farming - Farm Credit

FARM CREDIT OF WESTERN ARKANSAS
FARMING
with Family & Friends
2014 Referral Rewards Grand Prize Winners!
FALL 2014
Table of Contents
3
2014 Director Election Results
4
Referral Rewards Winners
Members win $8,000 in 2014 program
8
A Day on the Farm
A hands-on opportunity for children to learn
about farming and food
12
2014 Photo Contest Winners
Stunning photos from winners of the Western Arkansas and statewide photo contests
14
Farm Families of the Year
Farm Credit of Western Arkansas members win honors
15
School Garden of the Year Contest Winners
Farm Credit sponsors statewide prize money
DEPARTMENTS
1
President’s Letter
16
News Briefs
About the Cover
Donne Johnson (left) and Rex Dollar (right) of the Mena branch office
surprise 2014 Referral Rewards Grand
Prize Winners Robert and Judy Geiger
of Mena with their $5,000 prize in early
November.
Published for the members and friends of Farm Credit of Western
Arkansas
Office Locations and Loan Officers
Arkadelphia 2858 Walnut 870-246-8061 / 800-598-8413 Rachael Godwin, David Smith
Bentonville 1080 SE 14th St., Suite A 479-273-3311 / 800-953-6803 Darla Larson
Danville 302 E. 5th Street
479-495-2711 / 800-953-6802 Emily Russell, Jim Taylor
De Queen 800 Magnolia 870-584-3113 / 800-421-7714
Connie Jones
Fayetteville 2209 N. Shiloh
479-442-8237 / 800-953-6806 Bill Roberson, Dilynn Dodd
Ken Knies
Glenwood 131 Hwy 70 E.
870-356-2023 / 800-618-2018 Denise Sweat, Rex Dollar Greenbrier 89C N. Broadview 501-679-5464 / 800-968-2961 Cecil Oursbourn
Harrison 129 W. Industrial Park Road
870-741-2020 / 800-953-6809 Brad Matlock, Dan Benton
Hope 1722 E. 3rd Street 870-777-6704 / 800-431-1317 Jerry Nance, Clay Lance
Magnolia 1703 Pittman Street 870-234-8611 / 800-495-1211 Shaun McKamie
Mena 1607 Hwy 71 North 479-394-1027 / 800-846-0919 Rex Dollar Morrilton 1329 Hwy 9
501-354-2377 / 800-953-6804 Hank DeSalvo
Nashville 302 W. Bishop 870-845-2221 / 800-575-0415 Denise Sweat
Ozark 1808 Farm Credit Drive 479-667-3855 / 800-953-6807 Tom White, Perry McCourt
Paris 3772 Hwy 22 West
479-963-2841 / 800-953-6805 Donna Cunningham, Perry McCourt, Tom White
Russellville 2797 East Parkway
479-968-5030 / 800-953-6801 Jim Taylor, Anna Lester
Siloam Springs 4970 Hwy 412 East
479-524-6754 / 800-392-6912 Savannah Dickinson
Texarkana 2805 E. Broad Street 870-772-1882 / 800-451-6120 John McFarland, Jennifer Sansom, Randy Coulson
Van Buren 101 S. 7th Street 479-474-2321 / 800-501-3710 Andrea Leding, James Crabtree,
Perry McCourt
Board of Directors
Bruce Alford (Chairman), Lewisville Chuck Davis, Jr. (Vice Chairman), Ashdown
Randy Arnold, Alma Kenny Brixey, Casa Troy W. Buck, Alpine Steve Burke, Washington
Scott Carter, Danville Bob Dixon, Havana
Dusty Hampton, Russellville
Kim Hogan, Ozark
Ron Hubbard, London
Bill Linton, Dover
Gene Pharr, Lincoln
Mark Wilcox, Greenbrier
L. Duane Wilson, Fayetteville
President and CEO Glen Manchester
Editor Jill Robertson
Jill.Robertson@farmcredit.com
Handing members big checks
is a hoot! Surprise someone with a
thousand – or five
thousand – dollars, and you get
to see big smiles.
Interestingly,
on the drive to
deliver a winning check there’s
Jill Robertson one thing loan
officers almost
Editor
always tell me.
They’re thrilled to see their customer win because they’ve been
referring people for years.
Just good Karma? I don’t know.
