Farm Credit is in the news! Check out what our own Bette Brand has to say in her Roanoke Times interview.

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/304988

Making Sense of Ag Credit in a Volatile World

by David Cuddy - Loan Officer, Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA (Abingdon, VA)

The past few months have seen record income if not record profits for most beef cattle producers in our region and around the country.  Cow/calf producers in particular have seen income skyrocket as feeder cattle prices are at all-time highs, and with the futures market looking strong into the foreseeable future, it may seem that we should all just adopt a “let the good times roll” mentality.  If you are a stocker operator, though, you may not be feeling quite as excited.  While cattle that were bought right last year made good profits in 2011, the cost of cattle going back onto grass this winter have been much higher than we’re used to, and based on the futures and outlook predictions for the spring, it looks like putting calves on grass this year is going to be a very expensive proposition.

The reality is that all producers, regardless of which sector they fall into are dealing with ever increasing costs, more dollars flowing through the operation and, although gross income remains historically very high, the level of risk that most producers are dealing with is greater than ever before.  Higher prices in all segments of the meat complex and supporting industries have resulted in one thing:  volatility.  While the opportunity is there to capitalize and make very good money during this time of record prices, the risk level to both producers and lenders has gone up tremendously as well.

Now is an excellent time to evaluate your relationship with your lender to make sure that you are prepared for the ups and downs of the markets and to make sure that you are both on the same page and prepared to handle any situation that may arise.

If you’re like most folks, you don’t like to have to borrow money to begin with, and you definitely don’t like having to answer all those questions about your operation and your personal business.  But as prices for both cattle and inputs continue to rise, your lender may be one of the most valued and underutilized relationships you have.  A good lender can help you get through lean times and position you to take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves.  Let’s take a few minutes and look at the components of a good farmer/lender relationship, what a lender looks for and why, and some things that you can do to make sure you’re working with the right person, and that you’ve got access to the financing you need when you need it.

Identifying the right lender for you.  Finding the right lender can be a lot like finding the right doctor.  Any doctor can write a prescription, but it takes the right fit between doctor and patient to really manage your health and get the best out of the relationship.  The same goes for lenders.  While all lenders are in business to make loans, not all are the same.  It’s important that you work with someone that you can identify with and that can relate to you and your operation.  They need to understand your goals, both for your farm and your life in general, and be invested in helping you achieve them.

A good lender is not a “yes” man.  You may not always get the answer you want.  A good lender is not afraid to say no, or to offer constructive insight into how a plan might be changed to reduce risk or improve the chances of success.  It’s important to remember that you are both on the same team.  Often, in situations where a deal won’t work for a lender, it can quickly escalate into an adversarial situation.  But with cooler heads, and an understanding that you are both working toward the common goal of your success, these situations can often be molded into an opportunity for the two of you to work together for a better outcome that might have been achieved if he or she had just gone along with your original plan.

A good lender-farmer fit means that the lender understands your business in terms of what your personal goals for you and your family are and from the business side as well.  Good agricultural lenders are unfortunately becoming harder to find as many banks shy away from commercial ag lending, and as fewer college graduates have a farming background.  While you don’t have to be working with someone that is running a business like yours on the side, it’s important that you make sure you are working with someone who understands the markets, the risks, and the rewards that you will face from year to year.  While many lenders will jump on the band wagon and get into the ag market with both feet when times are good, it is no help to you if they bail out at the first sign of trouble.   Building a successful relationship with a lender means finding someone that will stick with you in good times and bad.  That may mean that you are willing to take “no” for an answer from someone who truly understands the business and trust them on it.  It may even mean paying a little more in interest during good times so that you know that you’ve got a reliable partner when times are tough.  Many lenders who jump into ag lending during good times will offer very low teaser rates to entice your business, and while saving a dollar or two on interest is important, it is far more important that you have a lender that’s willing to ride out the bumps with you, and that understands your business well enough to actually be a partner with you and is as invested in your success as you are.

Components of a good farmer-lender relationship.  While there are many things that go into developing and maintaining a relationship with the lender you’ve chosen based on the factors above, the most important, by far, is communication.  Without open and honest communication, a lender cannot provide the input and support that you may need during difficult times.  While none of us likes to admit that things may not be going as well as we’d like, your lender may be the one person that can help you right a sinking ship or head off a disaster before it arises.

