Partners Spring 2020

GreenStone FCS

Spring 2020

Promoting the business success of our customers and the rural community

CHRIS, DEA

AND THE

BIG RED BARN Schell pg. 5

+S pring 2020

Market Outlook

+2 0 Years as GreenStone + Dairy Revenue Protection

SPRING 20 5 YBSF

Feature. The massive new barn sits off the road in a wooded area.

Surrounded by nature, it’s just a short ride from bustling downtown Pinckney.

The big red barn is the heart of the Schell family, and the epicenter of the Schell Family Farm.

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5

29

37

41

21 GreenStone Story. The merger of four regional Farm Credit associations in Michigan, with the addition of the Upper Peninsula and northeast Wisconsin, created a dynamic financial cooperative.

37 Accounting Feature. As a child, Roger Stokes worked blueberry fields along with his parents; now, he owns and operates a large production and processing center in Grand Junction, MI.

41 Crop Insurance Feature. GreenStone 29 Country Living Feature. Jeff Schweiger was determined to be living in the new house he was building by Christmas. After seven months he was cutting it a little close to his goal.

now provides dairy producers with an exclusive tool designed expressly for members who have signed a Dairy Revenue Protection policy.

3 CEO Comments.

President and CEO, Dave Armstrong, addresses the changes, impacts and responses to COVID-19.

9 Guest Column.

What can be done to facilitate a healthy environment? The blueprint for success involves freedom, prosperity, and ethics.

11 Market Outlook.

As one might expect, this market outlook covers a discussion on the global outbreak of the “COVID-19” coronavirus and the resulting effect on financial markets.

25 Directors’ Perspective.

Hear from two of your GreenStone Directors on their view from the board room and the tractor seat.

27 Legislative Matters.

The classic story from 1874 of the Little Red Hen resonates now more than ever.

28 PAC Progress.

Thank you for being a champion of our communities and the agricultural industry!

32 Health and Wellness.

Find success in 2020 by practicing a mere 20 minutes a day.

33 Guest Column.

Spring is a time many are dreaming of the echo of gobbles across the land.

35 Spring Cleaning.

It’s an activity that helps us shake off the winter mud, snow and ice, and readies our homes for sunshine and the growing season.

8 Blog Brief

14 Member News 15 Calendar of Events 16 Pause for Applause 17 Circle of Excellence 18 Candid Comments 19 Member Voting 20 COVID-19 Resources 24 Behind the Scenes

31 Blog Brief 34 Tech Tip 36 Commodity Cuisine...

Stokes Blueberry Crumb Bars

38 Tax Calendar 39 Crop Insurance News 39 Crop Insurance Calendar 42 Careers

Publisher’s Note: I’ve thought a lot about what the right message is to share today. In the end, I’m not certain I landed on the perfect decision, but these days, the perfectionist in me has been getting a tough lesson in the different ways perfect doesn’t have to be, well…perfect.

A month ago, perfect meant a winning season for my kids on the soccer field, a highly anticipated spring break trip with friends, a patient spring perfectly balanced for optimal crop growth. Today, it’s countless family game nights and Facetime squeals with friends, simple and heartfelt thank yous for every little adaption made to best serve our customers, and honest to goodness joy as the sun blinds me in my make-shift home office as my kids ask “how many more meetings do you have today, Mom?”.

Twenty years ago, four Farm Credit associations merged to create a stronger cooperative, best positioned to benefit and serve our members. The journey hasn’t always been flawless, but the value GreenStone provides members today is far more complete together than separate (page 21).

A big red barn is the symbol of the Schells’ perfect life (page 5), where they both raise their family and triumphantly farm their passion.

The Schweigers’ home, with significant loss sandwiched in between, took on many definitions over their emotional rollercoaster, and they’ve now found peace with their newly defined perfect (page 29).

I’m no different than my 550+ co-workers and 25,000 GreenStone members, wading through today’s pandemic imperfect realities. Those realities may challenge my view on perfect, but they’ve also given me meaningful energy with my family and have fervently reaffirmed my regard in your GreenStone team. The resolve, intuitive nature, and basic “do the right thing” attitude – always focused on serving our customers – has been exemplified hour after hour, day after day (page 20).

It may not be perfect every second, however you might define the word, but know that I’m here – GreenStone is here – to help make your reality as ideal as possible. We are committed to YOU. Wishing you strength and success this spring!

– Melissa This newsletter is published quarterly for the customers of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Editorial Cassie Bowman Amber Echlin Jean Macleod Melissa Rogers

Art & Design William Eva Annah Horak

Partners GreenStone Farm Credit Services 3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823 800-444-3276 marketing@greenstonefcs.com

CEO Comments:

A Spring Unlike Any Other IN LATE FEBRUARY, I HAD FINISHED MY ORIGINAL COLUMN FOR THIS SPRING EDITION OF PARTNERS AND WAS PREPARING TO ATTEND THE AGRIBANK ANNUAL MEETING IN NASHVILLE, TN (AGRIBANK IS THE WHOLESALE BANK THROUGH WHICH GREENSTONE AND THIRTEEN OTHER FARM CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS BORROW LOAN FUNDS). WHILE THE CORONAVIRUS WAS IN THE NEWS AT THAT TIME, LOCALLY IT APPEARED MORE LIKE A “RIPPLE” THOUSANDS OF MILES OUT TO SEA THAT WOULD BE OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE TO OUR WAY OF LIFE AND ROUTINES HERE. On March 11, GreenStone celebrated Patronage Day and returned $100 million to our members. At the same time, that “ripple” had grown and started to look more like a tsunami getting much too close to shore. GreenStone activated its Business Continuity Plan that week and the pandemic response team began meeting every day, monitoring the situation and implementing tactics to keep our teammates AND customers safe, while still providing needed access to funding. By the end of the week, we had temporarily closed a few offices out of an abundance of caution where there were reports of someone who had been in the branch having symptoms of illness.

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That part of the plan lasted only until the following week when similar reports came from more branches and chatter grew that the Governors of MI and WI may be issuing “shelter in place” orders. On March 19, GreenStone’s pandemic response team made the decision to close our physical offices effective Monday, March 23, and pivot to the virtual service delivery platform which we continue to utilize today to serve customers and transact business.

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While my first and foremost concern has been on the safety and health of my family, teammates, and you, our customers, I couldn’t help but question how well “Team GreenStone” would “play” once we were forced to show up “remotely” for work that first Monday morning – from our dining room tables, breakfast nooks, spare bedrooms, basement rec rooms, you name it! By the end of that day, nearly all my anxiety had faded. It was clear, all of the planning and pre-work had prepared our teams to answer their branch phones on their laptops at home and to use our secure technology to conduct just about any kind of business they used to do from their “real” office. We all quickly adapted to WebEx video conference calls instead of meeting face to face and are sharing documents electronically to collaborate as necessary.

We still have at least one person going into each office daily for a brief period to check our drop boxes for physical documents and payments, open the mail, process customers’ payments, etc., but otherwise we are basically 100% virtual, just as we have communicated in our statement to customers “WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, but our buildings are closed.”

So why did I go into this much detail about our situation? Because I want you all to know that you are NOT alone in dealing with the impact of this crisis. We have all had to make difficult decisions on a daily – sometimes hourly – basis and spend an unknown amount of time in a pervasive environment of ambiguity and uncertainty. There are few right or wrong answers, and a tremendous amount of improvisation.

While we have a Business Continuity Plan, including a pandemic plan within it, the actual event is rarely like the models and practice runs. In fact, many of the processes and tools we have employed for this pandemic were put in place over the years to improve organizational efficiency and customer convenience. Yet, they have directly supported us in this remote experience.

Farmers are typically not eligible for SBA programs but given the magnitude of the financial impact as a result of the pandemic, Congress drafted the Farm Credit System to assist with its delivery.

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We moved to laptops for all staff, put nearly all our applications in the “cloud”, increased band width and the number of ports available for remote connections, digitized many of our customer forms for electronic signatures, provided customers with My Access to do online banking, submit on line loan requests, share confidential documents securely, and more. All of that pre-work stood the test of this, hopefully, once in a lifetime situation and will likely change the way many of you do business with us for years to come.

And the change doesn’t stop there. In mid-March we also launched the State of Michigan’s long-awaited Agriculture Disaster Loan Origination Program to assist farmers who experienced losses from last year’s wet conditions. Concurrently, as unemployment numbers mounted from this year’s situation, we also implemented a payment deferral program for our customers who may be experiencing some short-term financial difficulties from COVID-19 impacts. Finally (at least as of early April when I rewrote these comments), even before the ink was dry on our standard operating procedures for the other programs, we jumped into the newly passed CARES Act SBA Paycheck Protection Program that nearly any small business with fewer than 500 employees is eligible to utilize, including farmers and agribusinesses.

Farmers are typically not eligible for SBA programs but given the magnitude of the financial impact as a result of the pandemic, Congress drafted the Farm Credit System to assist with its delivery. As with the speed of change of most of the COVID-19 actions, this program came together quickly and was announced with limited details for the lenders and the borrowers. Information on eligibility, the interest rate, submittal instructions, loan amount calculations, etc. changed hourly at times and continue to change even as I write this to you, but we’re digging in and supporting our members.

This could sound like a time of complaining or being overwhelmed, but the way I see it, it is not! This is an opportunity for GreenStone to make good on its promise to perform above expectations for its members, to put our customer first and do the right thing. We may never get another opportunity like this to really test who we are and what our organization can do if necessary. I’m certain the challenges around this pandemic aren’t over; regardless of what lies ahead, I want you to know your GreenStone team is determined to win this “championship opportunity” for you!

We will get through this! For myself, I remember Romans 8:28 “And we know all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called…” I find in times like this, we try to lean into our own understanding harder than simply coming to God and putting our faith in his sovereign power. I have no idea when we will officially declare victory over this disease, but I know the one who does, and I will do my best to keep my faith in him.

Blessings to you and your families during this difficult time!

Dave Armstrong

517-318-4105 dave.armstrong@greenstonefcs.com Partners — Spring 2020

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Chris, Dea

and The

BIG Red Barn

THE MASSIVE NEW BARN SITS OFF THE ROAD IN A WOODED AREA. SURROUNDED

BY NATURE, IT’S JUST A SHORT RIDE FROM BUSTLING DOWNTOWN PINCKNEY. THE SPLENDOR OF THIS BARN IS HARD TO DESCRIBE: IT’S AN AMAZING WEDDING VENUE; A POLISHED ROLLERBLADE ARENA; A GRADUATION PARTY LOCATION; AND AN INDOOR BASEBALL FIELD.

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GROW

Most importantly, the big red barn is the heart of the Schell family, and the epicenter of the Schell Family Farm.

“I built the barn in 2015,” says Chris Schell. “Dea designed it on a piece of paper. Most of the stuff we’ve done, we’ve done ourselves. Family and friends help, but we try to tackle as much as we can.”

Dea, Chris’s wife, was actually sketching a lifestyle as she scratched out a basic barn blueprint. She and Chris wanted a place where their three children (Alex, 9; Ellie, 6; Jake, 4) could play year-round, and decided to build their home at the side of the barn for easy access to the giant, knotty pine-paneled ‘family room’.

The business ideas for the barn came later…

Meeting in their junior year at Central Michigan University, Chris and Dea complemented each other’s vision, drive and work ethic. They started married life with full-time jobs and flipped houses on the side to save money for their dream property.

Neither were farmers, but they knew they wanted acreage and they were interested in running a hobby farm.

“Christmas trees,” nods Chris. “I grew up with a family tradition of choosing and cutting down our own Christmas tree, and I thought a small fir tree farm would be fun.”

Dea and Chris joined the Michigan Christmas Tree Association and began to realize the amount of work that goes into running a firstclass tree operation. Chris decided they might as well do it right, and after talking with a Michigan State University Extension officer, they planted 6,500 trees instead of the 1,000 trees in their original strategy.

➡T op of page: Chris, Dea and their son, Jake invite visitors to the many seasonal events held at the Schell Family Farm in Pinckney, Michigan. ➡B ottom of page: Dea designed the barn and Chris built it himself with a little help from family and friends. The family grows Christmas trees, along with fruits, vegetables and sunflowers.

The Schells ended up purchasing more acreage with a vacant land loan through GreenStone Farm Credit Services, and committing to a future as fulltime farmers.

