Charles Ring
Sinton, Texas
Charles Ring farms 2,000 acres of corn, 3,100 acres of cotton and 1,900 acres of sorghum, in the Gulf Coast town of St. Paul, Texas, near Corpus Christi. In addition to growing his commodity crops, Ring raises a small herd of cattle.
Ring received his bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University, and began farming upon his graduation in 1977. Being the third generation in a farming family, Ring decided that farming was an opportunity to work in several job descriptions.
“Farming gives you the opportunity to dabble in a number of careers,” Ring says, “I am an accountant, entomologist, financial planner, public relations coordinator, engineer, welder, chemist, tractor driver and manual laborer.”
He adds, “I never profess to be the best at any of these, but don’t tell any farmer he can’t do something.”
Ring is an active member in TCPB and CPAT. He serves as chairman for the TCPB Research committee and is a member of the TCPB Education and Finance committees. Along with these state responsibilities, Ring serves on the U.S. Grains Council Asia Action Team and is a member of the Texas State Chemist Advisory Board.
With all of his involvement in corn and grain organizations, Ring still finds time to be active elsewhere. He is president of San Patricio County Farm Bureau, director of Smith Gin Co-op, director of South Texas Cotton and Grain Association, vice- chairman of the San Patricio County Groundwater Association, member representing Agriculture on the Coastal Bend Regional Water Planning Group, member of TAMU College of Agriculture Development Council and member of Sinton Rotary Club.
Serving on TCPB and CPAT, allows Ring to see how other corn growers’ regions differ. Being on the Board creates a diversity of understanding from each region.
“The important things are different,” Ring says. “We learn from each other and hope together we can work to make raising corn profitable for all of us.”
While the Board is working to make corn profitable, Ring also says that solving as many problems as possible for corn producers is important.
“I want our actions to mean something for everyone that puts a seed in the ground and consumes the end product at the dinner table,” Ring says.
There are many issues in agriculture that producers have to face, but Ring has two main issues that he believes take precedence. Firstly, he thinks that pushing research to mitigate losses that producers suffer from aflatoxin in corn. Secondly, he feels as though current producers have a task ahead of them to infuse all future producers with the leadership to guide agriculture down the road of plenty.
Ring is involved with many organizations and groups, but he spends most of his free time with his family and catching up on his reading. He has been married to his wife Peggy for 28 years and they have two children. Herbert, 22, is a senior at TAMU Kingsville majoring in ag business and Rebekah, 16, is a sophomore in high school who is active with cheerleading and showing animals.