Accurate and timely financial information is crucial if your lender is going to be able to provide top-notch service to you.  Make it a habit of preparing regular financial statements including accurate cattle numbers and feed inventory.  The better job you do keeping records, the better job he or she can do of making sure they are providing you with the best possible loan package to keep you profitable.

Don’t hold out because you’re afraid of taxes.  One of the biggest things I hear from borrowers is, “I made a lot more than that, but I’m not paying taxes on it”.  Believe me, I understand that.  Just remember that if a lender can’t find a record of a dollar made, you did not make it.  We all have someone to answer to.  For you, it may be Uncle Sam (or your spouse), but lenders have auditors and regulators that routinely check files for accuracy and credit quality, and no lender can get away with taking a borrower’s word for unaccounted-for income for very long.

This leads me to another key point.  Lending, like all business, has changed.  Five years ago, you may have renewed your line of credit with a phone call and a hand shake.  You may have been doing it that way for thirty years, and now all of a sudden you’re being asked to verify everything down to your shoe size.  Remember that just as the rest of the world changes, so does the lending business.  The fact that you are being asked for this information may not mean that your lender trusts you any less, it just means they are required to do more today than they were a few years ago in terms of collecting information and verifying that it is accurate.  Times are changing and, like it or not, we must learn to adapt.

Make sure that your accountant understands the information that your lender needs and is willing to provide it.  Especially if you have a larger account, making sure your accountant and your lender have a working relationship is very important.  If you really want to make your lender happy, just have your accountant automatically send copies of your income taxes to the lender each year when you file.  That way, you know you have provided the information he or she will need, and then you don’t have to go around and around playing referee between the lender and accountant to get it done later.

Finally, make sure that your lender understands your operation.  Every farm and every operation, just like every cow, is a little different.  A good lender wants to get to know his or her clients and how they work.  Invite them to come out to the farm.  If they’re afraid to get dirty, you might need to refer back to the “fit” section of this article.  Let them look at your cows, your equipment, your facilities.  The better they understand you and your operation, the better job they will do for you.

Getting inside the lender’s mind.  Now, I have to admit, that this is a little scary, even for me.  Have you ever wondered, though, why the heck they need all that information?  I want to take just a few lines and outline some of the processes that a lender uses in making a credit decision.  Let’s start with the five C’s of Credit.

There are five major criteria that almost all lenders use when determining credit worthiness of an account.  The first of these is Character. This characteristic helps the lender to determine your willingness to pay.  It does not relate so much to ability, but the trust factor that you will follow through on your obligations. That’s where getting to know you is important to him or her.  Lenders can use personal knowledge in this factor.  Your credit score is also a key factor that most lenders use to quantify this trait.  If you don’t pay your bills on time, or you have collections or other issues with your credit, it is a reflection of your character and your overall willingness to pay.

The second of the five C’s is Capacity.  This refers to your ability to pay your debt.  It is important that the lender have accurate and current information about your financial condition and recent profit and loss information (e.g. accurate tax returns) to develop this quantity.

Thirdly, the lender will look at Capital.  This can be described as your net worth.  How much do you owe in relation to what you own?  Another key component within this trait is how much of your net worth is “liquid” or “near liquid”.  How much money could you get your hands on quickly if you needed to?  This calculation (back to overall net worth), is scary for many lenders right now.  Land values are very much in flux.  Livestock values have skyrocketed.  It’s difficult right now as a lender, to determine a “true” value for these types of assets if things get tough.  That makes it even more important for a lender to be familiar with your individual operation, both in terms of your livestock or other “chattel” assets, and your real estate and fixtures.

Fourth on the list is Collateral.  Many lenders are asking for collateral now where they may not have in the past.  This goes back to the statement above in regards to the huge increases we’ve seen in values of both real estate and other types of collateral.  Lenders may be asking for additional collateral on loans or may be asking for collateral for the first time on an account.  Keep in mind that this does not necessarily mean they are concerned about your willingness to pay or your management ability.  It is the only real means of protection that a lender has from the potential for loss, and like many things right now, changes in requirements and regulations in this area mean that you may see your lender doing things a little differently than they have in the past.

Finally, the lender will look at the Conditions of the market and factors affecting the markets to help determine overall risk to the industry and how that relates to you and your request.  Again, it’s important to have a lender that understands you and the business you are in so that they can adequately quantify the level of risk for both of you.  Good decisions are based on good information and bad decisions… well, you get the picture.

