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Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Matt Lohr accepts position with Farm Credit of the Virginias
Farm Credit of the Virginias, headquartered in Staunton, Virginia announced today that Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Matt Lohr will be joining the organization on December 16, 2013 to work with Kyley Clevenger to develop the Farm Credit Knowledge Center. CEO, Dave Lawrence shared, “ The FCV team welcomes Matt and believes he will increase the value the Knowledge Center provides to all of our customers”.
Matt is well known across the state and has strong roots in Rockingham County having been born and raised on a Century Farm there. He was a State FFA President and National FFA Vice President and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1995. He chaired the Rockingham County Planning Commission and School Board and represented the 26th House District in the Virginia State Legislature from 2005-2010. He then served as the Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services from 2010-2013. He was awarded the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award and still co-owns Valley Pike Farm, Inc. producing poultry, beef, row crops and sweet corn. He has two children, Caroline 12 and Carson 8.
Matt will be responsible for developing and leading the success of the Farm Credit Knowledge Center as its director. The Knowledge Center’s mission is to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources for the betterment of all farmers through customer-focused programs that increase and advance the knowledge base of the agricultural community. Matt’s experiences and expertise at building relationships with key constituencies will help move the Knowledge Center to quickly become a valuable resource for young, beginning, small, minority and veteran farmers as well as the established full time producers. “For the last eight years I have been very blessed to work in state government as an advocate for Virginia’s number one industry. I am very excited to join the team at Farm Credit of the Virginias where I can continue my passion for serving agriculture. I have been a customer of Farm Credit for nearly 20 years and have experienced first-hand the tremendous level of service that they provide. It will be an honor to help continue a long standing tradition of meeting the needs of the agricultural community”, says Lohr.
Farm Credit of the Virginias provides over a billion dollars in financing to more than 9,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners throughout Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Farm Credit is a cooperative capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural businesses that borrow from them. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending and expert financial services. For more information, visit http://www.farmcreditofvirginias.com.
BLUE JACKETS, GOLD LIGHTS
Even though I have been out of school for a couple of years, I have not forgotten the organization that helped start my journey in the agricultural industry.
Tuesday night of the VA State FFA Convention, I was given the opportunity to participate in the pre-session. As I stood on the same stage where my team won the State FFA Livestock Judging Contest in 2009, where I received my State FFA Degree in 2011, and where I was announced the VA State Poultry Production Proficiency winner in 2012, I was mesmerized by the sea of blue jackets and the reflection of gold lights. I can only hope that I’ve left a lasting impression on one of those students during my time as an FFA member, as so many FFA members left on me.
It all started my 7th grade year when I attended the 80th VA State FFA Convention. Between judging cattle and proudly marching across the drill field in my blue corduroy jacket to Burrus Hall, I made my decision to become a Hokie. Virginia Tech is where my dedication to agriculture began and it is where I hope my dedication will grow into a life-long career. After interning with Farm Credit of the Virginias for two consecutive summers, I am so thankful that my roots are buried deep in agriculture. This internship has allowed me to share my passion for agriculture with an organization that, similar to FFA, strives to bring out the best in its members. Farm Credit works hard to do what is best for its customers even providing them with a patronage refund. Farm Credit has proven to be a successful organization that is committed to helping their members be successful even in volatile economic times. Just the same, FFA provides its members with countless opportunities to travel the country, possess leadership skills and network to build relationships that will last a lifetime.
Needless to say, I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for industry we serve, FFA and Farm Credit. Thank you, Virginia FFA and Farm Credit of the Virginias for allowing me to continue advocating for this incredible industry.
Cheyenne will be a senior this year at Virginia Tech where she is majoring in Agribusiness Management and minoring in Animal and Poultry Sciences.
Pictured is Burrus Hall, the site of all Virginia FFA State Convention Sessions. 
