MSU’s Coble receives prestigious Farm Foundation R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award
Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Farm Foundation has selected Keith Coble, vice president of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine (DAFVM) at Mississippi State University, as the recipient of the 2025 R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award, presenting him with the honor at its July 17 annual meeting.
“All of us at MSU are proud of Dr. Coble’s well-deserved recognition from this distinguished organization,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Keith’s long and productive career as an agricultural economist and as an educator is certainly worthy of such recognition.”
“This award celebrates a career defined by excellence, innovation and integrity,” said Farm Foundation Fellow and Assistant Vice President of the Division of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas Ronald Rainey. “Keith’s dedication, remarkable accomplishments and lasting impact on agricultural policy have not only shaped the present but will also inspire future policy analysts.”
Coble’s career exemplifies the land-grant mission of learning, research and service. A first-generation college graduate who grew up on a livestock farm in southern Missouri, he has maintained strong connections to agricultural communities while advancing policy research and education.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from Farm Foundation,” said Coble. “This award reflects the collaborative work of countless colleagues and partners who have contributed to advancing agricultural policy research and education. I hope this recognition inspires others to pursue careers dedicated to strengthening agricultural communities through sound policy and evidence-based research.”
His career has included significant leadership roles across federal service, academic leadership and professional organizations. He served as chief economist for the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee from 2013-2014, bringing academic expertise to national policy discussions. In academic leadership, he led the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics from 2016-2020 before his appointment as DAFVM vice president. His professional leadership extends to being elected president of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association from 2019-2020, representing thousands of agricultural economists nationwide.
Coble’s research portfolio includes more than 95 scientific research journal articles and 160 scientific conference papers addressing risk management, farm policy, insurance and agricultural data analytics. His scholarly contributions have earned multiple prestigious recognitions, including being named a W.L. Giles Distinguished Professor at MSU in 2009, receiving the Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award in 2012, and being honored with the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Under Coble’s leadership, DAFVM continues to advance MSU’s land-grant mission through cutting-edge research, innovative teaching and comprehensive service to agricultural communities. The university continues to rank in the top 5% nationally in agricultural research.
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