Success in life depends in large part on relationships.  Successful people surround themselves with people who will help promote their success.  In this way, you end up with a symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits.  Working with a lender is no different.  Your profits may be looking great right now, and while the future looks bright for the meat complex, and in particular the beef segment, there will be tougher times down the road.  One thing is certain in life, and especially in farming: the good times never last as long or feel as good as the bad times last or hurt.  Now is the time to make sure you and your lender are on the same team.  By building a solid relationship during the good times, you will have a friend and partner to help you get through the lean times.

David is a loan officer in the Abingdon Branch of Farm Credit of the Virginias and can be reached at 276-628-5191 or dcuddy@agfirst.com

Dave Lawrence Named to Virginia Tech’s VALOR Program Advisory Council

Farm Credit of the Virginias CEO Dave Lawrence has been named one of 17 advisory council members for Virginia Tech’s Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program.

From the school’s press release:

http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2012/01/012012-cals-valoradvisorycouncil.html

BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 20, 2012 – Many of Virginia’s established leaders in the agricultural industry are donating their time to serve on the advisory council for the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program within Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The VALOR Program aims to prepare and develop leaders to meet future challenges in Virginia’s agricultural community, create collaborative solutions, and promote agriculture throughout the industry. “The contribution of time and talent from these individuals provides a solid foundation to help advance this premier leadership program,” said Megan Siebel, VALOR director. “The inaugural unveiling of VALOR and induction of its first class, anticipated for fall of 2012, is extremely exciting. The professional and pragmatic insight offered by the advisory council members is critical in these vital stages of program development. I am honored to oversee such a fantastic working group. The potential impact graduates will have on the agricultural industry in our state is immeasurable.”

VALOR advisory council members are

*   Michael Bertelsen, associate director, Office of International Research, Education, and Development, Virginia Tech;

*   Stan Brantley, president, Amadas Industries, Suffolk, Va.;

*   Mike Ellerbrock, professor of agriculture and applied economics, and director, Center of Economic Education, Virginia Tech;

*   Alan Grant, dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech;

*   Jewel Hairston, interim dean, School of Agriculture, Virginia State University;

*   Kern Houff, president, Railside Enterprises, Weyers Cave, Va.;

*   David Hughes, Rivermont Farm, Timberville, Va.;

*   Donna Pugh Johnson, president, Virginia Agribusiness Council;

*   Edwin Jones, associate dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech;

*   Gary Larrowe, county administrator, Carroll County Public Service Authority;

*   Dave Lawrence, president, Farm Credit of the Virginias;

*   Matt Lohr, commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

*   Vernon Meacham, director of development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech;

*   Del. Robert Orrock, 54th District, Thornburg, Va.;

*   Wayne Pryor, president, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation;

*   Paul Rogers Jr., president, Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and

*   Rick Rudd, Community Viability Chair of Excellence and head, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Virginia Tech.

Seibel and the council members met in December to discuss specifics of the leadership development program and established criteria for applicants to apply to the program. The program will consist of experiential seminars for about 48 days over the 22-month period. Participants will include individuals with a vested interest in the success of Virginia agriculture who have exhibited leadership potential. For more information about the VALOR Program, please contact Megan Seibel<mailto:mseibel@vt.edu> (mailto:mseibel@vt.edu) at 540-231-2375 or visit the VALOR website.<http://www.aee.vt.edu/valor> (http://www.aee.vt.edu/valor)

Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences<http://www.cals.vt.edu/> (http://www.cals.vt.edu/) focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 2,400 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.

FEDERAL FARM CREDIT BANKS FUNDING CORPORATION ANNOUNCES NEW CEO

Tracey McCabe appointed President and CEO, replacing Jamie B. Stewart who will retire from the Funding Corporation

Jersey City, NJ (January 3, 2012) – The Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation (www.farmcredit-ffcb.com) Board of Directors announced that Tracey McCabe will replace Jamie B. Stewart as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. As established through the organization’s succession plan, Jamie B. Stewart will retire on March 5, 2012. The Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation is part of the Farm Credit System (www.farmcredit.com) and is responsible for issuing and marketing Farm Credit Consolidated Systemwide Debt Securities, managing investor relations and consolidating and reporting the financial results for the Farm Credit System.

