Ashby, Trent

Biography

Trent Ashby grew up on a dairy farm and diversified livestock operation in Rusk County, Texas. He learned the value of hard work and a good work ethic as he spent many long days milking cows and working the land with his father. Trent has been involved in agriculture for as long as he can remember. He showed livestock throughout his youth and competed in calf roping on the Texas High School Rodeo Circuit. Trent was also highly active in 4-H and FFA, all the way to the state level, where he was elected President and Vice-President, respectively, of the organizations.

Trent graduated from Texas A&M in 1995 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. During his time at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club, Aggie Men’s Club, and he was elected to the COALS Council, the Student Senate, Class Treasurer, and was a Senior Yell Leader. During his Senior year, classmates elected him to serve as one of three class agents, a position he held until stepping down in 2005. Trent continues to support Texas A&M through his involvement with the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassadors Program and the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association, as well as his involvement with the Texas A&M Association of Former Students.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Trent served as President for a regional title company and as the first-ever Executive Director of the Texas Forest Country Partnership. Today, Trent serves as the Angelina County Chairman at VeraBank in Lufkin, Texas. Prior to serving in the Texas Legislature, Trent served as a member of the Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2012, serving as its President from 2011 to 2012.

In 2013, Trent was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives. Trent represents House District 9, which
includes Angelina, Houston, San Augustine, Polk, Trinity, and Tyler counties. During his first session, Trent
was recognized as Freshman of the Year by his colleagues in the Republican Caucus. At the completion of his second term, he was named the Most Valuable Sophomore by Capitol Inside.

He is currently the chair of the Select Committee on Academic and Career-Oriented Education, and a member of the Public Education Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. In past legislative sessions, he has served as Chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism and the Chair of the Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies. He has also served as a member of the House Committees on Administration, Appropriations, Calendars, Defense, and Veterans’ Affairs, Natural Resources, Public Education, and Transportation.

When Trent is not in Austin working in the State Legislature, he enjoys working on his farm near Shake Rag (a.k.a. Pleasant Grove) in Rusk County. Together, he and his wife Nickie ’95 have raised two sons, Garin and Grant ‘27. Trent and Nickie are actively involved in both their community and in their church, Harmony Hill Baptist Church.

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