Albert Thompson, pictured above, will receive the 2010 Pete Smith Agriculture Pioneer Award Monday, March 29, at the annual Nacogdoches County Agriculture Awareness and Appreciation Banquet. The banquet will be held at Banita Creek Hall, 401 West Main St., Nacogdoches, Tex. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The Pete Smith Agriculture Pioneer Award is sponsored by Heritage Land Bank.
“Albert Thompson is a perfect candidate for this award because of his dedication to agriculture through many different venues in Nacogdoches, throughout Texas and nationally,” Jeannette Milstead, County Extension Agent-4-H and Youth Development, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, said.
Thompson grew up in Trinity County, attending Pennington High School, lettering in basketball, track, and baseball, participating in FFA and voted “The Most Likely to Succeed” by his classmates. His interest in agriculture is deep rooted from working on the family farm. He purchased his first cow at 14 years of age and has owned cattle ever since - even in college.
While attending Stephen F. Austin State University he lived in the university’s Dairy Barn for two years feeding the beef cattle as well as the chickens. During this time the Ag Pond on the SFA campus was truly a pond where cattle got a fresh drink of water. There were no walkways, ducks or piers surrounding the pond. He also worked in the fertilizer plant for Texas Farm Products.
Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts- Mid-Management and Superintendent Certification from SFA. While earning his credentials he accumulated 205 college hours of credit and was on the Dean’s honor roll several times.
Thompson taught vocational agriculture for 21 years and was a school principal and superintendent for 13 years in East Texas school districts. He has been a member of the Lions and Rotary clubs, Director of Region V Texas High School Rodeo Association, and he served six years as county ambassador for the Go Texas Committee.
He currently serves on the Texas Beef Council, the U.S. Meats Exports Federation Board and on the National Beef Cattlemen Association (NCBA) Board and has been a Master Mason since 1961.
“In the fall of 1959 Thompson discussed including steers as a part of the county fair with several Nacogdoches agriculture teachers,” Milstead said. “In 1960 a sophomore student, Neil Lowery, exhibited the first and only calf. From this beginning evolved the Jr. Steer Show which celebrates its 50th year in 2010 and annually awards students $100,000 through the premium sale. Albert continues to serve on the Piney Woods Fair and Jr. Steer Show Boards.”
Thompson served six years as the District 9 Director of the Texas Farm Bureau, State Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas Farm Bureau, past president and vice president of the Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau, assisted in implementation of the Annual “Ag in The Classroom” event for 4th grade students in Nacogdoches and has been a member of Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau since 1957.
Albert has been the chairman of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Beef and Forage Committee for several years and serves on the Leadership Advisory Board and the Animal Issues Committee for Nacogdoches.
“Albert is a true supporter of Extension attending Agriculture and 4-H events locally,” Milstead said.
Other involvement includes taking a role with Build East Texas events and programs and assisting Todd Staples in his Senate bid for the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, David Dewhurst for Lieutenant Governor and other rural politicians.
Thompson and wife Deanna are successful beef cattle producers and timber growers in Nacogdoches County living on their farm in Martinsville, Tex. for 23 years. Their children include Tim Thompson, Ted Thompson, Tanya Brymer, Jeff Burnett and Marty Burnett. The Thompsons have 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
For his efforts, Thompson has received numerous awards including the Honorary Lone Star Degree, the Honorary American FFA Degree, and the V.A. Bill Clements Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership in Agriculture, 2010 Man of the Year for District 5 TCAAA, District 9 Pioneer Award from Texas Farm Bureau in 2009.