I think we have a lot of members
telling their friends and family
about us all the time. Keep sharing
your Farm Credit story. I want to
stop by your house with the next
big check!
Farming is published by Farm Credit of Western Arkansas.
Please address any comments to Editor,
Farming, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, 3115 W. 2nd Court, Russellville, AR
72801.
Member Cooperative Communicators Association.
© 2014 Farm Credit of WesternArkansas.
Printed with farmer-grown soybean ink on
recycled paper.
PRESIDENT’s LETTER­
Glen Manchester
President and CEO
A
GRICULTURE CONTINUES
to face challenges today. This
means that choosing a consistent,
reliable agricultural lender is as
important in 2014 as it was when
the Farm Credit System was created almost 100 years ago. Lenders
must offer farmers the versatility,
efficiency and strength that modern
agriculture necessitates. Today, more
competition is entering the agricultural lending market. Interestingly,
some of the new competition isn’t
new at all. We’re seeing lenders who
abandoned agricultural lending a
few years ago, return now that the
agricultural economy is more stable.
Without a doubt, competition
provides borrowers with more
choices. However, obvious and
not-so-obvious qualities of the loan
package should be considered. For
example, choosing a lender by ease
of application may not be in the borrower’s best interest if that lender is
unable to address borrower needs
during difficult times. How will
the lender deal with a downfall in
commodity income? Will the lender
consider a small loan in the future?
Is there a large prepayment penalty?
Are there excessive fees? Are the
terms too long?
Yes, we’ve seen agricultural loan
activity increase in 2014, and we
want to work with all of your good
neighbors. As a Farm Credit owner,
I encourage you to continue to help
us tell the Farm Credit story. I am
particularly pleased with how Farm
Credit handled the loans affected
by the closing of the two western
Arkansas poultry complexes a few
years ago. Remind your neighbors
that there were tremendous differences in the way lenders handled
those loans and that your association worked hard to reach favorable
solutions with Farm Credit members.
Your continued relationship with
Farm Credit and your recommendations to friends to consider doing
business with Farm Credit allow us
to share larger dollars back to stockholders. That’s right, as our association grows we further strengthen our
capital base and allow for, potentially,
higher annual Patronage Cash for
members.
2014 has been a good year for rural
lending in western Arkansas, and we
anticipate February Patronage Cash
for members to be similar to last year.
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Our members share in the profits.
Farm Credit’s mission, values and commitment to agriculture are rooted in rural America.
We’re also rooted in the cooperative spirit of sharing profits with our members. As a financial
cooperative we serve our members who are also our owners. Sharing our profits when we have
a good year makes us different than other lenders, and we think that’s a very good thing.
More than $78 million has gone back into Farm Credit of Western Arkansas members’ hands
since 1997 and we’re handing back more this spring. That’s why, when it comes to serving
agriculture, no other lender is rooted in rural Arkansas like Farm Credit.
$78 million in Patronage Cash to our members
since 1997.
Next Patronage Cash distribution to members
will be in the spring of 2015!
2014 Director Election Results
Troy Buck
Clark County
Area #5 (4-year term)
Clark, Dallas, Garland,
Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring,
Howard, Montgomery, Pike and Saline
Counties
Troy Buck has been re-elected for
his third, four-year term. First elected
in 2001, he and wife Wilma own a beef
cattle farm and laying hen operation
in Alpine. They also raise hay and
own and operate a local store. Buck
is a Vocational Agricultural teacher
at Centerpoint High School. He is a
member of the Alpine Volunteer Fire
Department and serves on the Clark
and Pike County Fair Boards. He also
serves as an Arkansas Farm Bureau
state board member.
The 15-member Farm Credit of
Western Arkansas Board of Directors is comprised of a combination
of member-elected directors and
board-appointed directors, as
dictated by association bylaws.
All serve a four-year term.
12 Directors – stockholders
directly elected by association
members
1 Director – stockholder appointed by the Board of Directors
2 Directors – non-stockholders
selected by the Board of Directors
Scott Carter
Yell County
Area #3 (4-year term)
Logan, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, and
Yell Counties
Scott Carter has been re-elected
and has served as a Director since
2007. He and wife Ashley own a cattle
and hay farm in Danville. He also
partners with family members on a
400-acre beef operation and works as
Senior Production Manager at Firestone Tube Company in Russellville.
