2022 Community Impact Report

COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT

“MORE THAN EVER, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE.”

Your future grows here

Curt Hudnutt, American AgCredit Chief Executive Officer

Firmly rooted in American AgCredit’s core values is an unwavering commitment to the communities where we work and live. Our customers — especially young and beginning farmers and ranchers — are paramount to the continued success of American agriculture and our nation’s food security. That’s why we offer them the financial tools and resources needed to thrive in this ever-changing socioeconomic environment. Our Local Community Impact program is how we show up for our communities. We’re honored to support the organizations who share the same passion for the next generation — and, therefore, the sustainability and viability of agriculture — as we do.

2022 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

TOTAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

$1,374,786

NEXTGENERATION AGRICULTURE

$764,286

FOOD ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS

$610,500

NONPROFIT PARTNERS 100+*

EMPLOYEEDIRECTED HOLIDAY GIVING $350,000

STAFF VOLUNTEER HOURS

1,222

When we water the flowers, our communities will grow.

PILLAR 1 PILLAR 2 PILLAR 3

THREE MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS

NEXT-GEN AG

American AgCredit is committed to investing in the future of agriculture, whether that be young and beginning producers, or the programs and practices that arise to serve evolving consumer preferences.

FOOD FOR PEOPLE

We proudly support organizations working to end hunger, increasing the food security of our communities and indirectly supporting the farmers who are providing for our country.

DISASTER RELIEF

We stand ready to support our customers and communities in times of need.

To grow our communities, we put down deeper roots.

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT:

A Visionary Commitment to Agriculture in New Mexico

The continued strength and growth of New Mexico agriculture was a key focus in the recent merger between American AgCredit (AAC) and Farm Credit New Mexico (FCNM). To keep FCNM capital working for New Mexico agriculture, American AgCredit has established a $10 million Rural Roots Endowment.

The endowment is focused on the future — a commitment to supporting farmers, ranchers, and our neighbors who live and work in rural America.

The Rural Roots Endowment will support New Mexico agriculture’s success well into the future.

American AgCredit designed the endowment to provide grants and direct funds to New Mexico agricultural organizations that support the next generation of farmers and ranchers, such as:

• New Mexico youth organizations (FFA, 4-H, junior livestock, scholarships, etc.).

• Underserved populations of producers.

• Protecting New Mexico agriculture.

• Fighting hunger in New Mexico.

• Continuing ag education in New Mexico.

To manage the endowment, American AgCredit is proud to partner with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM). For over 34 years, the CFSNM has awarded grants, scholarships, and emergency funding in New Mexico. Rural Roots Endowment grant funds will be released starting in 2024.

Total Next-Gen Ag Investment

$764,286

*Young: Aged 35 years or younger; Beginning: 10 years or fewer farming experience; Small: Under $250,000 in annual gross farm income. These categories are not mutually exclusive. As such, there is some overlap in the number of loans and size of the loans among categories. These numbers reflect new and renewal loans in 2022.

Peña’s Pecan Nursery, Las Cruces, New Mexico

J. Duffey Land and Livestock, Roswell, New Mexico

PILLAR ONE: NEXT-GEN AG

Growing Future Ag Leaders

The evolution of agriculture is inevitable — and exciting — and the next generation of America’s farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of this evolution. We know the importance of supporting young and beginning producers as they grow and learn the complex and dynamic business of agriculture. That’s why we offer specialty lending programs for young and beginning farmers, providing them access to financing that would otherwise not be available — and then we partner with local educators to equip producers with the specialized training they need to succeed. After all, they’re the future of agriculture.

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: Garden City Community College | GARDEN CITY, KANSAS

As a part of Garden City Community College’s (GCCC) Title III Hispanic Serving Institution STEM Grant, a new Crop Production Technology program launched the fall 2023 semester.

In 2022, the GCCC Endowment Association received a $50,000

donation from American AgCredit to support a new 48’ x 84’ greenhouse. The donation enabled GCCC to purchase a larger and more robust structure than originally planned through the initial grant, and it will be a core component of the college’s Crop Production Technology program.

University of Nevada Extension

Thanks to a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, American AgCredit partnered with the University of Nevada Extension to develop the Nevada Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program. The program was designed as a certification process for

beginning farmers and ranchers. With two track options and over 120 attendees to date, the program provides basic skills for farming and ranching on small acreages or for livestock production for local consumption.