“So it kind of snowballs, you know?” smiles Dea. “But we enjoy being outside. We enjoy our kids, and we want them to grow up on a farm.

I grow sunflowers, we keep a few animals, we’re transplanting an apple orchard – we’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve got the energy to get it done!”

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➡ Left: The barn is the centerpiece of the Schell Family Farm, and is host to weddings, business meetings, graduation parties and even sporting events!

While adding to their growing Christmas tree farm every year, Chris and Dea developed the Schell Family Farm (www.schellfamilyfarm.com) as an agritourism destination. The farm offers seasonal wagon rides, school tours, photography sessions, an Easter egg hunt, the Ghostly Grove haunted forest and trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, Honey Crisp apples, maple syrup, sweet cherries, plums and pears and five acres of towering sunflowers! With the barn’s shining indoor space, there are lots of celebratory options for organizations and event-planners.

In addition to his farm duties, Chris works fulltime at a medical device business he owns and is president of the local baseball and softball youth league. Dea takes care of the book-keeping for the business, along with their house and kids, and is a partner with Chris on those farm duties.

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GreenStone has been a huge part of this. They’ve gone the extra mile for us to say, ‘we believe in what you’re doing and we’re going to help you get there’.

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James Cole, GreenStone vice president of lending in Howell, speaks of these beginning farmers with admiration. “Chris and Dea are highly organized, and had a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish. They told me their intentions and they fulfilled their plan.”

“I think that’s a big part of it,” admits Dea. “We always have a plan. We always do our research before we actually put something 7

Spring 2020 — Partners

in action. We talk to whomever we need to, and we make sure that it’s something that we can do. If it’s not right, we figure out how to do it!”

Chris agrees. “You know, we may go full steam ahead, but we do wait until we’re ready. GreenStone has been a huge part of this – they’ve gone the extra mile for us to say, ‘we believe in what you’re doing and we’re going to help you get there’.”

“Yes, we’re busy, but the kids can be on the farm with us and I get to hang out with my wife,” Chris states. “We’re in this together for the long-haul. Dea and I want to build the farm to the point where it’s going to be a sustainable business, one that our kids can take to the next level and make a good living off of, if they want.”

Both Dea and Chris attribute much of their success to the support from the Pinckney community, and have nothing but gratitude for the friends, neighbors and customers who have helped sustain their venture.

Chris has been especially impressed with the generosity of fellow farmers who have reached out with help and advice.

The Schells entered farming with a blank slate, as people with a business background and a desire to live and work on the land.

Chris and Dea have learned from the experts but they haven’t hesitated to use their new farming knowledge in innovative and entrepreneurial ways. Their fresh approach has attracted thousands of families to their property, and they are gearing up for their busiest season yet.

Want to visit? In Pinckney, just look for the big, red barn. ■

i

AGRICULTURE – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com/openfieldsblog.

Bringing Women in Agriculture Together Farm Women’s Symposium continues to be an informative, highly-anticipated event for farm women and a chance for them to take a break, enjoy themselves and recharge.

Getting the Next Generation Started The youth involved in agriculture are the future of the industry and these three tips from Dr. Kohl may lead them to success as beginning farmers.

Shout Out For The Youth Dr. Kohl shares three skills that will be necessary for tomorrow’s youth as the landscape of society changes: understanding data, critical thinking, and communication.

Dr. Kohl also provides perspective on several other topics; find them all in the Open Fields Blog.

Lending Leadership Skills to the Next Generation Time as an active FFA member at Chippewa Hills High School prepared Elizabeth Wernette, GreenStone appraiser, to give back to youth in agriculture.

GreenStone Supports Youth Development GreenStone was recently recognized as a top donor of Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. As a Platinum Clover Supporter we invest in youth programs throughout the state of Wisconsin.

From Competitor to Judge: Contributing to Youth Development GreenStone Credit Analyst Allison Pung uses knowledge she learned through competing in Dairy Challenge and at GreenStone FCS to give back to MI Youth in Agriculture. ■

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A Clean Environment Requires Freedom, Prosperity, and Ethics

By Alan Hahn

AS EVERY FARMER KNOWS, PROTECTING AND PRESERVING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF FARMING, AS IT IS FOR HUMANITY FLOURISHING, NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. NO ONE CAN RATIONALLY ARGUE AGAINST THIS.

The larger question is, What can be done to facilitate a healthy environment? This is a complicated question, but if we carefully examine the relatively short environmental protection history of mankind, I believe the blueprint for success involves freedom, prosperity, and ethics.

Just as we need to acknowledge there is no perfect solution to environmental protection, we also need to acknowledge that only if a nation and its businesses (including agriculture) are prosperous can there be hope of environmental protection. Protection of the environment costs money (in some cases, a lot of money), so the necessary capital is critical.

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Our laws and regulations with respect to environmental protection are of little value if there is not a sense of right, wrong, and overall ethic.

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Freedom is Essential

According to Gallup, the United States remains the most-desired nation for potential immigrants. And the American Institute for Economic Research says the reason is, “Put simply, individual freedom.” Freedom, which so many around the globe hunger for and can be easily eroded or lost, is not optional if we want the best chance for a healthy environment.

In the book The Poverty of Nations, the authors’ state, “A free-market society with a combination of private ownership of most land and resources, and public ownership of some designated national and state parks, seems best suited to preservation of resources and wise use of the environment.”

The late Sir Roger Scruton put it this way, “We know that communism has been the cause of far greater ecological disasters than we have witnessed under capitalism.” To be fair, Scruton also acknowledges that unscrupulous and corrupt behavior in free markets has resulted in ecological disasters.

More Laws Won’t Help

For freedom to “work,” there is a catch. John Adams, our nation’s second President, stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate

to the government of any other.” Freedom requires an agreed-upon ethic.

Our laws and regulations with respect to environmental protection are of little value if there is not a sense of right, wrong, and overall ethic. There are not enough state and federal regulators to go to every regulated entity and make sure they are in compliance.

Prosperity Provides Better Protections

While acknowledging no system of government is foolproof, prosperity that is best nurtured in a free market allows for greater protections. For example, in 2017, the United Nations reported, “On average, high-income countries treat about 70% of the municipal and industrial wastewater they generate. That ratio drops to 38% in upper middle-income countries and to 28% in lower middle-income countries. In low-income countries, only 8% undergoes treatment of any kind.”

So do the citizens in developing nations lack the desire or ethic to properly manage potentially-dangerous sewage? Of course not – they lack the prosperity, and likely the freedom to become more prosperous, that would allow for proper management of sewage.

The Best Hope for a Healthy Environment

Farmers, manufacturers, private citizens – we all play a role in environmental protection. And while many well-meaning environmentalists strive for a utopian society where there is no pollution, this ignores reality. We always have, and will, generate waste from sewage discharges, to refuse, and chemical waste. The question isn’t about whether we generate waste, it’s about what gives us the best chance to manage this waste.

Freedom, prosperity, and ethics have proven to provide us the best hope for a healthy environment. If we value a clean environment, we must protect our freedoms and value and encourage a government that allows for prosperity. With respect to ethics, it starts at home. Returning to John Adams, “The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families.” And everyone plays a role in this part of the equation. ■ ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Hahn is an Environmental Professional and Business Development Manager at The Dragun Corporation in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

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MARKET OUTLOOK SPRING 2020

By Matthew Naeyaert, GreenStone Senior Capital Markets Credit Analyst, Capital Markets and Nick Jablonski, GreenStone Credit Manager, Capital Markets.

COVID-19

AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT, WE BEGIN THIS MARKET OUTLOOK WITH A DISCUSSION ON THE GLOBAL OUTBREAK OF THE “COVID-19” CORONAVIRUS AND THE RESULTING EFFECT ON FINANCIAL MARKETS. THE COVID-19 VIRAL OUTBREAK WAS FIRST DETECTED IN CHINA’S WUHAN PROVINCE IN DECEMBER 2019 AND HAS QUICKLY SPREAD AROUND THE GLOBE, WITH CONFIRMED CASES NOW BEING REPORTED IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES. GIVEN THE VIRUS’S RAPID SPREAD, MANY REGIONS HAVE IMPLEMENTED STRICT QUARANTINES AND TRAVEL BANS IN ORDER TO SLOW THE PACE OF THE OUTBREAK. THESE QUARANTINES AND PREVENTION MEASURES HAVE HAD A MAJOR EFFECT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, WITH A STEEP DECLINE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND TRADE SEEN IN VIRTUALLY EVERY REGION.

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Spring 2020 — Partners

With the sudden decline in global economic activity, as well as continued uncertainty around the future pace of the outbreak, equity markets fell over 30% from their mid-February highs. In light of the level of volatility seen in the stock market, many investors have turned to the perceived safety of U.S. treasury bonds and the U.S. dollar. As a result, treasury yields have fallen to historic lows and the U.S. dollar has strengthened considerably.

Debt Markets

While tumbling equity markets have understandably received the bulk of the headlines, the volatility seen in debt markets has been perhaps even more dramatic. While demand for U.S. treasury bonds has increased given their perceived safety, demand for corporate debt has dropped off dramatically as investors have begun to reassess the ability of corporate borrowers to make their loan payments in what is a new and uncertain operating environment.

This fear that many corporations may be too highly levered and unable to meet their obligations has caused a dramatic sell-off in institutional debt markets. For example, as of March 27 the average yield necessary to issue corporate bonds in the marketplace has increased nearly 400% over its pre-outbreak level, a sign that debt investors are demanding a significantly higher return in order to offset increased risk. High quality borrowers have not been spared from this debt market selloff, with investment grade bonds actually underperforming relative to high-yield bonds (i.e. Junk bonds).

Stimulus Measures

In an attempt to support the global economy, governments and central banks around the world have begun to take dramatic stimulus measures. The U.S. Federal Reserve quickly cut its benchmark Fed Funds Rate to 0.00% in an effort to add liquidity to financial markets and ensure that banks continue to lend. The Fed has also announced extensive new measures that will be implemented in order to support financial markets. The relief measures proposed by the Fed include, among other things, large-scale purchases of treasury and mortgage-backed securities and the establishment of new emergency credit facilities to support employers, consumers and businesses.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representative also recently passed a stimulus package that provides support for both businesses and

“

With the sudden decline in global economic activity, as well as continued uncertainty around the future pace of the outbreak, equity markets fell over 30% from their mid-February highs.

�

individuals. Specifically, this legislation authorizes one-time direct cash payments to all eligible U.S. residents earnings less than $75,000 per year ($150,000 for married couples) in an attempt to provide temporary relief for those whose jobs or businesses have been most affected by this outbreak. Individuals and couples would also receive an additional $500 for each dependent child claimed on their tax return. It is too early to tell exactly what impact these stimulus measures will have on the economy and the federal budget deficit in the long run, however they are unprecedented in their size and scale and should provide at least some short-term support for both businesses and individuals.

While uncertainty around COVID-19 remains and recent market turmoil has shaken investors, it is important to note that from a historical perspective the macro-economy has been exceedingly stable over the last 10 years. In fact, with real GDP growth of 2.3% reported in 2019 the U.S. closed out the first full decade in its history (20102019) where the economy did not experience a recession. Likewise, the unemployment rate stood at just 3.5% as of February.

Key Metric Trends

Although these figures suggest that the broader economy is entering this downturn from a position of relative strength, it is still too early to tell how the fallout from the Coronavirus outbreak will ultimately affect key metrics such as consumer spending, housing and construction prices, or the labor market.

While the full impact of the outbreak related economic slowdown will likely not be known for some time, global GDP estimates for 2020 have begun to be revised down sharply. In its latest forecast the Bureau of Economic Analysis indicated that it is anticipating that Q2 2020 U.S. GDP growth will fall by as much as 10% compared to the prior year.