Dusty Hampton
Pope County
Area #2 (4-year term)
Carroll, Franklin, Johnson, Madison, Newton and Pope Counties
Dusty Hampton has been reelected to a four-year term. He has
served as a director since 2010 and
he and wife Sallie own and operate
a 328-acre poultry farm north of Russellville. He also has served as Pope
County Justice of the Peace.
2015 Nominating Committee
Persons serve a one-year term and are responsible
for slating candidates for the 2015 Board of Directors election.
Area #1A
Roger Pitts
Washington County
Area #4A
James W. Mann
Perry County
Area #1B
Kevin Harmon
Benton County
Area #4B
Ronnie D. Hall, Sr.
Faulkner County
Area #2A
Charles “Mike” Brown
Pope County
Area #5A
Allen M. Garner
Clark County
Area #2B
Justin “Taylor” Gattis
Franklin County
Area #5B
Darrell Ford
Hempstead County
Area #3A
Allen L. Johnson
Logan County
Area #6A
Leslie Huddleston
Little River County
Area #3B
Shawn A. Ezell
Logan County
Area #6B
Elizabeth F. Walker
Sevier County
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$8,000 awarded to winners
Member referrals translated into 119 new
By simply telling a friend about Farm Credit
these members’ names went into our drawing
referred someone n
$5,000 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Robert and Judy Geiger of Mena, AR
with Financial Services Specialist Donne Johnson and
Vice President and Branch Manager Rex Dollar
of the Mena branch office.
MORE CHANCES TO WIN in 2015….see the following page for details.
4
s across western Arkansas!
w loans totaling $20.3 MILLION this year.
t and that friend closing a new loan with us,
g for cash prizes. Thank you to everyone who
new to Farm Credit.
$1,000 Regional Prize
$1,000 Regional Prize
Jerry Brice of Plumerville, AR
with wife Gay Lyn, Financial Services
Specialists Nancy Massey and Donna
Payne, and Vice President and Branch
Manager Hank DeSalvo of the Morrilton
branch office.
Roger and Charlotte Sweet of
Lewisville, AR
with Financial Services Specialist
Milly Lindsey and Vice President and
Branch Manager Shaun McKamie
of the Magnolia branch office.
$1,000 Regional Prize
Rickey Wiedower of Guy, AR
with wife Debra and Vice President and
Branch Manager Cecil Oursbourn
of the Greenbrier branch office.
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2015 Referral Rewards Program
MORE CHANCES to win MORE MONEY this year!
THREE $1,000 winners each quarter
……$12,000 up for grabs!
W
HO BETTER TO PROMOTE Farm Credit than our own satisfied
members? We know our members’ recommendations go a long way
in promoting Farm Credit to new customers, so we’re rewarding them
with additional chances to win this year.
We’ll draw three $1,000 regional winners every three months!
3 x $1,000
3 x $1,000
3 x $1,000
3 x $1,000
January 30, 2015
April 30, 2015
July 31, 2015
October 30, 2015
That’s $12,000 in total cash up for grabs this year!
We want to hand YOU an oversize check with YOUR name on it in 2015.
It’s easy!
Tell your friends and family why you like doing business with Farm Credit.
• Friendly, local employees
• 20 and 30-year FIXED interest rates
• Flexible payment terms
• Patronage Ca$h when the association has a good year ($78 MILLION since 1997)
• Being an owner of the association, and not just a customer
• Competitive interest rates
• Working with people who UNDERSTAND western Arkansas agricul-
ture and the rural lifestyle
• Almost 100 years of experience providing dependable credit to rural America
• A lender you can trust, in good economic times and in bad
We’re looking for new members just like you. By referring new members,
you help our association grow. That’s good for the association and can even
mean potentially higher Patronage Ca$h in the future. That’s right. Your
referrals pay off beyond the Referral Reward Program.
If a person you refer closes a loan with us, YOUR name goes in our Referral Rewards drawing for cash prizes. Remind your friends to mention your
name at their loan closing.
There’s no limit on how many people you can refer. ALSO NEW
THIS YEAR - we’re awarding a SPECIAL gift to everyone who
refers more than one new member in 2015!
6
Referral Rewards
$12,000
up for grabs this year!