McCabe was previously a Participating Managing Director with Goldman, Sachs & Co., most recently responsible for the Investment Banking Division’s equity derivatives and convertible origination business and their municipal capital markets business. She also has served as Division Head in Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities for Non-Japan Asia.

“The Funding Corporation’s Board considered many extraordinary candidates during the search for Jamie’s replacement”, said Less Guthrie, the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation board chair. “Tracey brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial markets and has earned a reputation as a trusted and respected leader. Equally important, she shares our appreciation for agriculture and the supporting rural infrastructure and understands the importance of a cooperative lending system focused exclusively on rural America. We are confident that Tracey will lead the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation as it builds on its reputation as a leading participant in the capital markets.”

The Farm Credit System has consistently demonstrated strong profitability, most recently reporting assets of nearly $228 billion and net income of nearly $3 billion for the nine months ending September 30, 2011.

“We are grateful to Jamie for his leadership during the past eight years, which was particularly valuable during this time of unprecedented market turmoil. Under Jamie’s direction, the Funding Corporation and the Farm Credit System maintained a strong reputation as a dependable provider of financial services and uninterrupted market access to fulfill our mission of providing financing for U.S. agriculture and rural America,” continued Guthrie.

About the Farm Credit System 

For 95 years, Farm Credit has been a national provider of credit and related services to rural America through a cooperative network of customer-owned lending institutions and specialized service organizations. Created by Congress in 1916, the Farm Credit System provides more than $170 billion in loans and leases to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, aquatic producers, timber harvesters, agribusinesses, and agricultural and rural utility cooperatives. Unlike commercial banks, the banks and associations are cooperatively owned by their customers, are not authorized to accept deposits, and they principally obtain their funds through the issuance of Consolidated Systemwide Debt Securities. For more information about the Farm Credit System, please visit www.farmcredit.com.

# # #

CONTACT:
Regina M. Gill
Vice President
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation
201-200-8061
rgill@farmcredit-ffcb.com

Farm Credit Employees Mentor VSU Students, Hear Final Presentations

Farm Credit employees visited Virginia State University on Tuesday to hear final business plan presentations by Dr. Oluwarotimi Odeh’s (Chair, College of Agriculture and Human Ecology) Agribusiness class.  Farm Credit loan officers served as mentors to the students throughout the semester.  The students were very knowledgable and professional and presented solid business plans for hypothetical agribusinesses of their own creation.  Congratulations to Dr. Odeh’s class!

VSU College of Agriculture and Human Ecology students worked with Farm Credit mentors in 2011

Dr. Dave Kohl Captures Listeners’ Attention When Speaking About ‘Return On Life’

Check out Ron Smith’s Farm Press blog that mentions Dr. Kohl, Chancellor of Farm Credit University and co-presenter of our very own Young Farmer Institute.  Was ROL a factor in your choice to be an ag producer?

http://southwestfarmpress.com/blog/rol-return-life-important-factor-when-making-farm-decisions

Adam Musick Plays a Unique Tune in Southwest Virginia

by Justin Cruise, Farm Credit & Country Mortgages marketing department

As the editor of Farm Credit of the Virginias’ Leader magazine, I am tasked with finding interesting stories about our member-owners.  The best way to find those people is to recruit the help of our loan officers as they are the relationship builders of our association. Jason Aker, a loan officer in our Wytheville branch, e-mailed me to tell me about a farmer for whom he recently originated a revolving line of credit to purchase stocker cattle.  He went on to tell me that the gentleman also raises hogs and grows hay for horses.  Stocker cattle operations, while being a significant and important part of the association’s lending portfolio, are quite common and typically operated in a uniform fashion across our territory.  It was the hogs that caught my attention and convinced me to schedule an interview with Adam Musick.

Four Years?

Upon meeting Adam for the first time at the farm he rents in Wythe County, his energy and enthusiasm were obvious.  Knowing very little about him, I assumed he had been raised around agriculture by his in-depth knowledge of hog species and their unique histories and characteristics.  He went on to talk about his plans for the operation and impressed me with his mix of patience and persistence.  He moved on to discuss forage types and their influence on meat flavor, fat marbling and animal health and how he was able to supply his hogs with low cost, high quality forage.  I felt like I was in Porcine 101 class with a professor going into great detail about everything from farrowing to finishing.  As I scribbled furiously in my notebook to try to keep up, I asked one of my standard questions: How long have you been farming? The answer: four years.