Full year 2020 GDP growth is now expected to be -2.3%, with the steep pullback in Q1 and Q2 GDP being offset by a relatively quick rebound in economic activity during Q3 and Q4. 3.3% GDP growth is projected for 2021, which would be above the 10-year average U.S. GDP growth rate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is anticipating a similar pattern in the unemployment rate. In fact, a record 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits during the week of March 28 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This 6.6 million figure represents a doubling of the 3.3 million initial jobless claims that were filed during the week of March 16, which itself was a record at the time. To put these figures in context, this increase represents by far the biggest weekly jump in new jobless claims in U.S. history, with the previous (i.e. prior to this outbreak) record being 695,000 new jobless claims, which was set in 1982. As indicated by these figures, that means the current increase in jobless claims is over nine times larger than the previous

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While the global outbreak of COVID-19 represents a dark and uncertain cloud over the U.S. and economies around the world at this time, the food and agriculture sector may be as well positioned as any to weather these uncertain times.

Agriculture

pre-coronavirus record. What’s more, many economists believe that this is the beginning of a massive spike in unemployment that could result in over 40 million Americans losing their jobs

by April. Initial estimates suggest that the unemployment rate has already spiked to 5.5% (from 3.5%) as a result of this initial round of new jobless claims. The nation hasn’t seen that level of unemployment since 2015.

Trade Agreement

On the trade front, the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Agreement was signed on January 15, 2020 and entered into force on February 14, 2020. The agricultural provisions of the Phase One Agreement include commitments by China to enact specific and regulatory reforms to facilitate agricultural trade, as well as commitments for China to purchase $40 billion, annually, of U.S. agricultural, food, and seafood products in calendar years 2020 and 2021. The Agreement also provides that China will “strive to import” an additional $5 billion per year over the next two years. However, the current outlook for exports to China is tempered by significant uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, which may impact the timing of China’s purchases under the Phase One Agreement. Total U.S. agricultural exports are projected at $139.5 billion in 2020, a 2.58% increase from 2019, as higher soybean, wheat, and poultry exports forecasts more than offset reduction in corn and soybean meal.

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Turning to agriculture, the dairy industry has not been spared from the Covid-19 related chaos, as nearby Class III futures have fallen from the mid-$17/cwt. range in February to $12/cwt. as of the writing of this article. This decline has been largely related to the implementation of travel bans and border closings and the expected effect on dairy exports, as well as the potential for major supply chain disruptions. The March 18 closing of the U.S./Canada border for non-essential travel has been particularly concerning to dairy markets. Despite assurances from both the Trump administration and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that “food, fuel and medicines” would not be affected by the border closing, some disruptions are likely to occur.

Cheese and butter prices have also fallen substantially. Based on recent price weakness and lower expectations for cheese and butter demand, the USDA 2020 price forecasts for block cheese and butter have been lowered to $1.755 per pound and $1.845 per pound, respectively. Based on recent weakening of dairy product prices, higher expected milk production, and lower expectations for global demand, the all-milk price forecast for 2020 has been lowered to $18.25 per cwt.

Summary

In summary, the U.S. agricultural industries will continue to face challenges in 2020, however overall market conditions have broadly improved over the last 12-18 months, with price increases compared to just a few years ago seen across many commodity markets. The potential de-escalation of global trade disputes and the signing of the Phase One Trade Agreement with China are also a positive development for the U.S. agricultural industry.

While the global outbreak of COVID-19 represents a dark and uncertain cloud over the U.S. and economies around the world at this time, the food and agriculture sector may be as well positioned as any to weather these uncertain times. That being said, the negative impact on economic activity will almost certainly have significant implications for both agriculture and the general economy in 2020 and beyond. ■

CONNECT

NEWS:

Coming Soon: Online Real Estate Loan Requests As a cooperative, our customers are our owners and we strive to meet your everchanging needs by providing accessible tools and online resources. With this in mind, GreenStone will soon be expanding our convenient online loan request system to include the ability to submit online requests for agricultural real estate loans.

MEMBER GROWN OUTREACH

A loan request can be submitted from the comfort of your own home, at any time.

For the best experience, please have these documents ready when submitting your request: • IRS tax returns for past one to three years •C urrent balance sheet or personal financial statement • Current year business projection These secure requests will take members approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be followed up by direct contact from your local financial services offer.

Each year GreenStone’s Member Grown Outreach program provides members the opportunity to help direct dollars to support local organizations. To celebrate the milestone of giving $100 million back on Patronage Day, GreenStone also contributed $20,000 to this Member Grown Outreach program and invited both employees and members to get involved in giving back.

In January, employees nominated organizations that would align with GreenStone’s focus. From these nominations, three organizations were selected for member voting. Starting on Patronage Day, March 11 and running through March 31, members voted for the organization they wanted to see GreenStone support.

provides both physical and mental health check-ups and has served hundreds of individuals since opening in 2004.

• STEPS Community Action offer families facing adversity the resources and support needed to get through difficult times. They typically help foster children, mothers fleeing domestic violence, homeless families and single parents by providing essential items and basic needs - often delivering donated items directly to homes.

• Kids’ Food Basket provides children throughout West Michigan with evening meals through the organization’s ‘Sack Supper’ program. Founded in 2002, Kids’ Food Basket serves 8,800 students daily to help end the fight against childhood hunger.

During a time when resources and hope may be limited, the dollars donated to each of these charities through the Member Grown Outreach program will tremendously impact each organization’s ability to continue serving and supporting local communities. Knowing this, GreenStone is grateful to have the opportunity to provide this donation and thank all members and staff involved in helping make this year’s Member Grown Outreach program a success. The organization with the most votes will receive $10,000, the second highest votes will receive $6,000 and the organization with the third-highest number of votes will be presented $4,000.

• Rural Health Initiative focuses on bridging the gap between farmers and healthcare by offering on-farm check-ups and screenings to individuals at little or no cost. The organization

Watch out our social media channels and Open Fields Blog to learn more about each organization, and how the $20,000 was allocated to positively impact these organizations. ■

The following organizations will be receiving checks thanks to our members’ votes:

Look for more information regarding the launch of this convenient new service in the near future. For more information on accessing our online loan requests, visit our website or contact your local branch. ■ Ag Day at the Capitol GreenStone celebrated with many others at Ag Day at the Capitol this year. The event once again provided a great way for agriculture industry leaders to meet with Michigan legislators about current topics and issues, while showcasing the diversity of Michigan agriculture through samples and education. ■ Construction Seminar Recap In late February and early March, GreenStone branches worked together to host several construction seminars throughout Michigan.

The events were packed with relevant and timely information for individuals interested in building a new home, and covered the entire process, including: • Determining which selections will add value to your home • Considerations for DIY vs. hiring a contractor • Financing options • Loan approval process If you missed this year’s construction seminars, contact your local GreenStone branch to get more information for your individual needs. ■ Partners — Spring 2020

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Wisconsin Co-op Day

Michigan Producer Meetings

The 2020 Wisconsin Co-op Day at the Capitol was held February 5 when 75 cooperatives came together in Madison, Wisconsin to share their collective story. Meetings with elected officials concentrated on three major issues currently in play at the end of the session: Water Quality, Broadband and Rural Mental Health. The group met with more than 50 legislators and their staff, then capped the day with a bill-signing ceremony with Governor Tony Evers on legislature that allows Farm Credit to hold priority lien status. ■

GreenStone and Michigan Agricultural Commodities (MAC) Inc. teamed up to provide local farmers valuable information at four Producer Meetings in Michigan during February and early March. These educational meetings covered an array of subjects to prepare attendees for the upcoming planting season with topics such as:

GreenStone Receives NAMA Award

• Financing and Products

GreenStone was recently honored by the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) with a Regional Best of NAMA award for their “Rooted in New Beginnings” video (https://youtu.be/rsM5mttA040), featuring their Young, Beginning, and Small Farmer program.

The Best of NAMA award program honors the best work in agricultural communications. The entry will now move on to compete at the national level. ■

• Developing a Marketing Plan • Farm and Bin Safety • Weed Control Strategies • Market Update and Outlook • Bookkeeping and Risk Management • GreenStone’s My Access and Online Tools

PATRONAGE DAY RECAP On Patronage Day, March 11, GreenStone had the opportunity to showcase one of the many ways partnership pays for our members who place their trust in this cooperative every day. This year, GreenStone returned $100 million to customers across the association and those members who picked up their checks at their local branch also enjoyed a variety of activities and refreshments as they celebrated together.

“We paid out $100 million this year, which was nearly 50% of our net earnings, and that’s an amount we’ve never been able to do before,” says Dave Armstrong, GreenStone CEO and President.

A special thank you to MAC staff and producers who helped make these meetings a success. If you were unable to attend and are interested in learning more about GreenStone’s products and services discussed, visit a local branch or go to www.greenstonefcs.com. ■

Mark Your Calendar...

MAY

4 27

GreenStone Election Ballots Mailed to Members GreenStone is Closed In honor of Memorial Day

JUNE

9

GreenStone Election Ballot Deadline

JULY

4 15

GreenStone is Closed In honor of Independence Day

Spring 2020 — Partners

“In light of current challenges, the patronage checks were a timely payment for our cooperative members, and we are committed to providing ongoing financial programs to support our rural customers. On behalf of the board and all of our employees, I want to thank our GreenStone members for their loyalty and commitment, especially in these challenging times. We are blessed to be able to work with you each and every day. You’re our inspiration, and we wish you nothing but the very best of success in 2020 and beyond.” ■

‟

G R EEN STON E

During the challeng es of 2019 it became clear that providing vision for the future with a focu s on “people first” is key to GreenSto ne’s strong profitability and stab ility, superior customer service, and a uniting fact or within our workforce.

FA R M C R EDI T SERVI C ES A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 9

– Dave Armstrong – Ed Reed

Pause for Applause...

”

1. Congratulations to Philip and Laura Finger

Scan this QR code to watch a message to members video from CEO Dave Armstrong and Board Chair Ed Reed.

who were selected as the Wisconsin 2020 Outstanding Young Farmers.

Or visit the direct video link here: www.greenstonefcs.com /Letter

Philip, and his wife, is the fifth generation to farm on his family’s farm. The Fingers farm 1,900 acres and milk 540 cows. Philip’s passion is genetics, while Laura’s is calf health and nutrition. The Fingers are planning to host a county Breakfast on the Farm in 2022, which is the 150th anniversary of their family farm.

GREENSTONE’S ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS STEADY GROWTH IN 2019 GreenStone Farm Credit Services is pleased to announce the release of its 2019 Annual Report. The report details the record-level earnings the association experienced last year, made possible by customers who steadfastly exhibited hard work, tenacity and commitment to agriculture, rural living and a cooperative financial system.

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES Help GreenStone congratulate and thank these staff who are celebrating an employment milestone.

Under the banner of “Inspire, Grow, Improve”, the report also focuses on the direction of GreenStone’s company culture and features personal perspectives from its board of directors.

April: Michael Fisher (5) Julie Stoneburner (10) Rochelle Jensen (10)

“Our members perseverance and responsibility to their obligations resulted in financial success for our 25,000 GreenStone members and the largest patronage payment since the program began fifteen years ago,” states Dave Armstrong, GreenStone CEO and president.

May: Mason Thornberg (5) Matthew Platte (5) Daniel Score (5) Adam Kinnard (5) Miles Bowman (5) Andrew Woelmer (5) Gina Bryant (5) Jeffery Winchester (5) Jake Moegle (5) Jackie Sanford (5) Jared McConnon (5) Aaron Hartman (5) Loryn Wiese (5)

Based on strong 2019 earnings, the GreenStone board of directors announced the patronage payment of $100 million to members distributed this past March. This year’s payment brings the total patronage paid to our member-owners to $500 million since the program’s inception in 2006.

Other financial highlights in this year’s report include: • Net Income: $206.4 million • Total Assets: $9.9 billion • Total Loan Growth: 8.6 percent • Patronage Paid: $100 million “During the challenges of 2019 and again today with the current pandemic crisis of 2020, it is clear GreenStone’s strong profitability and stability is based on putting people first and by focusing on providing superior customer service,” adds Armstrong. “The more we do to support our members, the stronger your cooperative becomes. It is our privilege to partner with families who farm and those who embrace country living, and GreenStone stands committed to safeguarding your home and business options.”

