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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 18, 2005

Will and Becky Coward

Will, Becky, Kyle and Jenna Coward

By Tom Nicolette
Director of Media Services

Knowledge is nothing unless you share it. And that's exactly what Will and Becky Coward are doing in Coryell County. Will is vice president and loan officer at The National Banks of Central Texas in Gatesville. Becky serves as a guidance counselor at Gatesville Intermediate School.

Will, 30, established a goal during his high school days to make a career at the local Gatesville banking institution. He received his agribusiness management and economics degrees from Tarleton State University. He has been working at the Central Texas bank for six years.

"About 50 percent of my loan portfolio is directly related to agriculture. I've got about $6 million that are production and operating-type loans secured by cattle and equipment. Then I have another $6 million secured by farm and ranch land, real estate loans," the bank vice president said.

At Gatesville Intermediate School, Becky, 29, utilizes her counselor's certification, ag services and development degree, and ag education masters degree from Tarleton State University to focus on guiding students down the correct path in life.

"My responsibilities are to make sure that the children are okay with themselves so they can learn. That entails keeping track of special programs and making sure that the students who are at risk get the help that they need, be it guidance or academic help," Becky said.

Away from the school setting, Becky applies her previous teaching career of agricultural studies and growing up on a farm in Milam County to her co-club manager's role with a Range and Pasture Plant Identification Team of students. "It teaches the names of the different plants, how to identify them and their values for grazing animals. It's something I enjoy doing and I like passing it along to other kids," she said.

Will grew up on the family ranch in Coryell County that dates back four generations.

Today, he runs a commercial Brangus cow/calf operation while harvesting coastal and oat hay. Along with Becky and their two children, Kyle, three, and Jenna, two, the future looks bright.

"I think there's a lot of opportunity for younger folks in agriculture just because the average age of a farmer and rancher is 60 years old, and just not very many young people want to come back (to the farm). For those who are interested in coming back to the farm I think there's a lot of potential," Will said.