The new program provides yearround, hands-on experience for students to learn how crops are grown, maintained, and evaluated throughout the growing period — setting a strong foundation for the next generation to enter the ag workforce or production ag industry.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AG

American AgCredit, three other Farm Credit associations, and CoBank combined to give $1 million to support the Kansas State University College of Agriculture’s innovation centers for grain, food, animal, and agronomy research. This investment will fund new facilities and renovations of current buildings, along with improvements in the technology and equipment necessary for interdisciplinary, cuttingedge research. Contributors to this investment are American AgCredit, CoBank, High Plains Farm Credit, Frontier Farm Credit, and Farm Credit of Western Kansas.

The future of agriculture is in the hands of young and beginning farmers and ranchers.

Timberline Flower Farm, Reno, Nevada

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: Veterans to Farmers | YAMPA, COLORADO

Protectors to Providers

American AgCredit is proud to support Veterans to Farmers, an organization that shares our same passion for people, agriculture, and sustainability.

Veterans to Farmers exemplifies community, learning, togetherness and agriculture, and this is exactly why AAC donated $100,000 — to support three years of the newly granted program. Thirty thousand dollars of grants were distributed to veterans in 2023.

This partnership was a genuine match.

At American AgCredit, a critical part of our mission is building the future of agriculture by supporting young and beginning farmers and ranchers. We support the next generation of agriculture through a variety of specialized trainings and programs.

Located in the Denver metro area and Yampa, Colorado, Veterans to Farmers helps train and educate veterans transitioning out of the military to learn and to grow. This program connects veterans to resources, training, and employment opportunities as they return to civilian life. Reassimilating can be extremely difficult; therefore, Veterans to Farmers helps veterans find their purpose in agriculture.

From protectors to providers, Veterans to Farmers believes every veteran has an opportunity for a “Second Service.” American AgCredit is helping make this happen for grant recipients across Colorado. As participating veterans help to build a better food system — they are serving their country in a meaningful way once again.

A THREE-OF-A-KIND FFA FUNDRAISER

Throughout the years, our beloved vintage Chevy truck — affectionately known as Aggie — was an icon of our Association and a piece of our history. Used in our marketing materials, at trade shows and in community parades, these beloved Aggie Chevy trucks were a staple with customers at industry events.

A core component of our mission is supporting the next generation in agriculture. Honoring our legacy and looking forward to the future, we chose to donate three Aggie Chevy trucks to the State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundations of California, Colorado, and Kansas –associations within our lending territory.

Through raffles and online tickets, the Aggie pickup raffle raised over $181,000 for FFA Foundations in all three states, supporting agriculture education, youth leadership, and other special community events and programs.

With great responsibility comes great purpose.

To learn more about Veterans to Farmers, scan the QR code to watch a short video.

Grant recipient John Bauman with the American AgCredit team at the Veterans to Farmers Barn Party.

California FFA students attend Chevy truck auction.

Fighting food insecurity starts with investing in the next generation.

PILLAR TWO: FOOD FOR PEOPLE Share the Bounty 2

We believe everyone should have access to high-quality nutrition. Much of American AgCredit’s giving efforts focus on local food banks, nutrition educators, and other hunger relief organizations across our footprint. Giving back to local food banks also supports the farmers who produce the food. Together, food banks and farmers are helping fight food insecurity in our communities.

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT:

POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED

2,197,800

DOLLARS CONTRIBUTED $610,500

MEALS PROVIDED/ PEOPLE IMPACTED

1,861,500

Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen at Starlight Elementary School | WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA

The future of ag lives with the next generation, and that means it’s critical to introduce young children to agriculture. That’s why American AgCredit partners with Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, an organization that’s giving kids and the broader community the opportunity to see all the different aspects of agriculture.

This is a nationwide education initiative that was created to enrich the lives of elementary and middle school children through a fun, fresh perspective on food. The program integrates gardens and teaching kitchens in schools as interactive learning environments and provides

To learn more about Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, scan the QR code to watch a short video.

children an opportunity to make meaningful connections between their core subjects and the world of food.

Starlight Elementary School, located in Watsonville, California, is one grant recipient from the program, boasting a 1,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art

kitchen and a garden approaching 10,000 square feet. American AgCredit not only provides monetary support but also donates supplies, such as worms and native plants, and our employees volunteer onsite, too.

Starlight Elementary School, Watsonville, California

When our local community is hurting, we stand ready to support.

PILLAR THREE: DISASTER RELIEF

Need headline here

Standing with Hawaii 3

When devastating wildfires wreaked havoc in Hawaii earlier this year, our heart went out to the families of our employees, our customers, and the entire state of Hawaii as they endured this hardship. That’s why American AgCredit joined forces with rural banking partner CoBank and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, also known as Farmer Mac, to donate $40,000 to Maui Food Bank to help get food to the people who needed it during this difficult time.