June: Courtney Ford (5) Jamie Renner (15)

Cindy Lehman (10) Kathy Thiel (25)

James Cole (10) Douglas Bailey (10) Josh Martin (10) Martin Kasperski (10) Michelle Simon (10) Amanda Leik (10) David McKenny (15) Jeffrey Mills (15) Jay Van Laanen (15) Cara Oswald (20) Cindy Birchmeier (20) Stephen Zimmerman (35)

Tyson Lemon (15) Thomas Urban (40)

The report can be viewed and downloaded at, www.greenstonefcs.com. ■

Partners — Spring 2020

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CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE RESULTS GREENSTONE EMPLOYEES TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH GUIDANCE AND THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE. EACH YEAR THE SALES STAFF WHO WERE AMONG THE TOP PERFORMERS WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE ARE RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE REWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM. THIS IS JUST ONEWAY GREENSTONE ACKNOWLEDGES THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR HARD-WORKING SUPPORT TEAMS. VARIOUS CRITERIA SUCH AS LOAN AND REVENUE GROWTH, AND NEW BUSINESS, ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN RANKING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SALES STAFF. THE FOLLOWING OUTLINES THE TOP GREENSTONE STAFF, ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPORT TEAMS, RECOGNIZED AS THE 2019 CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS: The 2019 Circle of Excellence award winners, along with their support teams, include:

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Platinum Award Winners

Gold Award Winners

Crop Insurance Specialists:

Agricultural Financial Services Officers:

Agricultural Financial Services Officers:

• Robert Netrefa, NEWI Region

•M itchell Schafer, Grand Rapids

• Mark Dingee, Cadillac

• Allison Williams, Southwest Region

• J ake Moegle, Sandusky

• Duane Paturalski, Berrien Springs

• Ryan Kratochvil, North Region

•M att Alt, Grand Rapids

• Derek Tahaney, Allegan

•K im Knoerr, Bay City

• Kevin Silverthorn, Concord

•M atthew Willbrandt, Schoolcraft

• Sara Trattles, Schoolcraft

• J effrey Ginter, Berrien Springs

• Nathan Buning, Cadillac

Country Living Financial Services Officers:

Country Living Financial Services Officers:

• J ames Cole, Howell

• Samuel Schafer, Ann Arbor

•A shlee Guerrero, Ann Arbor

• Brent Voss, Traverse City

•D evon Feldpausch, Hart

• Karen Ansell, Mount Pleasant

Commercial Lending:

Commercial Lending:

•N ichole Wilcox, Non-Dairy

• Brandon Leep, Non-Dairy

Sales Leadership:

Sales Leadership:

•B enjamin Spitzley, CLU Dairy

• Melissa Humphrey, West Region

Spring 2020 — Partners

Tax and Accounting MVP Award: • Stacey Mason, Tax Accountant, Cadillac Achievement Award • Miranda Kelle, Country Living FSO, Lapeer ■

Take a Minute and TestIT-Real-Time Broadband Testing!

Farm Credit is partnering with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and other rural groups to boost support for federal investment in rural broadband. “TestIT” is a project designed to build an exact map of rural broadband availability to demonstrate to lawmakers where investment is most urgently needed.

We encourage you to participate by downloading the TestIT app onto your phone and using it in rural areas. The app will test your broadband speed and, in addition to giving you the results, will share the location and broadband speed data with NACo. NACo is using the data to build detailed maps of actual broadband capacity in rural communities.

To download the app and test broadband in your community, follow these simple steps: 1. Locate the iOS/Android app store on your phone 2. Download the TestIT mobile app 3. Open TestIT mobile app and click: Test Speed Here. ■

“

INDIVIDUALIZED FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND SOLUTIONS GreenStone is committed to providing a clear path of service, support and financial programs to support our customers.

We are working individually with customers experiencing economic hardships. From weather and economic challenges over the last several years, to recent stress generated by market pressures and COVID-19 uncertainties, we are sensitive to each member’s individual situation.

GreenStone is providing assistance and working with customers to develop personalized financial solutions.

Member Loan Assistance: GreenStone is assisting members experiencing temporary earnings disruption as a result of COVID-19.

Customers impacted as a result of a temporary layoff or closure of your non-farm business are encouraged to contact your financial services officer or local branch to evaluate individualized

On behalf of Michigan Farm Bureau State Young Farmer committee, I’d like to thank you for the support of our Young Farmer Program.

As we strive toward the development of future farmers, your support is always valued.

Thank you!

”

Thanks for your continued support of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association. Your support is invaluable to our member activities, such as Winter Conference. We appreciate your support.

”

Agriculture Disaster Loan Origination Program: In partnership with the State of Michigan, GreenStone is helping facilitate the State of Michigan Agriculture Disaster Loan Origination Program that may fund up to $300,000,000 of low interest loans for farmers who suffered heavy crop losses in 2019.

Small Business Association Paycheck Protection Program: GreenStone is an approved lender for the Small Business Association (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and is accepting applications from our members who qualify. This program is part of “The CARES Act” that President Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020. The PPP authorizes up to $349 billion towards job retention and other business expenses. Find the information you need to apply at: www. greenstonefcs.com/ resources/covid-19

— Michael McKeown, State Young Farm Committee

“

options, including short term payment adjustments, and conversion options such as the possibility of lower interest rates or loan term adjustments.

“

This program offers qualifying farmers a low interest, 7-year term loan. Disaster loan applications are being accepted now and must be closed by May 31, 2020. Producers are asked to call their local financial services officer to determine their individual loan qualifications. ■

“Thank you for your support of Michigan agriculture and investment in leadership, promotion, scholarship and education! Donations like yours help provide leadership development to agricultural leaders and give consumers hands-on experience with their food and farmers.

Through giving to the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, you have demonstrated not only your belief in the agricultural industry, but your commitment to its future.”

”

— Alex Schnabelrauch, Director of Michigan Foundation for Agriculture

Have a comment to include in the next issue of Partners?

Share it with us on social media.

— WI Cattlemen’s Association

...Candid Comments

Partners — Spring 2020

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LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD–VOTE ONE OF THE MANY BENEFITS OF BELONGING TO A COOPERATIVE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTING ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP.

As part of that, GreenStone members will soon have the opportunity to participate in selecting which members will serve on the association’s board of directors and nominating committee through the annual governance elections.

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nominating committee representatives in all seven regions.

On a four-year term basis, board seats in specified voting regions are voted on by those regions. This year, regions 1 and 2 will be electing two directors each to the Board of Directors.

To simplify the voting process, members will have the option of submitting the ballot online or by postal mail. Starting May 4, each member will receive their ballot in the mail; ballots will also be sent by email to those members who have provided their email address. Members can choose the voting method most convenient for them.

In addition, nominating committee members will be elected for all seven regions. Because this is an annual election, and regardless of where members reside, each year all members vote for the

Voting instructions will be printed on each ballot for online or mail in voting. Nominees have been selected for all positions. Director candidate biographies will be included with the

Spring 2020 — Partners

ballots for voting members in Regions 1 and 2. Director biographies can also be viewed when voting online or by visiting GreenStone’s website. Nominating committee biographies are not provided in coordination with Farm Credit’s election regulations.

All ballots must be received by midnight on June 9, 2020.

For more information about the election and the cooperative’s governance, go to our website www.greenstonefcs.com/elections to meet the candidates. If you are interested in being considered for a director or nominating committee position, please visit www.greenstonefcs.com/governance. ■

COMMITTED TO SERVING YOU TODAY AND TOMORROW– WHILE THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD HOLD MANY UNKNOWNS, GREENSTONE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A CLEAR PATH OF SERVICE, SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMS TO OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF INFORMATION GREENSTONE HAS AVAILABLE TO YOU AT GREENSTONEFCS.COM/RESOURCES/COVID-19.

We encourage all customers who believe they may be unable to meet scheduled payment obligations on time to proactively reach out to their local financial services officer for assistance in evaluating options for your specific financial needs.

Committed to Members: Agriculture Disaster Loan Origination Program, Interest Rate Options, Customized Solutions GreenStone is working individually with customers experiencing economic hardships. In partnership with the State of Michigan, GreenStone is helping facilitate the Agriculture Disaster Loan Origination Program that may fund up to $300,000,000 of low interest loans for farmers who suffered heavy crop losses last year.

All GreenStone members have the opportunity to take advantage of low interest rates through loan interest rate conversion option that does not require a full refinance process.

We are sensitive to each member’s individual situation and are working with members through today’s uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop individualized financial solutions, including short-term payment adjustments among others.

Serving our Tax and Accounting Customers during Changing Times Following Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and President

Trump’s federal tax relief announcement, and subsequent state tax adjustments, we have outlined specific information related to your tax, accounting, and payroll services with GreenStone.

Staying Secure While Staying at Home The coronavirus pandemic has provided new opportunities for scams that everyone should be aware of and be vigilant in keeping your information secure. Scammers may attempt to impersonate a bank or local organization to steal personal property or information, or to spread a virus on your computer.

Use these tips to practice extra precaution and help keep yourself safe!

• My Access: Use online banking to make payments or deposit checks using the online banking app. Through the file exchange, securely send and receive documents.

• Transactions & Documents: Payments can be made online, by phone, in the mail, or left in branch office drop

boxes. Documents can also be sent securely using My Access and DocuSign, mailed to the branch, or left in our branch office drop box.

• e Consent: Sign eConsent to receive documents and disclosures electronically, including those requiring signature using DocuSign. ■

www.greenstonefcs.com/resources/covid-19

CEO Message: Committed to Working With You! GreenStone recognizes the scope of our responsibility to our customers – to support our rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. To protect the health of our customers and our employees, and in recognition of local and national recommendations, GreenStone took preventative steps and employed an array of technology and tools to safely serve our members remotely. Those online tools remain effective options to do business with GreenStone: • Call or email: When staff are working remotely, their office phone is forwarded to their cell phone and meetings can occur virtually by phone or video.

Partners — Spring 2020

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The GreenStone Story:

GreenStone Turns 20 THE MERGER OF FOUR REGIONAL FARM CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS IN MICHIGAN INTO ONE ASSOCIATION IN JANUARY 2000, WITH THE ADDITION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN IN JANUARY 2003, CREATED A DYNAMIC FINANCIAL COOPERATIVE ROOTED IN A CONTINUED MISSION OF SUPPORTING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AGRICULTURE. DAVE ARMSTRONG, GREENSTONE’S CURRENT CEO, WALKS US BACK IN TIME IN THIS FIRST OF TWO STORIES ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF “GREENSTONE.”

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Spring 2020 — Partners

President and CEO Dave Armstrong: Looking Back, Growing Forward

In 2000, the year of the first merger and the rebranding into GreenStone, we had just come out of the worst farm economy since the 1930s. The 1980s were farming’s great recession, and at the time, the Farm Credit System was not organized to withstand that kind of adversity.

In Michigan, the numerous offices were basically separate financial organizations.

Farmers would come to their Production Credit Association for their short-term financing needs, then if they needed a land loan, they would have to go to their Federal Land Bank office, which may have been in another town, to obtain a real estate mortgage. Our whole system was built in silos to do these very specialized things.

Couple some of that inefficiency with some of the ways that we were funding our wholesale loans, and then tie in this very difficult economic period – it was horrific. We didn’t have many of the risk management tools that we have today, and as many of our members remember far too well, America almost lost the Farm Credit System – among so much other devastation – during the eighties timeframe.

The perfect storm

To hedge against precipitously rising interest rates, producers weren’t able to lock in long-term rates. We only had one rate, and it was variable. I can remember when prime rate was 21.5% in 1981.

The federal government stepped in and increased interest rates because they wanted to kill the rampant inflation of the 1970s.

Up until that point, through the seventies, much of farmers’ equity had been rising.

Inflation had been increasing their real estate values dramatically every year.

So a farmer would come in and the Farm Credit loan officer would look at their cashflow and balance sheet, and say “well, it looks like you lost money, but geez, your land value went way up because of all the new comparable sales!”

And we continued to lend money under a false pretense. The impact of the inflation was amplified when President Carter’s grain embargo of 1980 eliminated the sale of wheat to the Soviet Union, and the markets crashed.

Altogether, the confluence of our System inefficiencies, the inflationary economy and global politics formed the ‘perfect storm’ and created a very difficult time in agriculture.

Through that period of time, the Farm Credit System had to go through a lot of selfsurvival activities, many of which regrettably also had huge impacts on our members.

Internally, one of those tactics across the nation was to consolidate the businesses.

