Q&A with alumnus Bradley T. Webb '07, '08

Question: Looking back at your time in the program, what skills or experiences most directly prepared you for leadership roles in banking and finance?

The class that had the greatest impact on me was Agricultural Finance, taught at the time by Dr. Alex White. The practical concepts and financial analysis skills I learned there are still utilized regularly in my line of work today.

Beyond the classroom, the relationships formed with fellow students and the experience of working collaboratively as part of a team have been invaluable. While it may sound cliché, those connections have truly stood the test of time. I still routinely interact with classmates from Virginia Tech, both those working at First Bank and Trust and others throughout the agricultural industry. The relationships formed nearly 20 years ago are still paying dividends today!

Question: Can you walk us through your career path from graduation to becoming Senior Vice President at The First Bank & Trust Company, and how your degree helped open those opportunities?

It all started with an internship. While taking Dr. Dixie Watt Dalton's internship class, an opportunity presented itself when the Bank — specifically Gene Copenhaver — contacted the Ag Econ department looking for interns. I took the initiative to visit the First Bank and Trust loan production office in Blacksburg, where I met Jim McAlister, a longtime fixture of the bank and a great Hokie.

Because I was from the Shenandoah Valley, Jim connected me with Keith Phillips, who had recently started the Agricultural Lending Division at the Bank. I spent the summer of 2006 working alongside Keith and learning all aspects of agricultural lending. At the end of my internship that summer, I was offered a full-time position.

Originally, I planned to begin working at the Bank following my senior year. However, I was presented with an opportunity to complete a Master’s program and earn my M.S. degree in just one additional year. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2007, earned my master’s degree in 2008, and then joined the Bank full-time — where I’ve remained ever since.

In addition to the Ag Econ coursework, my master’s project played a major role in preparing me for a career in agricultural lending. As a part of my project, I interviewed beef producers across Virginia to better understand their motivations for direct marketing their beef products. That experience taught me the importance of understanding the goals, challenges, and decision-making processes of producers — something that remains critical when serving as a strategic financial partner to farmers today.

Question: What’s one lesson from your coursework or professors that still influences how you lead teams and make business decisions today?

The financial principles I learned in Agricultural Finance are still part of my daily decision-making process. Financial ratios and working capital calculations remain some of the most important tools we use to evaluate a borrower’s financial health and long-term sustainability. 

Question: Many students wonder how versatile this degree really is. How have you seen it create opportunities beyond what you originally expected?

One of the biggest surprises to me has been just how versatile the Ag Econ degree really is - while the curriculum is rooted in agriculture, the analytical, financial, and communication skills translate across a wide range of industries. In banking, especially agricultural lending, you must understand finance, economics, risk management, and relationship building — all areas that were emphasized in the program.

I’ve seen classmates pursue successful careers in banking, government, agribusiness, consulting, real estate, and farm management. The degree provides a strong business foundation while also teaching you how to work with people and solve real-world problems. That versatility has opened far more doors than I originally expected when I first enrolled at Virginia Tech.

Question: If you were speaking to current students or prospective students, what would you say about the long-term value and earning power of this degree?

I would tell students that the value of this degree goes beyond the classroom. The technical knowledge is important, but the relationships, communication skills, and practical problem-solving abilities you develop are what really create long-term opportunities.

Agriculture remains one of the most important industries in the country, and there will always be demand for professionals who understand both the business and financial side of it. Whether you choose banking, agribusiness, sales, lending, farm management, or another path entirely, the degree provides a strong foundation for a stable and rewarding career.

For me personally, it led directly to an internship, which ultimately became a long-term career with First Bank and Trust. Twenty years later, I’m still benefiting from the education and relationships that started at Virginia Tech.