Meet Our Directors
Left to right, back row: Kevin Buxkemper, Royce Lesley, Kinley Sorrells
Left to right, front row: Danny Klinefelter, Gary Matthews, James Ray Schronk, Ronald Luker
  Gary Matthews
Gary Matthews has been an AgTexas member since 1980 when he first became associated with Lubbock PCA. He has served on the association board of directors since 1993, and in 1998 he was elected Chairman. He and his wife Marsha live and farm in Gaines County where they grow wheat, alfalfa, pecans, peanuts and cotton.
Gary brings superb leadership to AgTexas with a keen eye out for the best interests of both association members and employees. He also places high importance on actions and plans that provide the greatest possible return to stockholders. Chairman Matthews pushes AgTexas to remain progressive and well positioned for growth and stability as we move forward in an ever changing market and business climate.
“AgTexas is blessed to have a board chairman that expects a high level of accountability from his colleagues on the board and in management.” –Mitchell Harris, CEO
  Kevin Buxkemper
Kevin Buxkemper and his wife Lynn live in Slaton, Texas, the hub of their Lubbock and Lynn County farming operation. This operation includes cotton, wheat, grain sorghum and hay grazer in addition to a cow calf operation. He has been an AgTexas member since 1989 and was elected to the association board of directors in 2006. Kevin also serves on the board of directors for Lubbock County Farm Bureau, Slaton Coop Gin and NTS Communications and is an active member of his community.
Until 5 years ago, when he turned his attention wholly to farming, Kevin practiced public accounting. His experience as a CPA lends a unique perspective to the AgTexas board as he helps guide decisions based on sound business practices and association members’ best interests.
 Danny Klinefelter
Danny presently serves as a professor and Extension Economist at Texas A&M University, specializing in agricultural finance and management development. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois in 1979. Prior to his graduate work, he spent five years in commercial lending, credit analysis and farm management with the Marine Bank of Springfield, Illinois. Danny is director for The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) and co-director of the Texas A&M Family and Owner-Managed Business. In addition, he serves as the Executive Secretary for the Association of Agricultural Production Executives (AAPEX).
After receiving his doctorate, Danny joined Texas A&M University. In addition to teaching and research, he served as coordinator of the Masters of Agricultural Banking Program. In 1982 Danny left A&M to join the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Jackson. There he headed the department of marketing, training, and employee development for the district. Shortly thereafter he undertook the role of Coordinator of Field Operations for the Farm Credit Capital Corporation in the 5th District. He has three times been selected as the outstanding teacher in the Department of Agricultural Economics.
Danny grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Illinois and is President of the family farm corporation. This collection of farm ownership, commercial lending and academic experience provides a valuable perspective to the AgTexas board, where he has served since 2001. He also serves as a director of Texas Enterprise Bank in Bryan, Texas.
Danny presently serves as Chairman of the Association Audit Committee.
 Royce Lesley
Royce has been a member of the Association since 1972 and was elected to the AgTexas board in 2004. He graduated from Tarleton State University in 1969. Royce and his wife, Sharon, have lived in the Comanche area their entire lives. They recently vacated the “old home place” that provided shelter for both them and prior family generations for over 100 years. They just moved into a beautiful new home overlooking a broad, cattle covered coastal pasture.
 As with most farms in the Comanche area, the Lesley’s operation has transitioned in recent years away from predominantly peanuts to livestock. They currently run approximately 300 mother cows and have additional interests in hay and pecans.
Royce recognizes that transition and change is not limited to Comanche county farming. He states that one of the biggest challenges facing AgTexas and the board is to be supportive of the area’s ag producers and meet the needs of a growing recreational, rural investor and rural homeowner market.
 Ronald Luker
Ron Luker is from Brownfield and was elected to the AgTexas board in 1998. Ron is a 1974 graduate of Texas A&M, where he majored in Ag Engineering. He and his wife Margaret have 1 daughter and twin grandsons who are approaching their second birthday. Ron stated that he and Margaret are fortunate to live close to their daughter and son-in-law, and are having a lot of fun with the little ones.
 Ron began farming in 1975. His primary crop is cotton, but he is attempting to diversify by including guar, peanuts, and black eyed peas in his crop mix. About 2/3’s of Ron’s cropland is irrigated. Ron notes that his biggest challenge is to remain profitable. His immediate goal is to become a better marketer, while keeping in mind the possibility of exploring methods to add value to his products versus simply selling direct from the field.
Ron is very involved in his church, serving as a deacon and teaching the young married class. When asked about personal goals Ron responded that within his duties as an AgTexas director he strives to make decisions that would treat all members as equally as possible. On a more personal level, his life goal is to live so that others see Christ through him.
Mr. Luker presently serves on the Association Audit Committee.
  James Ray Schronk
James Ray Schronk is a native of Hill County, where he and his wife, Judy, have farmed for 32 years. He graduated from Texas A & M University in 1970 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics. They farm with their oldest son and his wife near Hillsboro, Texas. Primary crops are dryland corn, cotton, milo and wheat.
James Ray has served on various committees and boards in the community ranging from the School Board to the Hill County Crops Committee. They are active members of the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro.
He was originally elected to the Stephenville Production Credit Association board of directors in 1993 and was elected to the Board of AgTexas concurrent to the merger with Lubbock Production Credit. James Ray enjoys the challenge of staying abreast of the technological changes in production agriculture and helping guide and direct AgTexas FCS during this phase of rapid growth.
Mr. Schronk currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and on the Association Audit Committee.
 Kinley Sorrells
Kinley Sorrells is a 1973 graduate of Mason High School. After graduating from Tarleton State, Kinley moved to the Comanche area, where he managed a commercial pecan operation for 20 years. When the prior owners decided to disband their partnership, Kinley realized his long term goal of becoming an orchard owner. Along with his son Gayland, the operation has gradually expanded to include 735 acres of pecans, 100 acres of peaches and vegetables and 100 head of mother cows.
 The Sorrells’ operation is fast paced and constant. The year begins with winter trimming and pruning. Grafting and vegetable planting occupies the spring, with vegetable harvest, irrigation and tree care rounding out the summer. Finally, the big push of pecan harvest fills the fall. Then the cycle starts all over again.
Kinley was just elected to the AgTexas board (5/2006) and is looking forward to getting to know his fellow directors and the management team while stepping into his new responsibilities.
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