We merged all of these disparate entities – Federal Land Banks, Production Credit Associations, and Bank for Cooperatives – into what ultimately became known as Farm Credit associations. For us, that was our rebirth as GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Today, GreenStone can write a real estate mortgage loan to a farmer in the same office as his machinery loan, along with home mortgages and recreational land loans for any rural consumer. We incorporated more long-term fixed rate options for our customers so they were not exposed to rapidly rising interest rates over time. Changes were made to asset liability management practices. And, we offer services that support a farmer’s entire business. Crop insurance was improved to give our customers better options to mitigate weather and price anomalies, and tax and accounting services help provide tools for customers to evaluate their bottom line.

Survival via partnership

Ultimately, as a result of the consolidations from the 1980s, there were four “GreenStones” serving Michigan’s lower peninsula when the merger discussions started in the 1990s: Farm Credit Services of Southeast Michigan, Farm Credit Services of West Michigan, Farm Credit Services of Michigan’s Heartland, and Farm Credit Services of East Central Michigan.

At the time leading up to the merger, I was the CEO of Farm Credit Services of East Central Michigan. Across the country, the federal regulator, Farm Credit Administration (FCA), was concerned that the protected territories, which we still have to this day, would cause the associations to be complacent and wouldn’t force the additional post-recession changes the government felt were necessary to serve the future of the agricultural industry.

Listening to points made by the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), the four Michigan associations were concerned because we had built such good partnerships with each other over the years. So with FCA looking to make the environment more competitive, we tried to think of what we could do proactively to prevent the four entities from devolving into a bloody tooth-and-nail competition, undercutting each other with things like below-market rates.

The four CEOs began discussions with the four boards – comprised of elected members just as ours is today – about the cost savings and increased effectiveness we felt was possible with a merger. Part of that discussion was the scale four merged entities would bring, and the capacity to hire more industry expertise. Our people and our ability to most effectively serve members was at the core of each decision we made as part of the merger, a foundation we stand on yet today. The impact to our staff weighed heavily on

Partners — Spring 2020

22

“

I don’t believe in coincidences; we are here together because we have an affinity for the people that we serve.

We have the same kind of DNA at GreenStone, whether you have a farm background or not, and we’re servants at heart.

”

our actions, and we were fortunate to come together, embrace change, and create an even stronger team.

Ultimately, as we look at where we are today, it’s safe to say the boards did the right thing.

They set their own personal roles as board members aside and decided to merge and downsize the board seats, going from four boards to one.

And that was the genesis for what we know today as GreenStone. At that time, we were the only Farm Credit association that had come together willingly for the right reasons, instead of a regulator forcing a consolidation or a closing.

Transition leadership

As part of those merger discussions, we had to have a lot of transition conversation among the four of us CEOs and I think it worked out well simply because we were all very candid about what our expectations were, individually and professionally.

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Spring 2020 — Partners

The timing ended up working out for Jim Bremmer, who had been the CEO of Farm Credit Services of Michigan’s Heartland, to make the decision to embrace retirement at the onset of the merger, and Carl Jessen, who had been CEO of Farm Credit Services of West Michigan, became GreenStone’s first CEO. He was able to lead us through the first year and a half of the merger before his retirement. Carl was followed by Jim Schiller, who entered into the merger having served as the CEO of Farm Credit Services of Southeastern Michigan and was actually the person who hired me as a summer intern!

I was the youngest of the four, and the least experienced, so I kind of knew where I stood in the pecking order. I cut my teeth being responsible for the marketplace delivery of credit and financial services for GreenStone – all of our branch offices and the marketing arm – everything that touched customers, which is where my

passion has always been. It was a great role for me, and it gave me a lot of different experiences around a much broader territory.

It was challenging, but just a lot of fun as well. When Jim Schiller decided to retire years later, I applied and was fortunate to be hired as CEO in 2009. Looking back, my proudest accomplishment over the past 20 years is the part I had in helping bring GreenStone together. We positioned the company for the future, and going from $1.6 billion in 2000 to $10 billion in assets today is a really good indication we made the right decision for the right reasons.

I am grateful for all of the blessings we have. We have more than any of us probably deserve; I was just as happy being a loan officer as I am today. I think you have to have gratefulness as your base, because life can always be a lot worse. We can influence and we can be prepared, but there is still much we can’t control.

I’ve been successful because I’ve always tried to hire people who are smarter than me. I’m blessed to have so many bright, talented people, past and present, to work with at GreenStone. I don’t believe in coincidences; we are here together because we have an affinity for the people that we serve. We have the same kind of DNA at GreenStone, whether you have a farm background or not, and we’re servants at heart. We want to help people with the expertise that we have, and that they need. When you’re able to do that, that’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day. ■

BEHIND THE SCENES– In this Behind the Scenes, two GreenStone employees share their prospective on how GreenStone has grown and changed since the mergers in 2000 and in 2003. This year marks 20 years since ‘GreenStone’ was formed.

Erica Norton Senior Credit Analyst 20 years of service Schoolcraft, MI What was it like being an employee during/after the merger?

I started working at GreenStone in June of 2000 after the merger, so it is hard for me to compare the before and after. I know it was, and even sometimes still is, difficult to get everyone from the various regions to do things the same way.

How have roles and processes changed since the merger?

The role of the credit analyst was pretty new to GreenStone in 2000. I think I was the second or third credit analyst in the company. Our role has changed A LOT. I spent my first few years just inputting financials and not really being responsible for the final numbers and loan packages, financial service officers still did a lot of credit work. Today, financial services officers have much less involvement with the actual loan credit process.

In general, technology and automation in all segments (sales, credit, operations) has drastically changed how we do business. Less paper, less manual

keying of documents, more efficient processes, and even the ability to do it all remotely!

What was essential to GreenStone’s success from the merger to present day?

Dedicated employees serving the best customers in the world!

Looking back over the years you have been with GreenStone, what is the achievement you are the most proud of earning or accomplishing?

Personally, I have been blessed to work with great co-workers and customers, which has resulted in my earning 10 Circle of Excellence awards.

As a Company, I am proud of the growth we have been able to achieve while remaining focused on, and dedicated to, our customers. I am very proud of our relationships with our customers and the fact that we are not “just a bank” to them.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

At this point in my life, all my free time is spent chasing teenagers around to their various sporting events!

Nicole Wesoloski Regional VP of Sales & Customer Relations 19 years of service Little Chute, WI

customers, and to stay focused on industry needs and changes.

What was it like being an employee during/after the merger?

Patience, humility, and a sense of humor go a very long way.

As our team has increased over the years, it has brought a diversity of innovative ideas.

Through the development and sometimes demise of these ideas, our progressive team continues to display the ability to collaborate for the common goal of GreenStone’s success.

All mergers come with a level of uncertainty via the unknown.

Change is hard. However, it was welcomed knowing there were positive benefits to our customers and employees. We all encouraged a positive outlook on the change and from the beginning, the term “Team GreenStone” was used. It is still as term we use today, and it means more to me today than it did back then.

How have roles and processes changed since the merger?

GreenStone has grown so much internally. Technology by itself has changed how we are able to serve our customers. One thing that hasn’t changed is the core of who we are as employees. I’ve been here for almost 20 years, and the drive for perfection and the sensitivity towards the importance of our relationships with customers has never wavered. If anything, I have seen it increase as the industry challenges us to be better than we were the day before.

How have benefits to members changed or improved since the merger?

There are many. The financial strength of GreenStone brings benefits to our customers.

We gave back $100 million in patronage this year. That’s incredible!

What was essential to GreenStone’s success from the merger to present day?

Looking back over the years you have been with GreenStone, what is the achievement you are the most proud of earning or accomplishing?

Giving money back to customers is truly amazing. The look on their face the first time we give them a check is priceless.

The other thing would be my team. I work with remarkable people who go above and beyond every day to serve our customers to the best of their abilities. My teammates are passionate and show a level of integrity that is hard to find anywhere else. I’m lucky to work here.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Free time – what’s that?! We are a sports family, so my husband and I are usually running to a field, court, or diamond watching one of our three kids play. I enjoy the chaos of it all as I know it will go by too fast. ■

With that: We are very competitive in the marketplace.

Our staff is sought out for their industry knowledge and encouraged to continue their professional development.

Our executive management seeks to stay engaged with our

Partners — Spring 2020

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Directors’ Perspective– HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO INSPIRE, GROW AND IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND BUSINESS IN 2020 AND BEYOND? HEAR FROM TWO OF YOUR GREENSTONE DIRECTORS ON THEIR VIEW FROM THE BOARD ROOM AND THE TRACTOR SEAT.

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Spring 2020 — Partners

Ed Reed

Failure to plan is planning to fail.

I’m sure many of you have heard your coaches, teachers, or mentors say this many times. This holds true in our personal and professional lives. In the volatile markets we work with today, having a plan to deal with unexpected events is as important as ever.

When I think about planning for the future of my business, I like to separate my priorities into personal and professional, and I always start with family: What will this plan do for my

“

Being more efficient with my time means I’m able to spend less time on daily tasks and more time analyzing and improving my system.

”

family? How will this impact my business?

I always tell my sons, every year you should do something on your farm to make things easier. For us, a priority is finishing the installation of load cells and new control systems on our barns to have the ability to remotely manage some of our daily tasks.

Being more efficient with my time means I’m able to

Mike Timmer

I have found it difficult to get ready for Spring this year. It seems that all of the struggles of last year have left me a little less than excited to start the process all over again for 2020.

We make changes and try to plan the best we can for the uncertainties of each growing season. Yet last year’s weather made it difficult for all of us to execute our plans and evaluate how the changes we made affected our farming operation.

However, the process of planning and making improvements for the coming year must continue. It is important that we strive to make positive changes each year.

spend less time on daily tasks and more time analyzing and improving my system.

Efficiency has also allowed me to realize a lifelong dream of becoming a private pilot. If you see a red and white plane above your farm, it could be me!

In today’s agribusiness climate, finance is as important or even more important than production. My time on the GreenStone board has educated

me on many aspects of finance and accounting that I use on my farm to plan for the future. The last two years have been trying for me personally, however I am extremely excited to see what 2020 has planned for me and for our GreenStone members.

View Ed Reed’s profile video: www.greenstonefcs.com/EdReed

“

I have been spending time looking at opportunities to improve our farming operation by planting cover crops and growing crops for seed production. These exercises help me refocus and give me inspiration to try new things. Some of the opportunities will require big changes, while others mean just a few modifications to some things I am already doing. Either way, they are changes I believe will help

The truth is that all of us face uncertainties in our lives and farming operations. The cooperative is no different. Our goal is to work hard for the members to bring value to their operations.

”

improve our farming operation, and in the end will contribute to the profit of the business.

My time on the board at GreenStone has allowed me the opportunity to see how the business plan for the cooperative is formed and how changes are made to improve the cooperative’s efficiency. While the variables that influence the business plan are different from my farming operation, the planning process is the same. New opportunities are being evaluated and changes made to improve the value of the services provided to our members.

Making plans for the future is important whether following a good year or one we would like to forget. The truth is that all of us face uncertainties in our lives and farming operations. The cooperative is no different. Our goal is to work hard for the members to bring value to their operations.

We hope to accomplish this goal by improving efficiencies and being there for our members as they improve their farming operations. ■ View Mike Timmer’s profile video: www.greenstonefcs.com/MikeTimmer

Partners — Spring 2020

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Legislative Matters:

PREPARING THE LEGISLATIVE FIELD AND THE NEW CROP OF ISSUES THE LITTLE RED HEN IS AT IT AGAIN. WE ALL REMEMBER THE LITTLE RED WHO WANTED HER FRIENDS TO HELP HER TURN THE WHEAT INTO BREAD, AND SHE KEPT ASKING FOR HELP. She knew what she was doing, and it was hard work.

The other barnyard animals had other more important things to do. Some even sat in judgment, said “no,” and put barriers up. Until baking day came, and the sweet smell of fresh bread lured them in.

This story with a strong moral lesson to teach the importance of hard work and personal initiative, was first written

in 1874 by Mary Mapes Dodge in Nicholas Magazine, and many versions have followed.

President Ronald Reagan modernized the story with his own poetic version (https:// youtu.be/1rxCwAzS0EY).

The story remains valid and instructive for the days that are upon us.