12 WINNERS • $1,000 EACH
3—$1,000 winners on January 30, 2015
All current Farm Credit of Western Arkansas
members qualify
3—$1,000 winners on April 30, 2015
3—$1,000 winners on July 31, 2015
3—$1,000 winners on October 30, 2015
Tell a friend today!
Your name goes in the drawing when
the person you refer closes a loan
with Farm Credit
Danny Dalmut of Mansfield addresses school children at the 2014 “Back at the Ranch” event the Dalmuts host on their farm every October.
A day on the farm
Hands-on opportunity for children to learn about farming and food
A
8
SK A GROUP OF FIRSTgrade students in any city
WHERE their food comes from
and you’ll likely hear, “the grocery
store”.
But chances are you’ll hear a
much different answer from children
who’ve had a hands-on visit to a local
farm. From peering into a large-scale
breeder hen house, to milking a replica cow, to holding a newly hatched
baby chick, kids can’t help but leave
the farm with a fresh understanding
and appreciation for the food they eat.
Taylor, age 6, quickly offers, “The
next time I go to the store I’ll say, ‘Oh,
we saw chickens at Dalmuts’ farm’”.
And that’s exactly the connection
Farm Credit of Western Arkansas
members are fostering by offering
their farms as field trip destinations
for school children.
Back at the Ranch with Danny and Jeane Dalmut
Danny and Jeane Dalmut have
helped coordinate what is truly a
family affair when it comes to sharing the farm experience. Daughter
Meghan (Dalmut) Estep’s idea eight
years ago has evolved into a Back at
the Ranch farm field-trip day at her
and husband Michael Estep’s Mansfield farm. Like the Dalmuts, Megan
and Michael Estep are Farm Credit
members and they live on the 40-acre
farm that hosts the event. Danny and
Jeane operate a cattle, hay and timber
farm just down the road and Jeane is
a retired teacher.
Every October, Meghan Estep’s
first-grade class, along with fellow
kindergarten and first-graders from
Cavanaugh Elementary School in Ft.
Smith, descend on the farm for a day
of learning and fun.
“We want kids to know where
their food comes from and a little
about what it means to farm,” Danny
Dalmut explains.
As a teacher, Meghan quickly
recognized how disconnected many
children are from the farm experience.
Meghan wrote a grant proposal for a
farm field trip and called her parents
to see if they’d help with the endeavor.
It was a convenient choice to pick her
and husband Michael’s farm as the
destination. From there, things began
to fall into place, she says.
“My dad’s been a huge help putting this together because he’s as
passionate as I am about making
Volunteers Sandy Tate and Doug Ellison supervise stick-horse races.
The day is a hands-on farm experience for
the children.
Vice President and Branch Manager Andrea Leding and the Van Buren office staff have enthusiastically supported the event from the beginning.
sure kids see what farming is about
and where their food comes from,”
Meghan explains.
Danny recruits the volunteers and
family members were the first to step
up. Danny, Jeane, and Meghan were
helped this year by Dalmut son Zach
from Cabot. The grandchildren pitch
in, as well, and play an important
role in making the day go smoothly,
Danny says.
The Dalmut family has tweaked
the program over the years to strike
a balance of hands-on learning and
fun activities throughout the day.
Meghan explains that stick horse
races offer kids a chance to physically
run after listening quietly to instruction on topics including the life cycle
of a chicken and horse care.
Fun on the Farm with Randy and Vicki Arnold
Randy and Vicki Arnold of Alma
created their farm event with help
from Crawford County Cooperative
Extension agents who shared their vision of teaching kids where their food
comes from. The Arnolds host the
event so that elementary students can
have a first-hand look at how animals
and crops grow on a working farm.
More than 500 students, teachers
and parents visit the Arnold’s 300acre farm over the course of a two-day
event in late April. 2014 marked the
third year for the Crawford County
Fun on the Farm event.
Vicki is a Kindergarten teacher
at Alma Primary School and Randy
farms their cattle, chicken and strawberry operation full time. He is also a
current director on the Farm Credit
of Western Arkansas board.
Randy explains the idea came
out of discussions he had with his
county extension agent and evolved
as he shared the idea with wife Vicki, a
teacher. Vicki’s professional perspective
helped frame the field-trip idea into ageappropriate learning centers, he says.
“For kids with no connection
to farming, the supermarket is the
only link in the food chain they understand,” says Randy. “We started
doing this because there’s a definite
need for kids to learn what a farm is
and where our food comes from.”