GoFarm Hawaii Grant Recipient: Sally Rizzo

American AgCredit partners with the University of Hawaii to support GoFarm Hawaii, one of the largest farmer development initiatives in the country. GoFarm Hawaii provides young, beginning, and small farmers with agricultural business training and education.

In 2023, American AgCredit provided grants to several deserving graduates in the GoFarm Hawaii program. One of those graduates was Sally Rizzo.

Utilizing her American AgCreditmatched grant, Sally was able to increase the scale of her overall production. She converted a foam-

insulated shipping container into a packing room and installed a post-harvest wash station for root vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens.

“The GoFarm Hawaii program demystified farming for me. I graduated feeling empowered, with a very clear path and purpose in front of me,” said Rizzo. “The American AgCredit matching grant removed massive barriers related to my startup infrastructure, enabling my farm to scale up in a way that ensures our profitability and sustainability for years to come.”

— Sally Rizzo

PILLAR THREE: DISASTER RELIEF

“When natural disasters impact the communities in which we live and work, we always stand ready to support. It’s deeply engrained into the fabric of who we are at American AgCredit.”

— Curt Hudnutt, CEO

Sweet Land Farm, Waialua, Hawaii

HARVEST PARTNERS SHOWCASE

CALIFORNIA

California FFA Foundation calaged.org

Center for Land-Based Learning Woodland, CA landbasedlearning.org

Ceres Community Project Marin & Sonoma Counties, CA ceresproject.org

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) Davis, CA caff.org

Community Food Bank of San Benito Hollister, CA communityfoodbankofsbc.org

Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation Sonoma County, CA foundation.santarosa.edu

Food for People Eureka, CA foodforpeople.org

Growing Hope Gardens (GHG) Los Angeles based, CA growinghopegardens.org

Indian Valley Food Pantry Plumas County/Greenville, CA facebook.com/indianvalleyfpg

Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA) Central Coast & Northern California kitchentableadvisors.org

Merced County Food Bank Merced, CA mmcfb.org

North Coast Grower’s Association Arcata, CA northcoastgrowersassociation.org

Redwood Empire Food Bank Santa Rosa, CA refb.org

Ripon Community Garden Ripon, CA facebook.com/ groups/1507482056141155

Solutions for Change Vista, CA solutionsforchange.org

Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation Santa Rosa, CA scggf.org

Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen at Starlight Elementary School Watsonville, CA starlight.pvusd.net

United Samaritans Foundation Turlock, CA unitedsamaritans.org

COLORADO

Colorado Farm to Table Salida, CO coloradofarmtotable.org

Colorado FFA Foundation Greeley, CO coloradoffafoundation.org

Food Bank of the Rockies Grand Junction & Denver, CO foodbankrockies.org

Guadalupe Center Greeley, CO ccdenver.org/greeley

Valley Food Partnership Montrose, CO valleyfoodpartnership.org

Veterans to Farmers Broomfield, CO veteranstofarmers.org

Weld County Food Bank Greeley, CO weldfoodbank.org

HAWAII Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii Kailua, HI agleaderhi.org

GoFarm Hawaii O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai’i Island gofarmhawaii.org

Hawaii Farm Bureau Kunia Camp, HI hfbf.org

Hawaii FFA Foundation hawaiiffa.weebly.com

Hawaii Food Bank Honolulu & Lihue, HI hawaiifoodbank.org

Hawaii Food Basket Hilo, HI hawaiifoodbasket.org

KANSAS

Emmaus House Garden City, KS facebook.com/ finneycountyshelterandfood

Garden City Community College STEM Garden City, KS gcccks.edu

Grow & Learn Childcare Center Leoti, KS sites.google.com/ growandlearnchildcare.org/ site/home

ICT Food Rescue Wichita, KS Ictfoodrescue.org

Kansas FFA Foundation Manhattan, KS ksffa.org/foundation

Kansas Grown! Farmers’ Market Wichita, KS kansas-grown.com

Manna House Dodge City, KS facebook.com/mannahousedc

The Treehouse Wichita, KS wichitatreehouse.org

NEVADA

Food Bank of Northern Nevada Sparks, NV fbnn.org

Friends in Service Helping (F.I.S.H.) Elko, NV nvfish.com

Nevada FFA Foundation nvaged.com

Soulful Seeds Reno & Sparks, NV soulful-seeds.com

We support the nonprofit organizations we work with at various levels, the highest of which we call our Harvest Partners.

To learn more about our Harvest Partners, scan the QR code.

For more information about our local community impact, scan the QR code.

Your future grows here