College undergraduate academic department. Students enroll in a MILE course each semester of the cohort and receive a leadership certificate upon completion of the MILE Program.
Suffice it to say, it’s been an eventful two and a half years for FCC’s new president and CEO Eric Wanjura.
During the Plains Cotton Growers Inc. Board of Directors Meeting in July, Wanjura left early with a heavy heart. Due to the catastrophic 2022 crop year, he was having to let some FCC employees go.
Last year, FCC received 2.6 million bales. Their current estimate for this year is 580,000. When you are only receiving 22% of the bales you received the year before, management becomes difficult.
“Unfortunately, we had to lay off about 55 employees, which we hated to do,” Wanjura said. “It’s like losing a part of your family.”
FCC went through a similar situation in 2011 and Wanjura is hoping the outcome will be the same as it was then.
“These employees knew it was coming,” he added. “They watch the news and knew what was going on. When we had to reduce staff in 2011 when the drought was so bad, we were thankfully able to hire them all back the following year. We fully plan and hope for this to happen for the 2023 crop year.”
The FCC relationship with its staff transfers to producers, as well.
“We’re here to serve our membership,” Wanjura said. “We want to serve our staff and we want to serve our farmers, our customers.
“We truly strive to protect and enhance the value of our members’ cotton, not just because we want their business, but because, like our staff, they, too, are our family.”
Robbie Minnich New NCC Lead in Washington D.C.
Robbie Minnich was announced as the new lead of Washington Operations for the National Cotton Council (NCC) in late September following the retirement of Reece Langley.
Minnich previously held the position of Senior Government Relations Representative for NCC. In that position, he spent 19 years working with members of Congress, Administration officials and opinion leaders on behalf of the U.S. cotton industry. He was instrumental in the planning and implementation of three Farm Bills, assisted with general policy development for the industry and directed activity on behalf of the industry’s PAC — The Committee for the Advancement of Cotton.
“We appreciate the partnership we have with the NCC,” said PCG CEO Kody Bessent. “Robbie is a valuable asset to our advocacy efforts and we’re excited to work with him in his new role.”
Harvest Time! An Update on Ginning in the High Plains
First modules unload at Texas Star Co-op Gin.
Harvest has begun in the High Plains region, primarily in the Panhandle, but even Texas Star Co-op Gin in Slaton, Texas, had some modules on the yard. “We did some custom ginning for Farmers Co-op Gin in Ackerly, Texas, who decided not to open this year,” said Cary Eubanks, gin manager for Texas Star. “We ginned about 43 modules, producing 580 bales and it was phenomenal cotton.”
The cotton came from a drip irrigated field in Ackerly and Eubanks decided to gin immediately to preserve the grade of the cotton. Brian Nichols, manager of Farmers Co-op Gin, reported he had received grades on 190 of those bales and most averaged loan values of about 56 cents.
“It was nice to start out on a positive note,” Eubanks added. “Not that it’s not a tough year, but with all the negativity, it’s nice that our first round was a good one.”
Jerrell Key, manager at Adobe Walls Gin in Spearman, Texas, expects to start ginning next week. “We estimate to gin around 80,000 bales give or take 10,000,” he added.
If you’d like to provide an update on harvest in your area for the newsletter, please email Kara Bishop.