I thought to myself that my question was misunderstood, but it was not.

“I had two dreams in life,” Adam said.  “One was to play music, and the other was to be self-sufficient, to be able to provide my own food.”  He was able to realize his first dream of playing music as a member of a rock and country band in Athens, Georgia for ten years. When he was not playing shows in one the country’s most notable music scenes, he began working on his second dream of providing food for himself.  With a just a small garden, Adam began growing vegetables and caught the farming bug.  He and his wife, Wendy, purchased a home outside of Athens shortly thereafter and began a micro-farm on just under three acres of land.  Adam said he began growing enough greens to allow him to sell his surplus to local markets and chefs.

No Experience Required

Good fortune found Adam a few years later when his mother, who lived on the family’s farm in Wythe County, asked her family members if they would be interested in coming home to pursue a different calling in life.  With nearly 400 acres of pasture and wooded property, the farm was large enough to support a substantial agricultural endeavor. Originally a dairy, it had been leased out to others over the years but was in need of repairs and someone to oversee it full time.  Adam, who was raised in nearby Abingdon, and Wendy, who is from Phoenix, Arizona, moved to the farm in 2007 with the plan to raise grass fed beef cattle.

Getting Started

Cattle prices over the last few years have been volatile and risk runs high for stocker operations under those circumstances.  Additionally, a newcomer to the stocker business needs significant capital to get started.  These barriers to entry were not lost on Adam.  “You’re really at the mercy of the market in that business,” he said when reflecting on his initial decisions upon starting up the farm.  “I just knew I wanted to do small numbers of valuable animals.”  He purchased some used equipment and eventually learned about Farm Credit.  Jason Aker reflected on his first meeting with Adam.  “I remember Adam coming in at first just to learn how to go about getting a loan.  I gave him a checklist of things we needed as a lender and he left.  I guess it was a year or so before I saw him again and every single item I had asked for was taken care of.  I knew then that Adam was someone who we would want to do business with.  His preparation to be ready to get a loan really impressed me and showed me he was serious about his business.”

The Right Fit at the Right Time

Between meetings with Farm Credit, Adam was put in touch with a company called EcoFriendly Foods based in Moneta, Virginia.  The company markets itself as “growers, buyers and eaters” of pastured meats to support healthy family farms, small businesses and dinner tables across the country.  That connection led to Adam becoming a contract grower of the Ossabaw species of hogs. Despite having little to no knowledge of hog farming, Adam took up the opportunity to give contract growing a try.  He began with his first hogs in November of 2009 and has been learning
ever since.  “I’ve learned a lot in two years.  It’s been a steep curve,” he said.  As I heard this story, I could not help but think that someone without preconceived notions about farming is less likely to talk themselves out of an opportunity that others might consider implausible.  Adam’s attitude was consistently positive as we visited his place and I suspected he was most likely that way about life in general.  After two years, he continues to raise Ossabaws under contract and has also added his own hogs to the operation.

Ossabaw, Berkshire and Crossed Hogs

Adding to the complexity of farming itself, there are different varieties of hogs on the farm.  Adam grows Ossabaws, Berkshires and also some crossed varieties, totaling nearly 200 head.  All of the animals are free ranging and are not given sub-therapeutic antibiotics. The Ossabaw is the more exotic of the species there and presents its own management issues.  Adam explained to me in great detail the history of the species, from the time it was left by Spanish explorers on Ossabaw Island, Georgia until its establishment on American farms.  The hog is only recently removed from its feral ancestors and looks like what one would expect to see in the wild. Its snout is long and its hair is long and bristly.  With that closeness to being wild comes a different demeanor, different reproduction periods and growth rates.  They have small litters and are ready to reproduce again in 45 days.  There is a good reason that the heritage breeds like the Ossabaw have become favorites with growers, however.  The reward for the hard work is a delicious meat with rich, marbled fat for which buyers are willing to pay a premium to enjoy.  The species has made a name for itself in the southern United States and has become a fantastic addition to many chefs’ menus, particularly in the South Carolina lowcountry.  New markets in urban areas are also presenting themselves, including Baltimore and New York City.

The Berkshires and crossed hogs are more like the typical hogs we think of around the farm.  The crosses are a mix of five different kinds of hogs including Duroc, Poland China and Chester White along with some Berkshire and Hampshire genetics.  Berkshires in particular are popular in fine dining because of their rich, red meat and what is considered by many to be a near perfect muscle to fat ratio.

