Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Tommy Nagle finishes tagging an angus calf with the help of his children (from left) Tanner, 4, Jenna, 7, Brady, 10, and Mackenzie, 9, at their St. Augustine farm.

PATTON — Those who know Tommy Nagle say he is passionate about agriculture.

Nagle, 44, who owns Nagle Farms with his wife, Tracy, was recently elected to a full term as vice president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He previously was appointed as vice president by the PFB Board to fill a vacancy.

“He has a passion for agriculture and is willing to try new techniques to make things better on the farm. He is humble enough to ask other farmers for advice on what has made them successful and try things that they recommend,” said Joe Diamond, Farm Bureau regional organization director.

“Tommy is very passionate about farming and really cares about the consumer and the students in schools. He is so knowledgeable about farming,” PFB President Chris Hoffman said.

Nagle said it is very humbling to be able to represent and serve as the spokesman for the more than 30,000 members of the bureau.

Nagle, who raises beef cattle and grows crops on his family farm, has been involved with the Farm Bureau for many years.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski /
Tommy Nagle walks among his angus cattle at his St. Augustine farm.

He served as a PFB state director for three years before being elected vice president. He also served on the Cambria County Farm Bureau board from 2011-2019 and served as the president of Cambria County Farm Bureau from 2014-19.

Nagle served as the policy development chair and the Young Farmer and Rancher (now Young Ag Professionals) chair in Cambria County.

In 2013, Nagle and Tracy won PFB’s Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award.

Nagle was exposed to farming at a young age.

“My grandfather Joseph Davis and uncles Danny and Joe Davis farmed,” Nagle said. “My uncle had horses, and I went with him to the county fair to show horses at 4 years old. My whole family was involved on the farm on weekends.”

After graduating from Cambria Heights in 1998, he attended Saint Francis University and earned a degree in accounting in 2002.

He worked at M&T Bank in sales development and then moved on to DelGrosso’s Foods, where he worked in quality control.

But “I wasn’t passionate about it,” he said.

He then went to work for Imler’s Poultry as a poultry buyer, working for Fred Imler II.

Nagle said while going to school, he didn’t realize there were so many opportunities in agriculture.

“I didn’t understand how to become a farmer, so I had to overcome that,” Nagle said.

He finally decided to become a full-time farmer.

“It was really a calling, that it was my true passion, it is more of a lifestyle than a job. You have to love every moment of what you have to do. People don’t farm for financial gain; their true passion is the love of the land and the love of watching their cattle grow, trying to breed better cows,” Nagle said.

Today, Nagle farms more than 1,000 acres and grows corn, soybeans, oats, wheat and hay and has 150 head of Angus cattle.

Nagle credits Imler for steering him to the Farm Bureau.

“Fred said find whatever organization represents your business and what you want to do and get involved in that organization,” Nagle said.

He did his research and joined the Cambria County Farm Bureau.

“They were the most influential farming organization. They helped with legislation; they checked all boxes,” Nagle said.

He talked to local leaders like Tom Smithmyer and Marty Yahner. They explained the focus of the Farm Bureau, and it resonated with Nagle, leading to his eventual involvement.

He worked with state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria, to have a law regarding the width of farm equipment allowed on roads increased from 16 to 18 feet.

He also testified before Congress when the issue of the waters of the United States came about. Former U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster and the Farm Bureau selected him.

“I testified on how it would affect agriculture in Pennsylvania. It was humbling to sit in front of Congress, with the people grilling you on how it would affect you.” Nagle said.

Nagle said he continues to attend some of the local farm bureau meetings to “keep his finger on the pulse at the local level.”

Under Nagle’s leadership, the Cambria County Farm Bureau has done programs on grain marketing, commodity pricing, crop insurance and beef production, Diamond said.

“Tommy is one of those individuals who understands the importance of working together to address the issues that impact agriculture. Whether it’s talking to state and local legislators, or guiding his kids through 4-H projects, Tommy lives and breathes agriculture and is an asset to our community,” said Carissa Itle Westrick of Vale Wood Farms, Loretto.

Yahner, current county Farm Bureau president, said Nagle thinks outside the box.

Earlier this year, Nagle approached the Cambria Heights School Board about doing a project with middle school students on how corn is planted and harvested. The aim was to provide students with a greater understanding and hopefully get them to take an interest in agriculture as they get older.

“This gave the students the opportunity to learn more about agriculture, that it was important to understand how the process works and what is involved in it,” Cambria Heights Middle School principal Jarrod Lewis said. “It is really something we are hoping to continue in the future.”

Hoffman said Nagle is a good choice for Farm Bureau vice president to assist him with his vision.

“Our vision is in sync. … My focus as we work on our strategic plan is about protecting farmers and building relationships,” Hoffman said.

Nagle calls his father, Tom, grandfather and his uncles his role models, as well as Imler.

“My dad taught me a lot about adversity and how to work through it. He was a big supporter and motivated me to do things. He passed away in January in a car accident on the Buckhorn. He was able to see me be elected vice president and was proud of it,” Nagle said.

Imler said he and Nagle often discussed business and agriculture for more than 20 years.

“Tommy is a true family farm guy, a devoted family man. He learned about farming and agriculture firsthand,” Imler said. “As vice president, Tommy will be a great mentor to young and old farmers of Pennsylvania.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.