Todd Staples

Growing up and working with his father on their cow-calf operation in East Texas, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples knows first hand the dedication, commitment and hard work of a dawn-to-dusk Texas agricultural producer. Staples brings a leadership and vision to the Texas Department of Agriculture gained through a life long involvement with the Texas agricultural industry.

Commissioner Staples was born in Anderson County. He was active in high school FFA and was elected state FFA vice president. He attended Texas A&M University where he graduated with honors in 1984 with a degree in agricultural economics.

He started his own successful real estate and appraisal business, teamed up with his family in a plant and landscape business, partnered with his father to expand their cow-calf operations and joined with a friend to start a registered Brangus operation. Staples served on the Palestine city council and was a three-term state representative. He was elected state senator in 2000.

While serving in the state Senate, Staples was a strong protector of private property owners' rights, natural resources and the agricultural industry. He served on the Senate Natural Resources Committee and was chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee. He worked with farmers, ranchers, the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and many other agricultural organizations to ensure that the property rights of all Texans are protected.

Staples and his wife, Janet, have four children.

TSN Agri-Business
Tony Purcell - Director
Keith Merckx - Assistant Agri-Business Director
Brad Barton - Meteorologist
Todd Staples - Texas Agriculture Commissioner and daily guest on "Shoot the Bull"