The direct connection between
agriculture, food, and common
consumer products is emphasized
at learning centers manned by
volunteers. Students milk a replica
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10
A sheep shearing demonstration is coupled with a discussion about the uses for wool.
Replica cows provide an opportunity for milking.
Joyce Ridenour and Connie Bates of the Van Buren office serve lunch.
cow and discuss how it ends up in
their local supermarket. A Crawford
County Cooperative Extension Service volunteer uses an oversize fabric
hamburger to explain how every
part of the hamburger – from pattie
to pickle - is produced by farmers.
A sheep shearing demonstration
includes discussion about wool clothing. A bee-keeper explains how he
harvests honey. Kids are surprised to
learn from an Arkansas Beef Council display that cows play a role in
everything from candy to cosmetics.
Kids get to peer inside a working
breeder hen house and watch O.K.
Foods volunteers demonstrate how
eggs are collected, stored and shipped
to the hatchery.
The event is scheduled to coincide with strawberry harvest so that
students can visit the Arnold Fam-
ily Farms strawberry patch. They
learn how strawberries are planted,
watered, fertilized, and picked. They
also learn that weather plays an
important role in the crop’s success.
Randy sends berries home with each
child, as well.
Undoubtedly, at the end of the day
students and adults alike leave with
a better understanding of the role
agriculture plays in our daily lives.
“You can’t expect a child who has
never visited a farm to understand
where their hamburger or chicken nuggets come from,” Randy explains.
A participating teacher explains,
“There’s nothing I can say
or do in the classroom that
makes an impression the way
this one day does.”
An up-close look at a breeder hen house.
“There’s nothing I can say or do in the
classroom that makes an impression
the way this one day does.”
“I’m just trying to do my part to
tell the story of agriculture and help
the next generation understand the
importance of farming,” Randy Arnold explains.
Farm Credit’s role
Van Buren Vice President and
Branch Manager Andrea Leding
assists at both farm events because
the Dalmuts and Arnolds are both
Van Buren customers.
“It’s satisfying to see the looks on
the kids’ faces when they get to actually hold a baby chick or pet a sheep,”
Andrea explains. “It’s become a tradition for me to bring my own children
along to help and they love it.”
Andrea Leding, James Crabtree,
A look at where honey comes from.
Connie Bates and Joyce Ridenour
from Farm Credit’s Van Buren branch
office all participate. From providing
and handing out snacks, to cooking meals for the children or adult
volunteers, to providing any extras
the events may need, the entire staff
rolls up their sleeves and pitches in.
“Andrea and the Van Buren crew
have been helping us from the start
and we couldn’t do it without them,”
Danny Dalmut explains. “I can’t
stress enough how much help they
are. There’s been at least one year
where we wouldn’t have pulled it
off without them.”
Volunteers are critical
The Dalmuts and Arnolds obviously share a passion for teaching the
next generation about farm life. They
also agree that enlisting the help of
friends, family and the community is
of Western Arkansas Van Buren
the key to a successful event.
branch staff.
Randy Arnold calls on a number
of community resources, friends and
Telling the farming story
family to staff the learning centers.
As the general population beDanny Dalmut relies almost exclucomes further removed from farming
sively on family and friends.
and our food supply, it’s great to have
Son Zach Dalmut takes a vacation
Farm Credit members committed to
day from engineering work at the
telling the story of farming.
NRCS to add a helping hand, the
And not just telling the story, but
grandkids are in charge of the everactually opening their farms to buspopular stick-horse races, neighbors
loads of eager school children who will
arrive to drive tractors for the hay
forever equate their day on the farm
ride, and retired veterinarian Doc
with the important role agriculture
Tate and wife Sandy bring their horse
plays in the food they eat every day.
and teach horse care. Farm Bureau
Interested in your own local farm
volunteers also assist as needed.
day field trip event? Danny Dalmut
O.K. Foods personnel not only
(479-651-4532) and Randy Arnold
bring chickens, eggs, and newly
(479-883-0831) are happy to answer
hatched chicks to pass around, but
questions and offer advice.
they also provided the chicken for
the children’s meals this year. Andrea
and James from Farm Credit did
the cooking and Financial Services
Specialists Connie Bates and Joyce
Ridenour handled the serving.
