TCPB elects new directors, appoints committees
Texas Corn Producers Board (TCPB) held its first meeting last month following its biennial elections last month.
At the meeting, the five board members re-elected to their positions were sworn onto the board by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The re-elected directors were:
- Voting Region One
- Mark Howard of Hartley County
- Austin Sage of Dallam County
- Voting Region Three
- Todd Kimbrell of Hill County
- Aaron Martinka of Milam County
- Voting Region Four
- Milton Charles Ring, Jr. of San Patricio County
Re-elected directors (l-r) Austin Sage, Charles RIng, Aaron Martinka, Todd Kimbrell and Mark Howard were sworn onto the board
- Milton Charles Ring, Jr. of San Patricio County
The board of directors also elected its officer leadership. The following board members were elected to serve on the board’s executive committee:
- Aaron Martinka of Milam County, Chairman
- Todd Kimbrell of Hill County, Vice Chairman
- Kyla Hamilton of Lubbock County, Secretary
- Mark Howard of Hartley County, Treasurer
Notably, Robert Gordon completed his tenure as chairman after leading the board for six years.

Robert Gordon (left) passes the TCPB chairman’s gavel to Aaron Martinka (right)
“Robert exemplified servant leadership on the corn checkoff board throughout his three terms as chairman,” TCPB Executive Director David Gibson said. “He is handing over the reins to new leadership with the checkoff set up to continue serving corn farmers across the state well.”
The board also appointed its committees to serve for the next two years. Committee leaders are:
- Advertising, Promotion & Education
- Chair: Kyla Hamilton of Lubbock County
- Vice Chair: Wesley Spurlock of Sherman County
- Finance
- Chair: Mark Howard of Hartley County
- Vice Chair: Wesley Spurlock of Sherman County
- Issues
- Chair: Hagen Hunt of Hale County
- Vice Chair: Mark Howard of Hartley County
- Research
- Chair: Braden Gruhlkey of Randall County
- Vice Chair: Daniel Berglund of Wharton County
These leaders will all direct TCPB’s efforts for the next two years. TCPB is a statewide board dedicated to furthering research, education, promotion and marketing opportunities for the Texas corn industry. A voluntary checkoff program provides our organization with the funds required to enhance and grow the Texas corn industry.