What really makes the finishing process stand out is the forage that the hogs eat.  The menu changes with the seasons and does include some corn and soybean meal like traditional hog farms, but the animals are allowed to graze in the woods for acorns, in the sorghum and corn fields and in plots of turnips and pumpkins.  They are also given black walnuts, garlic, honey and rye among other things.

Adam says the different types of food have a significant impact on the fat in the animals, and thus the taste of the meat.  We had a laugh at the thought of overfeeding garlic, but I got the feeling he stays right on top of their nutrition.  “That’s what excites the chefs,” he said about the seasonal aspect of the flavor.  He also noted that there is niche market for free range animals raised on small farms.  “There’s a market for animals raised on pasture, handled humanely and not given sub-therapeutic antibiotics.  I also look for foods that are naturally beneficial to the hogs.  I want forage that is vitamin rich and naturally helpful to their immune system.”  As a newcomer to livestock farming, operating as a small farm suits him well.  He shared his philosophy of growing only as the market and finances allow and transitioning from one thing to the next slowly and deliberately.

Marketing Today and Tomorrow

“The real way to make money doing this is to add value and then take the hogs directly to the customer and sell it retail,” Adam says.  He has established a relationship not only with EcoFriendly Foods, but also several chefs and restaurant owners along the east coast.  “We need to eat and some of the things we eat can be really special.  Food can be a real experience for some people, even bringing them to tears it can be so good,” he says.  He explained that chefs are using nearly every part of the hogs in recipes that range from the usual to the unusual.  From head cheese to bacon to chicharrones to tenderloin, menus are expanding to offer more pork and buyers are demanding unique flavor.  Adam’s company, Appalachian Heritage Foods, is marketed as a provider to these niche markets.  He works diligently on his marketing efforts and carries a camera in his truck to capture his hogs doing what they do best: eating like there’s no tomorrow.  As the three of us walked through one of the farm’s wooded areas with several hogs following us, he exclaimed, “I just love seeing hogs in the woods!”  As a consumer, I really appreciated seeing a producer as excited about making my food as I am about eating it.  He talked about his idea to make a twelve month calendar with a photo for each month that highlights a hog eating the seasonal forage on which it was finished.  He envisions a chef and his or her staff looking at the calendar as they prepare their menus and tell their customers about how the food they are about to eat was raised.  And, having spent nearly a decade in Georgia, it only seems natural that he has ideas about opening a barbeque restaurant in the Wytheville area.  That vertical integration can improve profit margins and with the owner also acting as the supplier, quality can be assured.

Lastly, at least for now, Adam wants to develop an annual catalog that features locally grown foods that do not require refrigeration bundled and sold for certain holidays and seasons of the year.

Time Again For Music

After several years of long days and a few sleepless nights on the farm, Adam has found some friends in Wytheville who share his love for playing music.  They have played in public a handful of times and you could tell he was excited to get back to writing songs and playing his guitar.  “I really love music,” he said.  “I like rock and old country.”  Having played years ago in a town that saw the formation of the B-52s, R.E.M., The Drive-By Truckers, Widespread Panic, and the Georgia Satellites, Wytheville might seem too far removed from the bright lights on a big stage, but Adam certainly
didn’t show it.  “We just have a great time,” he said as we wrapped up our interview.  From what I saw, he should pen a tune titled Living The Dream.

Young, Beginning and Small Farmers

Seeing a beginning farmer with such an adventurous spirit and eye for entrepreneurship makes working at Farm Credit so enjoyable for its employees.  It was also a reminder that you do not always have to be born and raised on a farm to become a farmer.  Success in the agricultural industry takes a lot of hard work, dedication, maybe a little luck and the development of a network of resources.  While Adam Musick is not the only person in our association’s territory operating this kind of farm, his business model is not yet part of the mainstream.  As farmers adapt to feed a growing global population and Farm Credit continues to adapt to suit their needs, I look forward to working with more people like Adam in the future.

