MISSION IN ACTION 2021 CO OPER ATIV E S TE WA RDSHIP REP ORT
A YEAR OF RECONNECTING CONTENTS
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Environment and Sustainability
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Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Rural Communities
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Agriculture Education Look for these icons across each page of the report to show the multiple impacts of our efforts.
2 | MISSION IN ACTION
As a cooperative association, MidAtlantic Farm Credit strives to fulfill our mission in every action we take: “Supporting rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow.” Just as our members are stewards of the land, we strive to be stewards of their financial needs. The main purpose of a cooperative is to recognize the economic, cultural and social needs of the organization’s members and its surrounding community. Here at Farm Credit, we have a strong commitment to our local community and a focus on strengthening the areas we serve through five main efforts, listed to the left in the table of contents. Our employees spend a large portion of their free time supporting farmers, agribusinesses, and the rural communities in which they live by donating and volunteering their time and resources. We are proud of our culture at Farm Credit and how it aligns so well with our mission and the values of our members. 2021 was a year of reconnecting with our communities and peers. Outlined in this report are some of the ways our cooperative structure was displayed in 2021 to reconnect with and make a positive impact on agriculture and rural communities. On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, I thank you for supporting Farm Credit and welcome you to join us as we continue to make an impact across our footprint this year. Tom Truitt Chief Executive Officer, MidAtlantic Farm Credit
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY “We believe in supporting climate-smart agriculture, working with producers who leave the land better than they found it.” Farm Credit is dedicated to working with national, state, and local agencies and organizations to financially support our members as they seek best management practices and educational opportunities toward climate-smart agriculture and sustainability on their farms. • Helped bring the Leopold Conservation Award to Maryland • Sponsored state and county agronomy meetings across the region | • Supported state-wide best management practice (BMP) loans and programs • Partnered with the Maryland LILAC program, Delmarva Soil Summit, Delaware Maryland 4-R Alliance, and Lancaster Farmland Trust (among many others) |
2021 COOPERATIVE STEWARDSHIP REPORT |
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YOUNG, BEGINNING, AND SMALL FARMERS “We foster successful producers by helping them grow with financing from the ground up.” Farm Credit’s young, beginning, and small farmer loan program is designed to help producers access credit and build a solid foundation of success. We understand that it takes more than just financing — it’s the community connections and industry relations that advance our members beyond the traditional farmers to grow. AWARDED TO FARMERS the inaugural Farmers on 64,000 | through the Rise program |
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• Held Young, Beginning, Small (YBS) Farmers Week • Published a free Beginning Farmer Resources Kit | • Supported state Farm Bureau Young Farmers’ programs, LEAD Maryland, LEADelaware, VALOR, PA RULE, and Shore Leadership, among many other organizations | • Hosted the AgBiz Masters program for over 100 registered participants |
4 | MISSION IN ACTION
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION “We are advocates for all farms and farmers in the mid-Atlantic region, regardless of how, what, who, or why they farm.” • Partnered with the Pennsylvania Urban Ag Grant program, the Baltimore Garden Irrigation Grant program, MANRRS, and HBCU colleges in our territory | • The Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement provided two $10,000 scholarships to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore | • Jointly funded a MARBIDCO Urban Ag Loan incentive program | • Engaged our internal Inclusion and Diversity Council to host an ‘Understanding LGBTQ+ and Gender Terms’ training
2021 COOPERATIVE STEWARDSHIP REPORT |
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RURAL COMMUNITIES “We are proud to be a champion for our rural communities to ensure they are connected, protected, and have access to resources for their health and wellbeing.” HOURS BY EMPLOYEES 960 | VOLUNTEER
6,600 | DONATED BY EMPLOYEES DONATED TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS $ our five-state footprint 140,000 | across $
DISASTER RELIEF/SAFETY • Partnered with Nationwide to provide grain bin rescue tubes and training to local fire stations in Maryland and Pennsylvania | • Donations to Southwest Louisiana Hurricane Disaster Relief, Kentucky and Tennessee Tornado Relief, and a Pennsylvania farm after a barn fire
HEALTH & WELLNESS • Supported mental health programs and resources in agriculture | • Farm Credit’s Member Assistance Program provides members with access to free, anonymous benefits like counseling, legal services, identity theft recovery, and more. |
6 | MISSION IN ACTION
AGRICULTURE EDUCATION “We are committed to investing in the future of agriculture and the education of our consumers.” Supported the Nuffield International Scholars Program, Junior Achievement Ag Day, 4-H and FFA programs across the region, and the ABC’s of Chicken book | |
Through the Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, we awarded 16 students $10,000 each through the 2021 scholarship program: | Zachary Baker, Adamstown, MD Brandon Bixler, East Earl, PA McKenna Breeding, Felton, DE Cahlen Cheatham, Myersville, MD Colton DeValle, Damascus, MD Taylor Halbleib, Elizabethtown, PA Maddie Musser, Mount Joy, PA Arilyn Oatman, Holtwood, PA
Paige Peiffer, Lebanon, PA Sarah Scott, Bird-In-Hand, PA Skyler Slimmer, Myersville, MD Lynne Thomas, Fallston, MD Rachel Waldner, Harrisburg, PA Leslie Webb, Greenwood, DE Rachel Widmaier, Cambridge, MD Garrett Wright, Mardela Springs, MD
Held our 2021 Virtual Showcase Contest to award 4-H and FFA youth: | Essay Champion Elizabeth Green, New Windsor, MD Essay Reserve Champion Emily Vincent, Boyce, VA Video Champion Cohen Miller, Marietta, PA Video Reserve Champion Emily Fritz, Westminster, MD
Additionally, the Foundation awarded 11 nonprofit organizations with funding through the Community Education Program: | | 2022 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show: $3,000 Berkeley County Youth Fair: $2,000 Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation: $10,000 Chesapeake College Foundation: $10,000 Delaware Center for Inland Bays: $3,000 Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation: $10,000 GoggleWorks – SOIL in the City Program: $10,000 Linganore FFA Chapter: $2,000 Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation: $10,000 Virginia 4-H Horse Program: $2,500 Virginia Ag in the Classroom: $5,000
Donated agriculture books to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital |
2021 COOPERATIVE STEWARDSHIP REPORT |
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