By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Riley Gonzalez may not have grown up in traditional production agriculture, but from an early age, he was immersed in the rural way of life. Raised in Floresville, he spent his childhood tending a garden and caring for horses alongside his family.

In high school, he became involved in FFA, and that’s when his passion for agriculture took off.

“My involvement in agriculture really didn’t peak until high school when I joined FFA and started doing competition teams,” he said. “After high school, I decided that I wasn’t really done with ag. I wanted to get more involved.”

Following graduation, he worked at Tractor Supply, where he interacted with farmers and ranchers in his community, gaining insights into the challenges they faced.

“Working there was eye opening. I got to meet with a lot of the producers from around my area and discuss what was going on,” Gonzalez said. “I saw how things like a drought or freeze impacted the cattle producers, hay producers, all the folks in my area.”

After two years on the job, he decided to further his education at Tarleton State University, where he is pursuing his undergraduate degree in agricultural services and development.

He’s active in organizations on campus, including Tarleton Collegiate Farm Bureau where he serves as treasurer. He’s participated in several Collegiate Farm Bureau events like the Collegiate Farm Bureau Officer Retreat and the first Texas Farm Bureau Collegiate Quiz Bowl.

He has also been a member of the Agricultural Mechanics Club and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career that helps farmers and ranchers when disaster hits.

He encourages other college students and young adults to engage with agriculture and recognize its importance.

“Everybody likes to eat, and if we don’t have young people coming in to continue the legacy of current producers, it’s going to be harder and harder to get good produce that you can trust,” he said.