We find the rapidity of change may have just accelerated with all the efforts to combat COVID-19. Whereas, getting ready for positive policy advancements to maintain a stable agricultural industry supported by a dedicated financial system becomes even more critical. We all recognize the world changed these last few months. This will undoubtedly change the legislative agenda for 2020 and into the next legislative cycle. However, it will be certain that the policy leaders will need to be reminded of the importance and the essential nature of agriculture and the food system.

Maintaining the strength of the United States agricultural industry to assure access to affordable food is serious business.

Homeland Security identified

We are reminded of the gift of our United States farmers right now. The population of the country and many people throughout the world are dependent on the strength of the few as only a small percentage of the population are farmers and ranchers.

While the U.S. Department of

fair credit. As the industry

food and agriculture as essential critical infrastructure during the COVID-19 response, we have always known the resilience of the farmer to meet our country’s needs.

It is necessary to maintain communication and identify strengths and weaknesses of the industry to assure decision makers have the opportunity to appreciate the agriculture industry. With the strengths come challenges that require reduction in regulatory burdens, improvement in labor supply, dependable transportation systems, science-based environmental policies, stable trading markets and access to dependable, changes to address the growing demand for its products, we must recognize the leaders that respect what this agriculture industry does for the nation. While we may need more “red hens” to meet the demands of agriculture, beginning to remind policy makers of its complexity will give us all the opportunity to enjoy sustainable safe food. ■

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Spring 2020 — Partners

PAC Progress:

THANK YOU FOR BEING A CHAMPION OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY!

The 2020 MI GreenStone PAC contribution campaign was largely successful with over $18,000 being contributed by more than 260 Michigan GreenStone customers. This is another strong representation of the support members have for the MI GreenStone PAC. Your board of directors and management team have diligently evaluated legislative leaders and will be sharing the importance of rural communities, agriculture, and the Farm Credit System with elected officials.

In the fourth year of the WI Farm Credit PAC Contribution Campaign over $1,000 was contributed by Wisconsin GreenStone customers. The WI Farm Credit PAC funds will also be disbursed by your directors and management team in coordination

with the Cooperative Network in Wisconsin after an evaluation process.

The AgriBank District 2020 Farm Credit PAC drive competition brought in almost $260,000 in contributions from 14 associations’ staff and directors. These funds are used to support federally elected officials. Over 150 GreenStone employees and directors directly contributed over $20,000 of that total. A portion of the Farm Credit PAC funds will be allocated to the GreenStone territory and your directors and management will assist in the delivery and communication of the Farm Credit message.

As the debate over policies critical to rural communities and agriculture heats up, we are well positioned to carry forward the messages of Farm Credit and our

customers. In fact, the work has already begun with Ag Day in both Michigan and Wisconsin. Our success will be determined by the strength of the relationships we have with elected officials, and that is why your support of the PACs is so important.

Thank you for being a champion of our communities and the agricultural industry!. ■ Congratulations to Jennifer Whitford, Kim Knoerr, and Charles Neuenfeldt as they led GreenStone in the number of customers contributing to the state level PACs.

Partners — Spring 2020

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LIVE

Dream it.

Build it.

JEFF SCHWEIGER WAS DETERMINED TO BE LIVING IN THE NEW HOUSE HE WAS BUILDING FOR HIS WIFE, DAWN, AND THEIR 18-MONTH-OLD SON, LUKE, BY CHRISTMAS. AFTER SEVEN MONTHS AND MULTIPLE SETBACKS, JEFF WAS WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR HIS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY AND CUTTING IT A LITTLE CLOSE TO HIS GOAL.

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Spring 2020 — Partners

On the morning of December 23, clutching the certificate and dragging a mattress, the Schweigers moved into their dream home and spent the holidays celebrating their new space – and Dawn’s announcement of a new baby on the way!

“Jeff just really wanted to spend the night here, so we all hunkered down on the mattress and moved everything else in the following week,” says Dawn, who was on break over Christmas from her position as a third-grade teacher.

The Schweigers had lots of help from family, during the move and through the many phases of construction. Jeff works as a concrete carpenter; Jeff’s dad, fatherin-law and two brothers are experienced carpenters and builders, and contributed their professional expertise and hands-on assistance to the project.

Rainy weather, the first setback, kept Jeff from working on the foundation.

“It was a really wet year and the ground was really bad,” recalls Jeff. “I just had to pull the trigger and go for it in May. I dug the basement, poured the footings and built the walls. “ Jeff was deep in the heart of construction when his grandpa passed away in June, followed four months later with the passing of his grandma. As a tight-knit family, the losses were devastating.

“My grandpa and I were really, really close,” says Jeff. “It was a rough year and a tough setback, but I was definitely inspired to keep

➡ Above: The Schweigers planned carefully, spending time to decide on the type of house they wanted to build, and driving to view models that fit into their budget.

driving forward in honor of his legacy.”

As a do-it-yourself (DIY) builder, Jeff knew that he and Dawn would be responsible for managing all the project details that usually fall to a contractor.

They spent time deciding on the type of house they wanted to build and did a lot of driving to view models that fit into their budget.

The Schweigers were told by friends that it was tough to get a construction loan to build their own house, but Jeff researched options and found GreenStone Farm Credit Services. They met with Financial Services Officer Miranda Kelle in Lapeer, and began the loan approval process. Miranda also invited Jeff and Dawn to a GreenStone construction seminar, where they were able to learn more about the DIY process.

“The construction seminar was really helpful,” Jeff says. “I’m involved in the building business, but GreenStone helped us understand what we needed to do with things like draws, sworn statements and lien waivers. It could have been overwhelming without the resources they provided.”

“The Schweigers had their dream home in mind with goals set to achieve it, and I was able to help them make that dream a reality,” adds Miranda. “Jeff and Dawn asked great questions and

➡ Above: As a do-it-yourself builder, Jeff was able to tweak the architect’s plans to create a large kids playroom with unused space above the garage. ➡ Left: Jeff, Dawn and their son, Luke are framed by their dream house, completed in December 2019.

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“

I ’m involved in the building business, but GreenStone helped us understand what we needed to do...

”

really committed to learning about the construction loan process. With their attention to detail and willingness to learn, my job was made easier. The Schweiger’s are not only great customers of GreenStone, but they have become great friends and a prime example of the people we serve.”

Jeff and Dawn quickly learned both the upside and downside of DIY. They enjoyed tweaking the architect’s plans to reflect what they both wanted in their dream house, which included an extra-large garage, a big kitchen island, moving the bedroom windows and even creating a large playroom out of empty space above the garage.

The downside? It was frequently difficult to find and schedule sub-contractors who had the time available to do the projects that were outside of Jeff’s expertise. Dawn took on the role of designer, and spent many hours choosing paint, tile, flooring and cabinetry.

i

“When you are doing it yourself, you have a vision, but you don’t know how the room’s going to look when it’s done,” Dawn adds. “Will the tile match? Will the colors flow from room to room? I spent a lot of time on Pinterest.”

Both Jeff and Dawn agree that building your own home is like having an additional job, and planning should optimally begin a full year before ground is broken.

“A year in advance, pretend you’re going to begin to build in six months. There’s always something you’re going to miss in the planning

➡Above: Despite some initial setbacks, the Schweigers enjoyed customizing their new house to include all of the features on their personal must-have lists. The spacious, light-filled home includes country views and room to grow!

process, and this way you’ll have an extra six months to pick up the pieces and get it figured out,” advises Jeff.

If given the chance at a do-over, would the Schweigers make any changes to their finished dream home?

“We’ve had a few people ask us that,” Jeff answers. “And I’m happy to say, we wouldn’t change a thing.” ■

COUNTRY LIVING – OPEN FIELDS BLOG BRIEF

GreenStone publishes regular updates on our Open Fields blog. Check out some of the posts you may have missed at www.greenstonefcs.com.

Giving Back to Grieving Families The loss of a loved one can be especially challenging for young people, and Ele’s Place works to help children through the grieving process. GreenStone employees, Ananda and Cheryl both volunteer to help the families in need on a regular basis. ■

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“It was fun,” she comments. “But it was also very stressful visiting paint stores, comparing prices and making decisions with a toddler along!

Spring 2020 — Partners

Coaching the Next Generation

Raising Morale

Jim Kosmerick, GreenStone brand manager, exemplifies GreenStone’s four core values through coaching youth baseball. ■

Our branches support many local causes.

Recently, the Alpena and Mt. Pleasant locations came together to support our military troops halfway across the world. It started as a suggestion from Financial Services Officer Karen Ansell, whose son is deployed in the Air Force, and her action soon grew into a team effort. ■

Getting Involved and Giving Back Working together, the Adrian branch team exemplifies GreenStone’s community service through their support of the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence Shelter. ■

SUCCESS IN 2020...

IN JUST 20 MINUTES A DAY SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, DOESN’T IT? IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE A PERSON COULD BECOME SUCCESSFUL AT ANYTHING, PRACTICING A MERE 20 MINUTES EACH DAY. BUT IT’S TRUE! JUST AS ‘A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP’, THE WORKING FACTOR OF “20 IN 2020” LIES IN THE REPETITION OF THE ACTION AND THE CREATION OF A PERMANENT HABIT. EXPAND ON NIKE’S FAMOUS TAGLINE: JUST DO IT -- FOR 20 MINUTES EVERY DAY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE, “DO THE RIGHT THING”, A GREENSTONE CORE VALUE, HAS HELPED THE COMPANY DEVELOP HABITS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE LED TO RELATIONSHIPS FOUNDATIONAL TO ITS SUCCESS. Your idea of success in 2020 may be a promotion at work or winning the Lotto, but for this particular trick, it’s advisable to begin your success-quest with actions that are under your control, and that directly impact the quality of your life. Use that ‘single step’ metaphor to build-in 20-minute patterns to help you focus on preparing for your next step in your career or personal plan. Here are three suggestions to activate this year: READ 20: Research has shown that screen time at bedtime disrupts sleep patterns. The Sleep Foundation describes the effects of electronics on your quality of sleep, and eventually, on your overall functioning: “Using TVs, tablets, smartphones, laptops, or other electronic devices before bed delays your body’s internal clock (a.k.a., your circadian rhythm), suppresses the release of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and makes it more difficult to fall asleep. This is largely due to the shortwavelength, artificial blue light that’s emitted by these devices. Over time, these effects can add up to a significant, chronic deficiency in sleep.”

Tired of feeling like a zombie in the morning,

or desperately needing coffee again at 3 p.m.?

Try reading a book in bed by lamplight for 20 minutes every evening to power yourself down for deep, recovery sleep. Inspirational, self-help or professional development topics are more likely to put you in a contemplative or relaxed frame of mind; and, why not give your brain some solution-oriented thinking to do while you’re ZZzzzing?

time to give mindfulness another try. Twenty minutes of daily meditation has been proven to relieve stress, control anxiety and enhance selfawareness. Also, a new study out of Michigan State University’s psychology department found that “taking a 20-minute break to meditate could help you pay closer attention to tasks and ultimately make fewer mistakes” -- a positive perk for both personal and professional life.

WALK 20: The benefits of walking 20 minutes, five days a week, are energizing and life changing. According to Melina B. Jampolis, M.D. for Prevention Magazine, walking can improve your mood, burn calories, reduce risk of chronic disease, delay onset of varicose veins, lower blood sugar, aid digestion, alleviate joint pain and even improve creativity.

Like any new habit, meditation may need to be practiced for several weeks until the benefits become apparent. A guided app, like Headspace, makes it easier for some people to launch a meditation routine, while others may prefer listening to music or meditating outdoors.

What might be the most interesting benefit of 20 minutes of daily walking is its ability to open up opportunities in other areas of your life as it reframes your physical habits. Sometimes a step towards success is literal!

MEDITATE 20: You may have tried meditating in the past and it just didn’t work, but it’s

Read, walk, meditate. Choose one, reclaim 20 minutes normally spent scrolling your phone or clicking through TV programs, and create a practice that propels you toward a new or improved direction. Setting yourself up for success in 2020 starts with your daily decision to be good to yourself; grab a 20-minute habit and grow! ■ Partners — Spring 2020

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Turkey hunting in the spring consists of early alarms, coffee refills, and the occasional afternoon nap. Turkeys can be hunted anytime during the day, but mornings are usually the best bet. Knowing where turkeys live is a good start. Most hunts start in the early morning hours, well before daybreak. Getting into position to hear the birds wake up in the trees (yes, they sleep in trees) is how you start.