Farm Credit’s 2013 Dairy Management Institute Dates Announced
ABOUT THE DAIRY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
The Dairy Management Institute (DMI) is a benchmarking program designed to help dairymen assess the strengths and weaknesses of their dairy operation. DMI began in 2000 as a joint effort between
Farm Credit and Virginia Cooperative Extension. The program has grown to include 85+ herds across Virginia.
Our goal is to help participants improve profitability and efficiency on their farms. Data output provides producers with an individualized analysis of their business. This can be used to:
• Easily identify weak links
• Make management decisions
• Seek financing
• Develop future plans for the business
Participating dairymen submit farm income and expense numbers for the prior year. The data is compiled to obtain group averages. Participants receive the following individualized data:
• Key financial measures for your farm and the group such as:
–Net income per cow
–Cost per hundred weight
–Debt payments per cow
–Lbs. shipped per worker
–Break-even milk price
–Debt-to-Asset Ratio
HOW IT WORKS
Participants can submit a financial statement and DHIA herd code for a more complete analysis of their dairy business. Also, at the meeting, you will hear from respected speakers on financial and herd management issues, panel discussions with fellow producers sharing
their keys to success, group discussions and valuable networking.
And…
Lunch is FREE! DMI is fully funded by Farm Credit of the Virginias with no cost to participating producers!
WHY PARTICIPATE?
• The volatility and complexity of the dairy industry today make it more important than ever to know your financial position, including cost of production. Dairymen must be able to quickly and adequately analyze their current operations to ensure that the farm business remains profitable and viable for the next generation.
• This program will help you easily determine your cost of production and break-even milk price…information that is essential to making good management decisions and utilizing risk management tools.
• Find the weak links in your operation and identify where changes can be made to increase profitability.
• Pinpoint trends in your dairy operation that can help you better plan for the future.
• Network with other progressive dairymen. Hear what is working for them and how they are moving their operations forward.
• Hear from well-known speakers as to best management practices on successful dairy operations.
• Improve your ability to secure financing. Farm Credit and other ag lenders alike, value the DMI data and encourage their clients to participate in the program.
• Introduce the next generation of your dairy business to the financial aspects of running a farm operation. Family members\bookkeepers are highly encouraged to attend as well.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about managing the single largest expense on your farm!
DATES AND LOCATIONS
March 27, 2013
Rocky Mount, Virginia
March 28, 2013
Harrisonburg, Virginia
April 1, 2013
Marion, Virginia
All Meetings 9:30-2:30
Data Submission Deadline: March 5, 2013
Assistance is available in getting your information pulled together the first year you participate.
For more information or to sign-up, please contact:
Patti Craun, Dairy Specialist\Relationship Mgr.
Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA
P.O. Box 2550, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
pcraun@FCVirginias.com
540.434.5385 ext. 5223 or 800.919.FARM
Virginia No-Till Alliance Winter Conferences Announced
Farm Credit’s Matt Findley and the Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby Teach Kids Workmanship, Spirit of Competition
Farm Credit of the Virginias’ very own Matt Findley (Harrisonburg, VA Loan Originator) makes soapbox derby race history for the city of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia. Following a 50-year hiatus, derby races are once again rolling in the county. As a member and former president of the Rockingham Rotary Club, in 2005 Matt decided it was time for local derby competitions and began volunteering his time to organize the races. “I started the race after a year of research,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that the race was going to be run safely and would be fair for competitors.” He believes it brings parents and kids together and helps everyone make new friends. The races have grown to include 30-50 kids and this year they’re partnering with the local Boys and Girls Club in hopes of an even bigger event. The next Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby takes place in June 2013. Farm Credit of the Virginias would like to thank Matt for his work on a worthy cause.
Rockingham County derby participants
Help With Our Blood Drive in Harrisonburg, Virginia on June 27
Please stop by Farm Credit of the Virginias Harrisonburg, VA branch office Wednesday, June 27 and give the gift that keeps on giving – blood! We’re hosting a Blood Drive 10:30 am – 3:00 pm in the community room (follow the driveway to the back of the building).
Click here to see our location on a map
Farm Credit & Country Mortgages 