Farm Credit Update

Farm Credit Bank of Texas hires director of government relations

Caroline Anderson Rydell has been hired as the senior director of government relations for the Farm Credit Bank of Texas.

In this position, Rydell will represent the bank’s legislative interests before members of Congress and outside stakeholder organizations. She also will serve as the legislative liaison with other Farm Credit Banks in the nationwide Farm Credit System, coordinate with the System’s national trade association, The Farm Credit Council, and help lead the bank’s 5-state regional trade association.

Before joining the bank, Rydell was the director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C., where she worked since 1995.  Previously, she worked on Capitol Hill, first as a legislative aide for Congressman Bill Sarpalius (D-Texas) and later as staff director for a congressional subcommittee in the House of Representatives. Rydell graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in economics.

“Caroline brings a tremendous reputation and a wealth of expertise and experience to our government relations department,” said Stan Ray, FCBT vice president of corporate relations. “We are confident that she will represent us well and add great value to our organization.”

Dwain Nunez promoted to Chief Credit Officer of Farm Credit of New Mexico

Dwain E. Nunez has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Farm Credit of New Mexico. Nunez has been with the Association for almost 18 years, starting in May of 1991 at Farm Credit of New Mexico in the Tucumcari office.  In July of 2000 he became the Manager of the Tucumcari office, and in February 2006 he became the Branch Manager of both the Albuquerque and Tucumcari offices.  As Chief Credit Officer Nunez is responsible for and directs all credit activities of the $1.1 billion dollar ag lender.  Nunez succeeds Alfred E. Porter who was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Farm Credit of NM.

Porter promoted to President and CEO of Farm Credit of New Mexico

Alfred "Al" Porter Jr., originally from Socorro, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Farm Credit of New Mexico.

Porter succeeds Bruce McAbee, who has been at the helm of Farm Credit for the past five years.

Porter has been with the association for almost 28 years, starting in June 1980, at Production Credit Association of Southern New Mexico. Porter had a successful career with the PCA and was the executive vice president when the commercial lending organization merged with Farm Credit and provided long-term loans. [Story: El Defensor Chieftain, Socorro, NM]

FCS of Mid-America intern profiled in local paper

The Bowling Green Daily News recently profiled Heather DeVries, a senior at Western Kentucky University who is currently an intern with Farm Credit Services of Mid-America at its Glasgow, KY branch.

DeVries is one of 19 students interning at Farm Credit Services, and has been participating in many aspects of the lending business. Slated to graduate in December with a degree in agribusiness and a minor in marketing, DeVries started her internship in May.

“This has been very beneficial ... smoothing out rough edges,” she said. “I like to deal with people and problem-solve. I’m learning what to say and what not to say - just learning how to take care of myself and how to take care of myself financially.”

FCS Financial stockholders re-elect incumbents

Through a mail ballot, the stockholders of FCS Financial re-elected Michael L. Bruce, Nevada, Mo.; Gene McClellan, Willow Springs, Mo.; Brian Peterson, Trenton, Mo.; and James L. Schulze, Troy, Mo., to serve on the Board of Directors for three-year terms. They will be installed at the Board of Director’s meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. FCS Financial provides credit and financial services to agricultural producers, agricultural-related businesses and rural residents. The FCS Financial board consists of 15 members and has 12 areas of representation.

• Bruce is the director for area of representation three which includes Bates, Camden, Cass, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, St. Clair, and Vernon counties. He and his wife, Connie, have three children and six grandchildren. His farming operation consists of wheat, soybeans, milo, corn, and lespedeza. Bruce also has a 150 head cow/calf operation. He has been a customer for 36 years and a board member since 2002.
• McClellan is the director for area of representation six which includes Crawford, Dent, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, and Texas counties. He and his wife, Lilla, have seven children and 10 grandchildren. McClellan operates a dairy and raises beef cattle, alfalfa hay and haylage, orchard grass and fescue hay. He has been a board member since 1996.
• Peterson is the director for area of representation 11 which includes Carroll, Chariton, Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, and Sullivan counties. He and his wife, Barb, have three children and two grandchildren. Peterson operates a dairy and raises hay. He has been a member of the board since 2002.
• Schulze is the director for area of representation nine which includes Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Perry, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington counties, and the City of St. Louis. He and his wife, Betty, have two children and four grandchildren. He is a grain and livestock farmer raising corn, soybeans, wheat and beef cattle. He has served on the board since 1998.

Peggy Jo Jones appointed to First Pioneer Farm Credit Board

First Pioneer Farm Credit recently announced the appointment of Peggy Jo Jones, of Boise, Idaho, as an outside director on its board of directors.

