Consultant honored for 'Excellence in Ag'

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

December 18, 2003 -- Each year the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) recognizes one outstanding young member of the agricultural community by presenting them with the Excellence in Agriculture Award. This year's recipient is 31-year-old Chad Hobbs of Round Rock.

Hobbs, a farm business consultant for Southwest Farm Business Services, was presented with the award at the TFB's 70th annual state convention in Waco, Dec. 6-7.

As one of three finalists Hobbs was pleasantly surprised when it was announced he had won this year's top honor.

"To us this is a huge honor and an award that tells us that we have done a good job," said Hobbs, with his wife Kristi.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes a young farmer or rancher who does not earn the bulk of their income from an operation, but are actively contributing to agriculture and are involved with and in good standing with the TFB.

Applicants must be 35 years of age or younger to be eligible for the award and go through a lengthy process that includes a written application and a series of interviews.

Prizes include the use of a 2004 Dodge Quad Cab pickup and $500 cash donated by Dodge, a plaque, and an all-expense paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention in January. This year's convention will be held in Honolulu, and as the Texas winner of the Excellence in Agriculture award, Hobbs will compete for the national Excellence in Agriculture award while in Hawaii. He is currently in the process of applying for the award.

"Aside from the amazing prizes, this honor rewards us for the all our hard work. ... I encourage everyone connected to agriculture to get involved with the Texas Farm Bureau and their local Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) organization. Every family or young couple needs to be involved in something and we have chosen to put our efforts into the TFB and YF&R."

Hobbs, originally from Temple, attended Texas A&M where he earned his all-but-dissertation (ABD) PhD in Agriculture Economics. He and his wife Kristi both come from agricultural backgrounds and currently assist with her family's rice farm.

"I grew up on a farm, but we did not make our money from farming," explained Hobbs. "I always dreamed of being involved in production agriculture which my job now allows me to do."

As a farm business consultant, Hobbs travels across Texas working with farmers and ranchers making business, financial and marketing decisions for their operations.

"What I do as a marketing consultant is nothing more than freeing up a farmer or rancher so they don't to have to sit there an worry about whether the market is up or down or if it is time to sell," explained Hobbs. "I do that for them."