A hog grazes in Musick’s corn field

Hogs look for acorns in the woods

Farm Credit & Country Mortgages Sponsors Shenandoah Valley Agritourism Festival

Farm Credit & Country Mortgages was proud to be the presenting partner of this past weekend’s Shenandoah Valley Agritourism Festival in Waynesboro, VA.  Several employees were on hand to participate in the Festival’s activities at Hermitage Hill Farm, which included a farm animal petting zoo, a pumpkin painting contest, a best-dressed scarecrow contest, face painting, sheep dog demonstrations, blacksmithing demonstrations, and plenty of locally grown food.  In addition, there were three agricultural seminars with question and answer sessions after each.  Donated cans of food were part of the admission and went to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Farm Credit Rocks with the Best and Brightest Young Talent

Lender Receives the 2011 FFA Alumni Distinguished Service Award

INDIANANPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2011 – Farm Credit, a national provider of financing and related services to agricultural producers and agribusinesses, has launched a new youth outreach effort at the 84th Annual FFA Convention and Career Show under the theme “Farm Credit Rocks”. The booth offers attendees a high-energy experience, with a chance to play Rock Band Country, win free music downloads and receive a commemorative event photo at farmcreditrocks.com.

More than 55,000 FFA members are expected to attend thisyear’s event, and will have an opportunity to learn about the wide variety of career opportunities available within the Farm Credit System. As part of the national FFA event, Farm Credit is being presented with the 2011 FFA Alumni Distinguished Service Award, which honors those who have made outstanding contributions to FFA and agricultural education.

Farm Credit is being recognized for its ongoing and enthusiastic commitment supporting FFA programs. Last year the Farm Credit System reported:

• 6,160 volunteer hours for FFA

• 31 organizations with at least one employee involved in a local or regional FFA board or committee

• 59 organizations contributed financial resources to local or regional FFA events

“Strong alumni chapters help build strong FFA chapters and we appreciate the relationship we have with Farm Credit in both their FFA alumni support, and all of the other program areas Farm Credit sponsors,” said Maggie Halferty, FFA Senior Regional Director. “To be recognized with the FFA Distinguished Service Award means so much to all of us at Farm Credit,” said Greg Taylor, Vice President at AgriBank and National FFA Board member. “Our partnership with FFA allows Farm Credit to connect and engage with the young people who represent the future of this industry in so many meaningful ways, and in the next five to ten years we plan to be there for these same kids–whether they’re looking for a lender or an employer or both.” “Farm Credit offers terrific opportunities for rewarding careers with many avenues for growth and development,” said Ashley Searles, Director of Recruitment from Louisville-based Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, “Our goal with FFA is to connect with young, dynamic agriculturalists to educate them about the career opportunities that exist nationally with Farm Credit.”

The Farm Credit System is comprised of 84 cooperatively-structured retail lending associations and five wholesale banks, with a mission to improve the income and wellbeing of American farmers and ranchers by furnishing sound, adequate and stable credit. With national career opportunities located in both rural and metropolitan areas, farmcredit.com/careers currently lists more than 150 available positions in all areas of business operations including credit, finance, leasing, human resources, insurance, audit, information technology, legal and marketing.

### About FFA National FFA, also known as Future Farmers of America, educates its 540,000 middle and high school students about the science, business and technology of agriculture. The 2011 Convention is being held October 19 -22 in Indianapolis, IN.

Farm Credit is a national sponsor of the organization, and many of Farm Credit’s regional entities support local chapters with both financial donations and volunteer hours. About Farm Credit: Lending Support to Rural America For 95 years, Farm Credit has been a national provider of credit and related services to rural America through a cooperative network of customer-owned lending institutions and specialized service organizations. Created by Congress in 1916, the Farm Credit System provides more than $175 billion in loans and leases to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, aquatic producers, timber harvesters, agribusinesses, and agricultural and rural utility cooperatives. For more information about the Farm Credit System, please visit www.farmcredit.com.

Diversity and Inclusion Council Meets In Staunton

Employees met in Staunton for an exciting Farm Credit of the Virginias Diversity & Inclusion Council meeting yesterday. We celebrated our accomplishments in 2011 and were exceptionally pleased with speaker Rodney Patterson (Director of Diversity and Inclusion, CoBank) at our company meeting last week. As we prepare for 2012, our mission is to promote a culture of inclusiveness through employment practices/policies, education and understanding, and customer and community awareness. To find Farm Credit career opportunities, visit farmcredit.com/careers where you will find career listings from Farm Credit associations and banks nationwide. Currently, there are more than 150 open positions posted from around the country and in many different fields including finance, marketing, IT, audit, human resources and legal.