Jones is a consultant providing training and human resource services to Albertsons LLC, a major food and drug retailer.  Prior to her current role, Jones held positions of increasing responsibility with Albertsons over her 31-year tenure with the organization, most recently as vice president of human resources for its Southern California division, which includes 292 stores and two distribution centers and employs more than 30,000 associates.

Jones’s professional profile also includes the chairmanship of the board of directors for Northwest Farm Credit Services, one of First Pioneer’s sister associations in the national Farm Credit System.  The Northwest association, headquartered in Spokane, Washington, serves farmers and ranchers in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.  In addition, Jones chaired that board’s compensation committee and served on its audit, finance, and financial services committees. [News release: Download PeggyJone_OutsideDirector_April18.doc ]

Bob Bahl named President and CEO of AgCountry Farm Credit Services

Commitment to customers and the future of agriculture and Rural America will continue to be the top priority for AgCountry Farm Credit Services under new leadership. Bob Bahl, who has been with the Farm Credit System for 28 years, became the agricultural lender’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1st.

Bahl was President and CEO of Farm Credit Services of Grand Forks for 14 years. He began his Farm Credit Services career as a tax specialist, and then moved to VP of Administration, Chief Credit Officer and Executive VP before being named CEO in 1993. Bahl has served as Chief Operating Officer for AgCountry Farm Credit Services since April 1, 2007, under the joint management agreement of the merger process between FCS of Grand Forks and AgCountry Farm Credit Services. The merger was final on January 1, 2008. 

“I am excited to be a part of a company with such a passion for agriculture, “said Bahl. “Our talented staff continues to provide a depth of knowledge that is second to none in the agriculture industry, while providing the best quality products and financial services available to our customers.” [News release: Download bob_bahl_president_and_ceo4.doc ]

First Pioneer stockholders re-elect Dickinson, Gilbert, Lyman, and Wells to the board

Stockholder-customers of First Pioneer Farm Credit, ACA, re-elected four northeastern agricultural producers to its board of directors.  As a customer-owned lender dedicated to supporting agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products, these four individuals will continue as part of the 13 member board of directors that provide governance for the cooperative.

• John Dickinson operates Ideal Dairy Farm in Hudson Falls, NY with his wife, Denise, and parents, Nate and Lorraine.  Together they own and manage a 700-cow dairy farm and crop 2,000 acres of farmland.
• Andy Gilbert, a dairy farmer from Potsdam, NY, owns and manages Adon Farms, in partnership with his brother, Tony.  Together, the partners run a 750-cow operation while raising their own replacements, forage, and corn grain.  They also haul their own milk.
• John Lyman III is executive vice president of The Lyman Farm, Inc. in Middlefield, CT, an eighth-generation 1,100-acre diverse family farm, including a 400-acre orchard; a pick-your-own operation; agritainment; a thriving farm market, and an expanding bakery and pie business.
• Lyle Wells operates Wells Homestead Acres in Riverhead, NY with his children Jessica, Matthew, and Logan.  The eleventh-generation operation produces 85 acres of vegetables and cut flowers for sale through a variety of wholesale brokers into local supermarkets, restaurants, and institutions.  The family also markets directly to local farm stands.

“On behalf of the entire First Pioneer family of customers, directors, and employees, I congratulate these outstanding individuals on their re-election,” First Pioneer President and CEO Bill Lipinski said.  “All are proven leaders in their industries and dedicated to keeping First Pioneer at the forefront of successful companies serving Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing, and the forest products industry.” [News release: Download press_release_director_election_results_2008.doc ]

Berry Festival salutes CEO of Farm Credit of Central Florida

Richard W. Joyner, president and chief executive officer of Farm Credit of Central Florida for 11 years, was given a standing ovation this morning at his final Farm Credit Strawberry Salute Breakfast before his March 31 retirement. Joyner is retiring to focus on his family and his church.

"It's been a terrific career," said Joyner, who has been with the Farm Credit organization for more than 30 years. [Story: Tampa Bay Online]

FCS of Mid-America helps Tenn. firefighters defray cost of drought aid

In an effort to assist Johnson County farmers with the severe drought suffered this summer, Neva and Shady Valley Volunteer Fire Departments went the extra mile for their communities. Recognizing their capacity to transport water in huge quantities, they hauled the scarce commodity to area farmers for their scorching crops and thirsty livestock.

Friday of last week, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America made the decision to return the favor on behalf of the farmers they serve. Mike Blevins, Financial Services Officer for Farm Credit, presented checks to the two fire departments to help defray the costs incurred by their good deed.

“This last year with the drought and water shortage, lots of people ran out of water. Ponds dried up, streams dried up,” said Blevins. “To help farmers get through, the fire departments volunteered to haul water to these farmers until it did rain. Of course, there was expense involved there, and what Farm Credit elected to do was to help reimburse the fire departments for their expense. This will help put the money back in their coffers.” [Story in the Mountain City, TN Tomahawk]