O.K. Foods employees Katrina
Striplin and Rachel Scott have participated for several years.
“O.K. Foods is passionate about
helping kids learn where their food
comes from,” explains Katrina, “so
we’re thrilled to help Danny and Jeane.”
Many of the volunteers are Farm
Credit members, including Katrina
Striplin and Doug Ellison. Doug is
a long-time friend and neighbor of
the Dalmuts who has helped from
the beginning.
“I just call my friends and twist their
arms,” laughs Danny. “We’ve done
Randy Arnold hosts the annual Fun on the
it long enough to know how many
Farm event and sends strawberries home
volunteers we need, what works, and
with participants.
how quickly to move
Crawford County volunteers helping with Fun on the Farm
the children
Arkansas Beef Council
through the
Arkansas Farm Bureau
activities.”
Arkansas Forestry Commission
“I
apArnold Family Farms
preciate AnCrawford County 4-H volunteers
drea, James,
Crawford County Cattleman’s Association
Connie and
Crawford County Conservation District
Joyce comCrawford County Cooperative Extension Service
ing to cook
Crawford County EHC volunteers
and serve
Crawford County Farm Bureau
lunch,” DanCrawford County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee
ny says, reFarm Credit of Western Arkansas
ferring to the
U of A Vegetable Research Station
Farm Credit
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2014 Photo Co
Above – Western Arkansas Adult
Division $300 1st Place Winner
“Fall Leaves” Becky Foster, Danville.
Right – Western Arkansas Employee
Division $300 1st Place Winner “Lawson
in Field” James Crabtree, Van Buren
branch office. Below – Western Arkansas Youth Division $300 1st Place Winner “Antique Farmall tractor” Matthew
Nannemann (age 15), Nashville.
Photos and additional prize winner placings and
information for the Adult, Employee and Youth
Divisions of the 2014 Western Arkansas Photo
Contest, along with similar information on winners of the 2014 statewide “I’m FARM CREDIT”
Photo Contest, are available online at www.
myaglender.com
Start taking your photos n
“best shot”opportunities thr
on our
ontest Winners
2014 “I’m FARM CREDIT” Photo Contest $500 Grand Prize Winner Cody Collins, Batesville (AgHeritage Farm Credit Services).
2014 “I’m FARM CREDIT” Photo Contest (Farm Credit
of Western Arkansas) $200 1st Place Winner Denise
Burgess, Shirley
2014 “I’m FARM CREDIT” Photo Contest (Farm
Credit of Western Arkansas) $100 2nd Place
Winner Becky Foster, Danville
now for our 2015 photo contests...watch for your
roughout the year and look for 2015 contest details
website www.myaglender.com
2014 “I’m FARM CREDIT” Photo
Contest (Farm Credit of Western
Arkansas) $50 3rd Place Winner
Stephanie Denton, Midland
2014 Farm Families
Farm Credit of Western Arkansas
members earn county honors
C
ONGRATULATIONS
to our members who
have been named
county Farm Families based
on their stellar farming,
community leadership and
home management skills.
17 member families have
earned Farm Family county
distinction this year.
Two of the eight district
winners are Western Arkansas members. The Wilkins
and Broach families will attend the Farm Family of the
Year banquet in December
where the state winner will
be announced. The state
winner will then compete in
and attend the 2015 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern
Farmer of the Year competition in Georgia next fall.
Farm Credit is a proud
statewide sponsor of the
Farm Family program.
14
2014 DISTRICT WINNERS:
Northwest: Billy Joe & Courtney Wilkins and family, Lamar, AR
(Johnson County)
Western: Richard & Jennifer Broach and family, Vandervoort, AR
(Polk County)
WESTERN ARKANSAS COUNTY WINNERS:
Benton County
Cody & Carrie Hays, Gentry, AR
Boone County Bill & JoAnne Rowland and family, Harrison, AR
Conway County
Greg & Rachel Hart (Hart & Son), Springfield, AR
Crawford County Sean & Stephanie Brister and family, Alma, AR
Faulkner County Bill and Jonathan Wallace and family, Conway, AR
Franklin County
Mike & Patty Stiles and family, Branch, AR
Howard County
Mark & Karen Kitchens and family, Dierks, AR
Layfayette County Jeremy & Tracie Kitchens and family, Lewisville, AR
Madison County Bryan & Stephanie Reynolds and family, Huntsville, AR
Perry County Jason & Sara Gipson and family, Houston, AR
Pike County Mike Baker and son, Glenwood, AR
Searcy County
Heath Yarbrough, Marshall, AR
Sevier County
James & Lana Van Voast and family, De Queen, AR
Washington County Mike & Teresa Young and family, Fayetteville, AR
Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest
Farm Credit sponsors statewide prize money
F
ARM CREDIT TEAMED UP
with the Arkansas Agriculture
Department to support school
garden programs across the state. All
Arkansas schools, grades Pre-K – 12,
were eligible to enter, and gardens
were chosen by a committee of gardening experts.
