Return to TFB Main Page
Return to Current Edition
Texas Agriculture Archive

November 15, 2002

Hobbs' advice helps
shape farmers' decisions

Chad Hobbs of Round Rock is not yet in a position to farm full time, but he believes he gets to do the next best thing. Hobbs enjoys his involvement in production agriculture by helping farmers make decisions on a daily basis.

"Being involved in production agriculture
as a farm business consultant and farmer allows me to use the skills I have learned and developed throughout my life, to make a difference in the lives of the clients I work with that live my dream of producing the food and fiber full time for the American consumer," says Hobbs. "Aside from my professional involvement in agriculture, my wife, Kristi, and I assist with her family's rice farm and have recently purchased our own farm that we enjoy working on."

Hobbs has a B.S. in Agribusiness and is working on a Ph.D. He also boasts a Masters Degree in Ag Economics. He provides information, support, technical and financial analysis and consulting services to family farms. Hobbs enjoys the relationships formed through his consultations, and believes producers become better managers as a result.

"I would like to also be known as a spokesman of agriculture and the family farm. Working through my commodity and farm organizations allows me the opportunity to represent production agriculture to the public," he says.

Hobbs is concerned about food safety, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, and food security if the country continues its course of importing food and fiber. He is also concerned about the next generation of farmers, where they will come from and what their management toolbox will look like.

Hobbs has received a number of ag and Farm Bureau-related honors and awards—TFB State Discussion Meet winner and National Discussion Meet semifinalist, 2001, McDonald's Excellence in Teaching Award and the county Farm Bureau scholarship—and is active in a variety of programs, including YF&R, TFB speaker team, and leadership training.

For the past 10 years, Hobbs' life has focused on carving out a niche in agriculture.

"The next 10 will be giving back to the organizations I am involved in and the community I live in," says Hobbs. "I plan on taking a more active role in the politics of my county Farm Bureau as I feel even though I am not the largest farmer in the county, that I have a set of skills that will benefit the organization and agriculture."