After 40 years leading United Ag, Jimmy Roppolo is set to retire June 30 in El Campo. Raised on a cotton farm near Waco, Roppolo was no stranger to hard work or tough times. A lecture at Texas A&M sparked his passion for farm co-ops, driving him to help producers gain economic strength through shared resources. He arrived in El Campo in 1976, took over as general manager in ’85, and spent decades building trust and stability in local agriculture. His legacy leaves a lasting impact on area farmers and the co-op model he championed.