$1,500 Overall Winning Arkansas
Grown School Garden of the Year
Harp Elementary, Springdale
$500 Arkansas Grown Best Nutrition
Education Based School Garden
Asbell Elementary, Fayetteville
$500 Arkansas Grown Best Environmental Education Based School
Garden
Magnet Cove High School, Malvern
$500 Arkansas Grown Best Community Collaboration School Garden
North Little Rock High School –
Freshman Campus, North Little Rock
“We are pleased to partner with
Farm Credit to recognize the school
garden programs that are crucial
for educating students about the
benefits of fresh produce,” stated
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture,
Butch Calhoun.
“The life skills and nutrition lessons learned from the hands-on experience of school garden programs
Top photo – Vice President Darla Larson (second from left) and Regional Vice President Ken
Knies (third from left) assist with winning check presentation.
will serve the students well the rest
of their lives,” he continued.
“The Arkansas Department of
Agriculture looks forward to schools
across the state participating in next
year’s contest.”
Farm Credit will sponsor the prize
money for this program again in 2015.
2015 Scholarship Program
20 - $1,000 Scholarships • Applications due by March 13, 2015
(Scholarships awarded in early April)
2015 Arkansas Women in Agriculture
10th anniversary conference and
tradeshow highlighting agriculture
and producers from across the state.
March 12-13 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.
Details and registration at arkansaswomeninag.com.
WHO QUALIFIES:
Farm Credit of Western Arkansas members (including youth loan members), and children
and grandchildren of current members.
Current member is defined as having an active loan as of January 1, 2015.
(Immediate family members of Farm Credit employees or directors are not eligible.)
Graduating high school seniors planning to attend a fully-accredited college, university or
trade program. Must be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by the school.
Current college students with at least one full year remaining at a fully-accredited college,
university or trade program. Must be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by the school.
Applicants with less than one full year remaining are not eligible.
(Scholarships are awarded for the fall 2014/ spring 2015 school year.)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
High School Seniors – ACT score of 20, or higher • Current college students – GPA of 3.0, or higher
Financial need and/or special circumstances considered, if specified on application.
COMPLETE details/2015 application form will be posted at www.myaglender.com by January 1, 2015.
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news briefs
New faces
Shelly Johnson has joined the Fayetteville office as a Financial Services
Texarkana for the past 10 years. They
have three children, Ashlan (age 22),
Miller (age 17) and Lizzy (age 16).
Becca Freyaldenhoven has been
hired as Director of Community Services as she bridges the communication gap we have at times with the
and Ronnie Beau (age 3) continue
to live today. She is a University of
Arkansas at Monticello graduate and
most recently worked as the editor
of the Glenwood newspaper. She
continues to cover local high school
basketball for the paper and has her
own photography business.
Colton Capps began his Farm
Credit career as a summer intern two
years ago and has continued to work
periodically as needed, and as his
Specialist. She has more than 24 years
of experience with the Washington
County Cooperative Extension Service, so she is no stranger to agriculture
and already knew the Fayetteville
branch crew. She lives in Prairie Grove
and she and husband Tod have a
daughter Stephanie (age 24) and son
Josh (age 22). Her hobbies include
hiking, kayaking and camping.
Angie Clinton joined the Texarkana branch staff in early August. She
has 23 years of experience as a legal
assistant. She is a Miller County native and is an active part of running
the family cattle business. She and
husband BJ have owned and operated
a cattle, row crop and pecan farm in
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Hispanic and Latino communities.
She works from 11—3 PM for us and
continues to teach online Spanish
classes to High School students in
the mornings. She was raised speaking Spanish in the border town of
Negales, Arizona. She and husband
Chad live in Russellville along with
their children Shelby (age 16) and
William (age 11).