On a clear morning hens and toms alike can be heard from quite a distance. The trick is to get close, but not TOO close. As the sun rises, the woods start to wake up. The smells and the sounds are worth the trip alone. Turkeys will look to get together as they leave the roost and start their day. At this point, a spring turkey hunter will use a variety of calls to try and entice a male bird to come close enough for a shot.

This seems fairly straightforward, and it is, but it’s much harder to pull off than you think.

A big part of why turkey hunting is so great is that you are literally talking back and forth with the birds! What are you saying to them, well, think of the night club! Yes, basically as the hunter you’re playing the female that is hoping to find Mr. Right. Or in most cases, Mr. Right Now! When it works, it’s something to behold!

SPRING AHEAD!

By Jimmy Gretzinger, Michigan Out of Doors TV We are lucky as Michiganders that we have four very unique seasons. Summertime in our great state is about as good as it gets, with limitless opportunities to enjoy the open water and moderate temperatures. The colors of fall in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and across the Lower Peninsula are simply breathtaking and draw folks from all over the Midwest. Winter, although cold, is just as special. There are an endless number of snowmobile trails, cross county and downhill skiing opportunities and lots of ice fishing available.

All of that said, there is something different about spring. It’s the time of year, as the days grow longer and the clock moves ahead, that has many Michiganders dreaming of the echo of gobbles off the hills and hollers of this grand ole state!

Spring means turkey hunting here in Michigan. Simply put, if you have never experienced what a spring turkey hunt is in its purest form, you have missed one of the best things our state has to offer.

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Spring 2020 — Partners

The gobbles from the love-sick toms are actually shaking the ground as the sun rises and shines through the trees. The hunter can see his or her breath and your heart beats faster and faster with the approaching bird. The bird stops just out of range as you question your calling tactics and your set up. Their incredible eyesight is now scanning the area for the bird he should be able to see…seconds go by, minutes now, he hasn’t moved…

This is the moment, right here, right now, it’s simply awesome! It’s what will bring you back and drive you to get up early again. It really is that addicting! It’s not always about filling your turkey tag, but rather about the time spent in the timber while watching the sunrise.

Spring is hope, possibilities, and new beginnings – and yes, spring is turkey hunting! Go have an adventure, make some memories with people you care about, and maybe that big gobbler will take a few more steps! ■

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

i CORONAVIRUS COMPUTER PHISHING

By Matthew Cosgrove, GreenStone Vice President of Information Security

Crisis situations can bring out the best and worst in people.

Today’s pandemic has produced a few Coronavirus-related scams you need to be aware of to keep your finances secure.

With the need for more information and news on COVID-19, more people are “Googling” to see what they can do to protect themselves and their families. Criminals have taken notice and have begun to register domains to use in phishing attacks (fake emails) to spread another type of virus across the internet.

According to Check Point’s Threat Intelligence,“Since January 2020, there has been over 4,000 coronavirus-related domains registered globally. Of those, 3% where found to be malicious and another 5% are suspicious.”

Check Point goes on to say that Coronavirus-related domains are 50% more likely to be malicious than other domains registered at the same time.

In many instances, criminals are sending phishing emails that appear to be from different health organizations. These emails have malicious document attachments that are being used to spread malware.

As with any phishing email, there are red flags to look for to avoid falling for these phishing attempts.

• The email has improper spelling or grammar mistakes.

• The email includes suspicious attachments – NEVER open attachments from unknown senders.

• The email urges you to take immediate action – “Exclusive Coronavirus Cure” • The email asks you to purchase or donate to a health or other organization. ■ References: Check Point Blog. (2020, 03 05)

Scammers may attempt to Food impersonate a bank or related service, such asFood a property appraiser, to gain access to personal Source: Network Kitchen, © 2003 Television Network, G.P. All rights reserved information or property. Please know, while GreenStone’s buildings are closed, our teammates are not visiting customers in person (with the exception of some GreenStone appraisal and inspection staff). If an urgent need arises, we will not come to you without calling to make an appointment with you first.

Commodity Cuisine...

Partners — Spring 2020

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FINDING JOY IN SPRING CLEANING SPRING CLEANING TO MANY PEOPLE MEANS WASHING CARPETS, CURTAINS AND WINDOWS, CLEANING OUT CLOSETS AND MAKING MINOR REPAIRS. IT’S AN ACTIVITY THAT HELPS US SHAKE OFF THE WINTER MUD, SNOW AND ICE, AND READIES OUR HOMES FOR SUNSHINE AND THE GROWING SEASON. THIS YEAR, THE NORMALLY OVERWHELMING CHORE HAS INSTEAD FILLED A NEED FOR MANY AS WE LOOK TO BE ACTIVE AND ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR TIME AT HOME. Whether you enjoy a deep houseclean or are just filling time, everyone can benefit from the KonMari ‘life-changing magic of tidying up’. Author Marie Kondo created the now-famous KonMari Method of organizing a home by eliminating any belongings that do not bring joy into your life. Applied to spring cleaning on an annual basis, this method will eventually shrink the clutter facing you at the end of a long Michigan or Wisconsin winter.

Here’s how it works: “KonMari teaches you to ask a simple question when you go about tidying up your house. Of each item in your home ask, “does it spark joy?” If not, get rid of it.

“The appeal of Marie Kondo’s KonMari method is that it can be applied to all parts of your life. From using KonMari when folding your clothes to changing your perspective when it comes to your relationships!” (Wayforth) Some of your relationships might have changed over time and no longer spark the same level of joy for you, and KonMari is about listening to your feelings and setting healthy boundaries.

Cleaning house can mean getting rid of any stuff bogging you down or holding you back – and the KonMari method wants it cleared away today.

Kondo warns of saving “someday” items -- the clothes we might fit in

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Spring 2020 — Partners

again (someday), the hedge clippers we might need if we plant a hedge (someday), the violin we played in high school and will definitely play again (someday). Someday can be a trap. Instead, honor your belongings by donating them to someone who will use them now.

Tips to Get Started: • Do it all at once • Keep in mind your end goal • Always ask “Does it contribute to your happiness?”

• Focus on a category at a time, rather than a location Work in Order, Kondo suggests: Clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous, and finally sentimental items The KonMari Method can be brutally efficient -- to call it ‘tidying up’ is like calling a hurricane a ‘strong breeze’. However, KonMari gets the job done and gets your home and possessions clean and organized. To get out from under too much junk, the inherited ‘good china’ or the boxes overflowing on the shelves in the basement is a very freeing feeling.

The ultimate upside to the KonMari Method of spring cleaning? There will be much LESS in your house, garage or pole barn to spring-clean NEXT year! ■ Resource: The Ultimate KonMari Guide & Checklist https://www.wayforth.com/ blog/ultimate-konmari-guide

Commodity Cuisine...

Stokes Blueberry Crumb Bars Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Calories: 339kcal Welcome spring with these delicious, easy-to-make sweet treats using one of Michigan’s favorite fruits – tasty blueberries!

Ingredients: Filling:

Crust: • 1 cup white sugar

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 3 cups allpurpose flour

• 3 tsp cornstarch • 4 cups fresh Michigan blueberries

• 1 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt (optional) • 1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional) • 1 cup shortening • 1 egg Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon if desired. Use a fork or a pastry cutter to blend in the shortening and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough in the prepared pan.

3. In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries.

Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust.

4. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown.

Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Servings: 15 ■

--Jamie Stokes, Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery (www.stokesblueberries.com), Grand Junction, Michigan

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Best Berry Tips The sweetest blueberries are harvested mid-season (in Michigan: mid-July to mid-August) and taste their berry best when fresh-picked locally.

To enjoy blueberries year-round, the Stokes family recommends purchasing fresh, local berries at their peak and freezing them in batches.

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LEARN

Blessed with Blueberries “I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. BUT I THINK ALSO, YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE THAT WORK ETHIC TOO, AND YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE THAT DRIVE AND YOU’VE GOT TO BE DETERMINED AND YOU CAN’T GIVE UP AND YOU CAN’T STOP. IT TAKES A LOT--IT TAKES MORE THAN YOU WANT TO PUT INTO IT SOMETIMES. BUT, IT’S PAID OFF AND WE FEEL VERY BLESSED.” – ROGER STOKES Roger Stokes, son of migrant workers and founder of Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery, walks past rows of healthy, potted blueberry bushes, toward one of his sparkling clean warehouses.

A massive semi-truck is parked in the driveway, and across the street the big, red Homestead Farm Market waits for summer berry customers. As a child, Roger worked blueberry fields along with his parents; now, he owns and operates a large production and processing center in Grand Junction, Michigan – the “Blueberry Capital of the World”.

“Farming is very hard work,” admits Roger, but confesses that even with a fluctuating economy, government regulations and weather challenges, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I worked in the factory for nine years and I just hated every

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Spring 2020 — Partners

minute of it. I wasn’t cut out for it but it fed my family and we had insurance. I started the nursery before I left the factory in the early 1980s. It was hard to leave that factory job; I was married and had two daughters and it paid the bills. Giving up job security to farm was one of the hardest things I ever did—I struggled with that decision, and I had nightmares about it for years.”

Timing was everything for Stokes, and blueberries were growing in popularity as he looked for a way out of the factory. He built a little greenhouse out of scrap material and talked to local farmers about going into their fields to take cuttings to start his own blueberry plants.

Roger had trouble breaking into the tight-knit farming community, until he offered the farmers 25% back on the blueberry plants he

➡ Left: Roger Stokes and his daughter, Jamie, on their berry farm and processing center in the “Blueberry Capital of the World.”

sold. Five years later, Roger was not only cultivating and selling plant stock to other farms and nurseries, but growing his own plants on 600 acres in the heart of blueberry country. Today, Stokes Blueberry Farms sells hundreds of thousands of plants, and processes fresh and frozen berries through Stokes’ Blueberries FreshPro, Inc., and Fresh Pack.

Daughter Jamie Stokes, creative visionary and head of the farm’s retail and human resources departments, explains the impetus behind the farm’s steady expansion from a greenhouse full of blueberry plants in 1978, to the current farm, nursery, u-pick fields and frozen blueberry facility.

“My parents were harvesting their blueberries and taking them to other facilities to have them packed,” Jamie says. “At that time, the facility would weigh your berries, but wouldn’t tell you how much they were going to pay you. So a lot of times, farmers would bring in their berries and not be real sure that they would even break even after harvest. It was a gamble, and that’s when my parents decided to take out a loan and open their own facility.”

Roger approached GreenStone Farm Credit Services for the loan in the mid-eighties, and was encouraged by Dennis Nykamp, their financial services officer at the time.

“No one can do it on their own,” adds Stokes. “Dennis said ‘don’t let $50,000 hold you back from building your business’, and approved our loan.

GreenStone’s been part of our success right from the start.”

Roger and his wife, Kimberly did one thing differently with their new packing facility. They told farmers who brought in their berries how much they would be paid for their produce, upfront. They knew the terror of dropping off fruit that you worked hard to grow without getting a price, and they chose a different path.

Doing the right thing for his colleagues, his customers and his seasonal farm workers has paid off for Roger and for

Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery. The expansion of the farm operation, the repeat business and the special events planned for the upcoming season all point to a farmer who created a family business based on good timing, hard work and the golden rule.

Two years ago, Jamie Stokes took over much of the behind-the-scenes operation from her mom, Kimberly, and quickly realized that outsourcing tax and accounting services would free her up to concentrate more time on the farm’s educational tours, seasonal activities and marketing.

“Sara Trattles, our current financial services officer, told me about a free QuickBooks class that GreenStone offered to farmers,” commented Jamie. “I hadn’t been behind a computer in a while, so my two office-workers and I attended the QuickBooks refresher. After meeting the people at GreenStone, I decided it was time to hire their tax and accounting services to straighten out our accounts and get us set up for tax time.

“We work with Marie Fair (GreenStone tax and accounting assistant); she comes out regularly to keep us on track. Marie helps clean up our QuickBooks, gives us useful tips and answers our questions.

Tax Calendar...

Note: As a result of the COVID-19 emergency, many due dates and deadlines have been adjusted. The below dates are accurate and current as of March 25, 2020. Please check our website at www.greenstonefcs.com for updates.

