Return
to TFB Main Page
Return
to Current Edition
Texas
Agriculture Archive
May 17, 2002
New board members
hit the ground running
The two newest members of the Texas Farm Bureau Board—District 5 Director Don Smith of Sulphur Springs and District 9 Director Albert Thompson of Martinsville—hit the ground running when they took office earlier this year. Already experienced Farm Bureau leaders, the men were well equipped to tackle new responsibilities and scout out opportunities and the competition in Brazil, among other things.
Don
Smith and his wife, Marilyn are beef, dairy and hay producers in Hopkins County.
Smith has been a member of Farm Bureau since 1953 when his father helped organize
the Cottle County Farm Bureau.
Smith graduated from Texas Tech University in 1967 with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture.
He served on the TFB board of directors from 1985 until 1991. He served two years as TFB vice president and served on the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company board of directors and the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company board of directors. Smith has also served as president and secretary-treasurer of the Hopkins County Farm Bureau. He served on the TFB Resolutions, Environmental Concerns, Blue Ribbon Goals, Rural Health, and Labor Committees.
Smith was named to the Governor's Task Force on Agricultural Development in 1988. He served on the Texas A&M Congressional Internship Selection Committee from 1992 through 1995. He is a past director of the Texas Dairymen and served as president for three years. He is currently serving as a director of the Southwest Dairy Museum.
In 1972, Smith received the Hopkins County Farmer of the Year Award given by the chamber of commerce, and was honored as Outstanding Young Farmer in 1975 by the Sulphur Springs Young Farmers. He has also been selected by the Hopkins County Extension Service as the Outstanding Beef Producer in 1995, Outstanding Dairy Producer in 1998 and Outstanding Forage Producer in 2001.
The Smiths are members of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs where they are active in Sunday School and Don serves as a deacon.
Albert
Thompson and his wife, Deanna, own a cow/calf and timber operation near Nacogdoches.
Thompson graduated from Stephen F. Austin College in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree and received his master of education degree in 1963. He also received his Superintendent Certification from Stephen F. Austin in 1973.
He has been an active leader in the Nacogdoches County FB serving as president and vice president. He has also served on the member benefits and services committee.
The Thompsons attend Martinsville Baptist Church.