Danielle Brown has joined the
Glenwood office as a Financial
Services Specialist. More than three
generations of her family have lived
in the Kirby area where she, husband
Mich and children Auburn (age 4)
college class schedule has permitted.
He has now accepted a permanent
position and will begin working as a
Credit Trainee upon graduation from
SAU in December. He is majoring in
Ag Business.
Jordan Pearce worked as a summer intern this past summer and will
transition to a permanent position as a
Credit Trainee upon graduation from
SAU in December. She is earning an
Ag Business degree and is from De
Queen.
Changing Places
Chris Sossamon has accepted
an Appraiser Trainee position. He
worked as a summer intern in 2012
and joined Farm Credit as a fulltime
credit trainee after graduating from
the University of Arkansas in 2013.
He has a degree in Ag Systems and
Technology. He is an Ozark native
and his hobbies include hunting
and fishing.
New online banking app
Look what is coming! To make
your online banking experience
quicker and easier using your smart
phone or iPad, we are rolling out a
mobile app just in time for the holidays! Look for our mobile app in I
Tunes and GooglePlay.
2015 Scholarship Program
Details of our 2015 Scholarship
Program will be posted on myaglender.com after January, 1, 2015.
Applications are due March 13. 20 $1,000 scholarships will be awarded
in early March.
Connect with FARM CREDIT on social media!
Find us on FaceBook at Farm
Credit of Western Arkansas and on
Twitter at Farm Credit WEAR.
Victoria Maloch Elected 2014-2015 National FFA Officer
Victoria Maloch, daughter of Farm
Credit members Bruce and Martha
Maloch of Emerson, was elected to
the six-person national 2014-2015
FFA OfficerTeamat the national FFA
Convention.
Victoria already has begun her duties
as national FFA Secretary. Interestingly,
this is the same national FFA office that
her father Bruce held 38 years ago.
“This is the first time that a national
leadership position has been held by
both father and daughter,” Victoria
proudly explains.
Victoria will put her ag business
and pre-law studies at the University
of Arkansas on hold as she commits
to a year of service with the national
FFA organization. She will travel more
than 100,000 national and international
miles as she interacts with business and industry leaders, FFA members
and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state
FFA leaders and the public. She joins five fellow national officers in leading
personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members across
the country. The officers will also help set policies to guide FFA’s future and
promote agricultural literacy.
Victoria served as the Arkansas FFAAssociation president, Emerson chapter
president and secretary. She was a Star Chapter Farmer, state prepared public
speaking winner and chairman of the state parliamentary procedure team.
Victoria’s long-term goals include working on agricultural policy or agricultural lobbying as well as legislation regarding hunger and food insecurity.
She also aspires to serve as an elected official.
“As a national officer, I want to cultivate a passion for our organization
and show members they too can have an impact on others, as long as they’re
placing the focus on other people instead of themselves,” she said. “There
could be no greater accomplishment than serving as the catalyst for students,
lifting them up and turning their spark for FFA into a fire for them to share.”
Victoria says she hopes to encourage a more active and diverse membership and inspire passion for FFA among members. Congratulations, Victoria!
Directors (L - R) Mark Wilcox, Steve Burke, Bob Dixon, Randy Arnold, Ron Hubbard and Bruce
Alford served lunch at the all-employee meeting in October.
Facebook: farmcreditwesternar
Twitter:
Farm Credit WEAR
Celebrating with steak!
The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association treated Farm Credit employees
to steaks at the all-employee meeting
in October. The steaks were a thankyou for the cooker Farm Credit gave
the organization.
As an added bonus, a number of
Farm Credit Directors then served
the steaks that day in appreciation of
employee hard work in reaching the
$1-billion level of business this fall.
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Enriching rural life. TM
OF WESTERN ARKANSAS
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
HOLIDAY HOURS:
December 29, 30 & 31 Monday – Wednesday
New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 1
Day after New Year’s
Friday, January 2
Normal hours, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:30 – 1:00 PM for lunch)
Closed
Normal hours, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:30 – 1:00 PM for lunch)
NOTE – Payments to be credited in 2014 MUST be made by NOON on Wednesday, December 31st. If mailing your payment, please
allow FIVE business days for delivery.
PARTING SHOT