APRIL

30 JUNE

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Second quarter estimate is due for 2020 for individuals that pay estimated taxes.

Corporations deposit the second installment of estimated income tax for 2020.

JULY

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“Elizabeth Waldschmidt is our tax accountant, and she gets us organized and gets our taxes done. It’s nice to have backup -- you can’t do everything! Having a GreenStone accountant make sure our finances all line up, add up and balance out is a huge relief.”

Sara, on the financing side, works with the Stokes out of GreenStone’s Schoolcraft office. “I think the personalized help that GreenStone’s accounting department developed to meet Roger and Jamie’s needs has made their partnership great in new ways,” states Sara. “Roger has built a legacy in the blueberry industry. His operation was built from the ground up over a lifetime, and he has a wealth of institutional knowledge of the industry.

Jamie is now running the business-side of the farm more efficiently and effectively, and the GreenStone team is happy to help the Stokes achieve their goals.” ■

Non-farm employers file Form 941 for the first quarter to report Social Security, Medicare, and withholding.

Individuals file a 2019 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due. If not able to file, file form 4868 to request an automatic 3-month extension to October 15, 2020. If tax is due it must be paid with the Form 4868.

1st quarter estimate is due for 2020 for individuals that pay estimated taxes.

Corporations file a 2019 calendar year tax return (Form 1120) and pay any tax due. If not able to file, file Form 7004 to request an automatic 3-month extension to October 15, 2020.

Corporations deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2020.

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Non-farm employers file Form 941 for the second quarter to report Social Security, Medicare, and withholding.

Form 5500 is due for all employers that maintain an employee benefit plan, such as a pension plan.

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CROP INSURANCE NEWS: NOW IS THE TIME TO SIGN UP FOR HAIL INSURANCE!

Below are some other important items of note regarding hail coverage.

• Most hail insurance covers other perils above and beyond hail damage.

Beyond hail, most policies also cover fire, vandalism and malicious mischief, transit to the first point of storage, and stored grain coverage if you happen to have a bin(s) on the farm.

• Hail coverage is available on almost any crop; even if you do not have a Federal crop insurance option, it can generally be covered for hail.

• A customer is able to carry a Federal MPCI policy as well as a hail policy, and collect on both in the event of a loss.

While it may seem as if storms capable of producing hail are rare in our area, it seems these storms are becoming far more commonplace than in the past, making the need for hail insurance more important.

Hail insurance is a separate policy from your multi-peril crop insurance coverage. Federal crop insurance covers hail damage as it relates to yield reduction, but producers can also purchase separate hail coverage for their crops from the same companies offering federal crop insurance. As an added bonus, hail policies can provide coverage for fire, lightning, vandalism/malicious mischief and transit to the first place of storage.

Hail insurance is based on the percent of damage received at a particular growth stage, which allows insurance companies to perform adjustments and pay indemnities during a growing season, without having to wait until harvest. Rates and coverage vary by crop and county. Keep in mind, hail insurance must be purchased before damage occurs.

• Hail coverage is based on a dollar amount of coverage per acre, with premium generally quoted per $100 of coverage. For example, if someone wanted to cover their corn at $700 per acre and the premium was 60 cents per $100 of coverage, their premium for corn would be $4.20 per acre.

• One benefit to hail insurance over MPCI is you can insure up to the total expected value of the crop, whereas on MPCI you are limited to 85 percent.

• Hail coverage generally has many different endorsements available, including quality endorsements on crops intended for fresh market, canning reject endorsements, etc.

To learn more on how a hail policy works or what options are available and covered with a hail policy, contact your GreenStone crop insurance specialist to review your options. ■

IMPORTANT: CLAIMS & APPRAISALS– Much too recent history reminds us that no matter what you do during the growing season, sometimes Mother Nature just will not cooperate, and you are anticipating your yields may fall below your guarantee. This is never the situation you want to be in, but that is why you purchased crop insurance. If you do find yourself in a claims situation, there are some important things to remember to help the process go smoothly.

Insurance coverage generally begins at time of application or time of planting, whichever is later.

The end of the insurance period is the earlier of total destruction of the crop, final harvest of the crop, abandonment of the crop, or the end of the insurance period.(October 31st for wheat).

It is the insured’s responsibility to notify the insurance company within 72 hours of the initial discovery of the damage or production loss, but no later than 15 days after the end of the insurance period, even if the crop has not

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been harvested. If you have a revenue protection policy and have a claim based strictly on price, the insurance company must be notified within 45 days of the harvest price announcement for the crop. The RMA is enforcing these rules, and will decline late filed claim requests, and may

also request repayment from an insured for paid claims that were improperly filed.

Remembering these key points will help avoid any problems with your claim. As always, if you have questions based on what you’ve read, please contact your crop insurance specialist to help you. ■

Crop Insurance Calendar...

APRIL

29

MAY Production Reporting Deadline for all 2019 Spring Crops

JULY

1

Forage & Fall Wheat Premiums Billing Date

15

Spring 2020 Acreage Reports Due

31

Oat Acreage Report Due

AUGUST

15

Spring Premium Billing Date

EARLY/FINAL PLANT DATES Early and final plant dates vary by crop, county and state. Coverage levels can be reduced if a crop is planted too early or too late. Please check with your GreenStone crop insurance specialist or actuarial documents for specific details and dates for your county if you are unsure about which dates apply to your policy. ■ 2020 FALL WHEAT and FORAGE CLAIMS Appraisals are required when a customer plans to do something with the crop other than harvest in the normal manner. If you do not plan to take your wheat/forage crop to harvest, we must appraise the acres prior to destruction. ■ 1ST CROP/2ND CROP If you are planning on possibly removing a first crop to plant a second, contact your crop insurance specialist before doing so. You could potentially be eligible for a claim, but you may forfeit that eligibility if you act before contacting your specialist to discuss your options. ■ ENTERPRISE UNITS STRUCTURE The added subsidy on the enterprise unit structure makes it an affordable option for many producers. The downside is, if you do not end up planting the required acreage, your policy can revert back to a basic unit structure, and your premium could increase substantially.

There are two requirements to qualify for enterprise units: You must farm in two or more separate sections.

AND A t least 20 acres, or 20% of your individual crop acreage, whichever is less, must be planted in that second section.

Adverse spring weather has the potential to cause prevented planting which could take some producers out of enterprise unit eligibility. Make sure to contact your crop insurance specialist if you anticipate any issues meeting the enterprise unit requirements. ■ CROP INSURANCE ALERTS!

PREVENTED PLANT OR REPLANT RULES HAVE CHANGED– If weather conditions prevent you from planting or you need to replant a crop, you may qualify for a claim. File a claim with your crop insurance specialist before replanting. DO NOT replant until you have received approval to do so, or you may not receive an indemnity. If you have a prevent plant situation, a claim must be filed within 72 hours after the end of the late planting period, which varies by crop. (There is a minimum requirement of 20% of the unit or 20 acres for both replant and prevent plant claims, whichever is less.)

Some important changes were made for the current crop year in regards to both Replant and Prevent Plant rules. Depending on the timing of the replant period, weather and field conditions, you could be required to replant. Please contact your Crop Insurance Specialist for the most current rules and guidelines. ■

Crop Insurance Alert post cards will be sent to you on an “as needed” basis. The postcards communicate any vital information we receive and feel necessary to pass along to you. Please take a minute to read these when they arrive as there may be timely action required on your part! ■ ACREAGE REPORTS The earlier you start reporting your planted crop acres, the earlier we can process your reports and return for your review. It is the customer’s responsibility to report the crop that was planted in each section, the planting date and your percent share of that crop.

Reporting your crop accurately and double checking everything on the Schedule of Insurance is very important. Corrections or changes cannot be made after the July 15th reporting deadline. You do not need to report to FSA before reporting your planted acres to your crop insurance specialist.

If you use precision planting technology, we can save you time reporting acres. Contact your local GreenStone crop insurance team for assistance. ■ ORGANIC CROPS As a reminder, RMA now requires all insured organic certified producers to provide a copy of their organic crop plan and organic certificate to their crop insurance specialist before the acreage reporting date. ■

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NEW DAIRY ANALYZER TOOL HELPS FARMERS ASSESS RISK & PROTECT REVENUE GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES IS PLEASED TO PROVIDE DAIRY PRODUCERS WITH AN EXCLUSIVE TOOL DESIGNED EXPRESSLY FOR MEMBERS WHO HAVE SIGNED A DAIRY REVENUE PROTECTION (DRP) APPLICATION WITH OUR CROP INSURANCE TEAM. DAIRY REVENUE PROTECTION IS A FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED PRODUCT AND PROVIDES INSURANCE FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FINAL REVENUE GUARANTEE AND ACTUAL MILK REVENUE, IF PRICES FALL.

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The Dairy Revenue Protection Analyzer will help each farmer track and forecast their individualized expected income, calculate potential losses, and design risk management based on actual quarterly statistics.

“The DRP Analyzer gives dairy farmers the security of knowing they’ve made the right risk management decisions,” says GreenStone Crop Insurance Specialist Robert Netrefa. “When producers come to me with questions, we can use the analyzer tool to view how the insurance policy would perform under specific conditions.”

The DRP Analyzer enables GreenStone customers to follow LIVE daily tracking of producer endorsements and to develop operational projections based on production and revenue floors. The dairy industry comes with an array of seasonal variables; this new tool allows side-by-side comparisons of coverage details unique to each farmer’s operation, including tracking income, calculated loss probability and personalized risk management.

Ease of use, instant reports and ongoing development to add extra features and benefits make GreenStone’s DRP Analyzer an invaluable peace-of-mind tool for planning.

For information about Dairy Revenue Protection, or to place your DRP policy and get access to the free DRP Analyzer tool, contact your GreenStone crop insurance specialist. ■

TIPS AND TRICKS ON THE JOB SEARCH AS THE DAYS GET LONGER THE HUNT FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND FULL-TIME POSITIONS FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES IS IN FULL SWING. JONNA MEYERS, SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER AT GREENSTONE, GIVES A FEW TIPS ON RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, AND THE JOB SEARCH. Resume The first thing to remember is a resume is a snapshot of your education and professional career, highlight the big points and adapt them to what is relevant to the job you are applying for, and explain the rest during a future interview.

For new graduates and college students, a resume should be one page, meaning some prioritization may have to occur. One way of prioritizing is using this trick: There are approximately 50 lines on a sheet of paper. You get $50 to build your resume and each line is worth $1.

How many dollars do you want to spend on the topic?

One issue many students run into is the lack of specific professional work experience. In this situation, focus on the education section, highlighting classes, skills learned, and even relevant projects.

A resume should also include up to date contact information, education, work experience, volunteer experience, and skills.

Cover Letter The cover letter is many times the first glimpse at the applicant, be sure to make a good impression.

Do your research on the company prior to writing the cover letter and tailor the letter to the job description.

This shows you are interested and have put forth an effort. It also helps answer the question of why you are qualified for the job, especially if your experience isn’t specifically related. The extra time spent on the cover letter could be the difference it takes to catch a hiring managers attention.

A cover letter should be one page long. Do not be afraid to be straight forward and to the point, but do not minimalize important topics. Be sure to tell the hiring manager why you are the best fit for the position, using past experiences as evidence.

Other Helpful Information The resume and cover letter should fit together and look as if they belong together. The best way to accomplish this is to use the same letterhead on both as well as following similar formats and font styles.

Be sure that both the resume and cover letter are free of spelling and grammatical errors, and up to date. If you have any changes, update your resume accordingly so you are not sharing false information.

Resume building workshops at school or outside organizations can help improve your resume, as the professional that facilitate these events are usually hiring managers or recruiters, meaning they spend a considerable amount of time working through resumes. A trained eye can help you to avoid simple grammatical or formatting errors that could be pitfalls in the hiring process.

Find more on GreenStone’s career opportunities at greenstonefcs.com/careers. ■

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3515 West Road East Lansing, MI 48823

Spring feature highlight...

Jeff Schweiger was determined to be living in the new house he was building for his wife, Dawn, and their 18-month-old son, Luke, by Christmas. After seven months and multiple setbacks, Jeff was waiting impatiently for his Certificate of Occupancy and cutting it a little close to his goal.

Read more on page 29.