Jeff Nunley ’88 ’91: Relationships founded in respect  

Nunley represents farmers in 33 Texas counties, mostly in the upper Coastal and Coastal Bend regions, but his impact stretches far beyond county and state lines. By prioritizing relationships founded in respect and strengthened by trust, Nunley serves as a powerful force for agriculture’s mission and protects the generations-strong dreams of Texas farmers.

Drawing inspiration from the family farm

Nunley was raised in Port Lavaca on his family’s row crop farm, an upbringing that influenced his current career tremendously. Since he grew up surrounded by agriculture, he understands the most important aspects of farming: the farmers themselves and what they care most about.

But before he found his calling in cotton and grain, Nunley started as an electrical engineering major at Texas A&M University.

“At some point during my first semester in engineering, I knew it wasn’t for me,” Nunley said with a laugh. “I talked to Ed Rister, a connection I had in the Department of Agricultural Economics, and he encouraged me to study agricultural economics.”

Nunley took Rister’s advice and switched his major and enjoyed it so much he stayed in the department for a master’s degree. This foundation of education in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences set the stage for an advocacy career built on respect and industry knowledge.

Building an impactful career

After graduating with his master’s degree, Nunley spent a five-year stint with Texas Farm Credit, first in Robstown and then Pleasanton, as a credit analyst and then as a loan officer.

“I’m really grateful for my time with Texas Farm Credit,” Nunley said. “I learned a lot about the industry from the financial perspective, and I formed connections with farmers who I still work with today.”

After leaving Texas Farm Credit, Nunley worked at a small farm analysis software company for about a year and a half before receiving information that would ultimately influence his career path.

“My dad called me one day and said there was an opening with South Texas Cotton and Grain Association, and he thought I should apply,” Nunley said. “I got the job, and I’ve been with them since 1998.”

When Nunley started with South Texas Cotton and Grain, a nonprofit agricultural trade organization representing farmers, he didn’t know what to expect as a young, new executive director. He recalls walking into his office on the first day and being greeted by an empty desk – a blank slate that was equally daunting and exciting.

He knew connections mattered most, so he started there.

Nunley attended every meeting he could and became involved with numerous organizations that would benefit his service and advocacy for the cotton and grain industries.

“At one point, I was involved with about 35 different organizations,” Nunley said. “I was at meetings almost every night, trying to meet new people and learn about the work they did. The first two years were a blur, but they paid off and really showed me how all the pieces of the puzzle work together.”

One of those puzzle pieces is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Nunley has spent many years working in tandem with AgriLife Extension and championing its impactful work.

How respect comes to life

Nunley realized something early in his career: he didn’t want to compete with the work of AgriLife Extension and other agricultural organizations, he wanted to complement it.

“AgriLife Extension does wonderful work and does a great job disseminating information,” he said. “My job is to rely on that research and utilize it to influence policies, decisions and regulations.”

Working on behalf of farmers across the state, Nunley travels to Austin and Washington, D.C., as well as towns in south Texas, to advocate for producers’ needs.

These experiences have revealed two common threads in the human experience: trust and respect matter.

“Building relationships is all about trust in this business,” Nunley said. “When I go to Austin or Washington, D.C., to advocate for farmers, they have to trust that I’m an honest broker of information and that I’m representing them well. It’s an honor to do so, and I don’t take it lightly.”

Interactions with policymakers have also taught him valuable lessons. Nunley emphasizes the importance of treating everyone with respect.

“It shouldn’t be an us versus them mentality,” Nunley said. “It should be all of us versus the issue, working together to solve problems and respecting our differences.”

Agriculture is the place to be

One of Nunley’s favorite parts of his job is the people he gets to work alongside – the ones he’s been building relationships with for years.

“Having a strong code of ethics is critical for the success of agriculture,” Nunley said. “I see the Aggie core values every day in the people I work with, and that’s a big part of why we can serve this industry successfully.”

Nunley said the core values are about contributing to the world around us and being someone others can rely on – and he strives to be an example of what it looks like to do exactly that.

Through his work, Nunley protects the work of farmers across the state and strengthens agriculture’s mission worldwide. He serves as a voice for those who don’t have time to advocate for themselves, because they’re at home stewarding the land for consumers who depend on their success.

“The business I’m in is to be with good, honest people who want to make the world a better place,” Nunley said. “I want the farmers I represent to know I’m someone they can trust, and it’s an honor to work alongside them to further the mission of agriculture.”