Leader - Spring 2023

ON THE

Farmers R ise

Meet the 2022 winners who are leading, innovating, inspiring, and already making their mark on our industry.

Horizon Farm Credit, ACA

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO

Board of Directors

Shawn D. Wolfinger, Chair

David R. Smith, Vice Chair

Paul D. Baumgardner

Julie Bolyard

Samuel BowerCraft

Brian L. Boyd

Kevin D. Grim

Steven H. Gross, Jr.

John Travis Hastings

Laura M. Heilinger

Anthony M. Ill

William K. Jackson

T. Jeffery Jennings

Sharon McClellan

Carl Metzgar

Fred R. Moore, Jr.

Michael S. Nelson

Sam Parker

Jennifer L. Rhodes

Paul H. Schmidt

Larry A. Seibert

Richard D. Shuman

Charles F. Ulmer

Christine Waddell

Charles M. Wright IV

QUESTIONS OR IDEAS

If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the Leader, contact JoAnna Cameron at 888.339.3334, email her at jcameron@horizonfc.com or write her at Horizon Farm Credit | 300 Winding Creek Blvd | Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. This publication is for you, our reader. We’d love to hear from you!

The Leader is published semi-annually for stockholders, friends and business associates. If you wish to no longer receive this publication, please email: jcameron@horizonfc.com. Use “Unsubscribe Leader” in the subject line.

The Farm Credit Administration does not require the association to distribute its quarterly financial reports to shareholders. However, copies of its complete report are available upon request or see quarterly updates online at horizonfc.com

The shareholders’ investment in the association is materially affected by the financial condition and results of operations of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and copies of its quarterly financial report are available upon request by writing:

Susanne Caughman

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank | P.O. Box 1499 | Columbia, SC 29202-1499

Address changes, questions or requests for the association’s quarterly financial report should be directed to Horizon Farm Credit, ACA by calling 888.339.3334 or writing:

Horizon Farm Credit | 300 Winding Creek Blvd | Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

The Next Generation

As a cooperative Association, Horizon Farm Credit is committed to the mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent financial services, today and tomorrow. That forward-looking mission drives every major decision, initiative, and investment we make.

We know that the future of agriculture depends on the success of young, beginning, and small (YBS) producers and are honored to spotlight the 2022 Farmers on the Rise award recipients in this issue. I know you’ll enjoy learning about them, their operations, and how they found their passion for agriculture. I have no doubt you’ll find them to be as inspiring as I do.

The Farmers on the Rise program is one of the many ways Horizon Farm Credit supports YBS producers. We’re excited to introduce our new holistic Grow Ahead program that has been designed specifically to serve the needs of the next generation of farmers. Grow Ahead bundles established grant and award programs including Farmers on the Rise, with other business development resources, and brand new loan products that will help young and beginning farmers access the capital they need. Look for more information on Grow Ahead in this issue as well as horizonfc.com/growahead

While Grow Ahead is brand new, our commitment to the next generation of farmers is longstanding. We’ve been invested in helping YBS producers establish and grow their operations for many years and we’ve seen record numbers of that next generation become member-owners of Farm Credit. As of December 31, 2022, 25.4% of our members met the definition of young farmers, 36.8% were classified as beginning, and 61.5% were considered small farm operators. I encourage those who may qualify for our YBS programs to consider taking advantage of the tailored financial, business development, and educational resources provided.

Thank you for choosing Farm Credit. We’re here to serve you and couldn’t be more optimistic about the future of our industry.

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr. Chief Executive Officer

Kikos Shine

AT FIRST-GENERATION GOAT FARM

Story

photos by Michelle Kunjappu

Adams County, PA

Shawn Lawrence did not have a background in raising goats, but that hasn’t slowed him down.

“I stumbled into it,” says Shawn. “A buddy I worked in construction with raised goats, and I thought it would be a good idea to have goats one day,” he recalls. “I started with a small pen and just kept running with it; I never looked back,” he says.

Shawn and his wife, Nicole, together with their daughters Bailey and Isabella, operate Lousy Run Farm in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The farm is named for the creek that runs through it. The family leases 90 acres and raises around 150 goats, most being purebred Kikos.

Kiko goats, a hybrid breed from New Zealand, are the Lawrences’ breed of choice because they are “hardy and tougher than nails,” he says. These goats are parasite resistant, which Shawn boosts by rotating them through clean, parasite-free grazing pastures each week. “If there’s something I have to worm more than once a year, it goes,” he says. “That’s what the breed was designed for and what draws people to this breed.”

and

Shawn always enjoyed being around animals and helped with his brother-in-law’s cattle prior to getting involved with goats. He appreciates that goats are a little more manageable. “I can work them in the chute myself, I can take care of the whole herd myself, with help from my father-in-law.”

Working full time as a self-employed contractor, Shawn spends his days on the jobsite, then comes home to take care of the goats. He’s been working to make the former dairy farm more efficient as a goat operation by slowly fencing more pastures, “taking back a field a year,” and adding crops.

The award funds received through the Farmers on the Rise program allowed Shawn to construct a compost area near the goat barn, where manure and bedding from the barn and the dry lot is stored. Composting kills the bacteria “so it’s not being spread back over the fields and containing it prevents runoff,” which is especially important, given the farm’s proximity to the creek, says Shawn. In addition

to building the composting area, Farmers on the Rise award funds allowed the Lawrences to reconfigure a gate and nearby fence, allowing equipment to access the barn and composting area.

While he enjoys many aspects of raising goats, genetics and breeding are especially interesting to Shawn. Each year when kids hit

the ground, “you can see what you work for.” It’s so much fun to watch all of these kids mature. “You get to see what different bucks are going to do for you and then build and grow from there,” he says. “It’s interesting every year to see how it all works out.”

For more information about Lousy Run Farm, visit their website at lousyrunfarms.com.

“A buddy I worked in construction with raised goats, and I thought it would be a good idea to have goats one day. I started with a small pen and just kept running with it; I never looked back.”

— Shawn Lawrence

Cultural Heritage

THROUGH FOOD

Story Andrea Haines

County, MD

Nia Nyamweya owns and operates Beauty Blooms Farm in Damascus, Maryland, growing certified and naturally grown African heritage produce and flowers with low-till and organic farm practices. “I love the pleasant surprise people have when I tell them I’m a farmer,” she explains. “As a young woman of color, I look up to folks that have come before me and farmed through immense challenges in our nation’s history.”

Nia is a Farm Credit Farmers on the Rise award recipient. “This amazing honor gives me a boost of confidence. Support from Farm Credit has enabled me to continue to grow the farm and to provide more food to the [Washington] D.C. community,” she claims. Nia was able to purchase a BCS walk-behind tractor and flail mower with

So many relationships develop around the dinner table, encompassing food and traditional preparations. One woman in Montgomery County, Maryland has made it her mission to celebrate cultural heritage through food.

Montgomery

Photo by Nick Walker

Photo by Nick Walker

the funding provided by the honor. “The various attachments that mechanize the small-scale farm and still remain low-till and hand-powered is the great thing about this addition.” She plans to purchase additional attachments, including a compost spreader and biodegradable mulch layer with the additional funds.

Nia credits her Kenyan-born father as a major source of inspiration. His African upbringing and his background in landscaping helped her realize her own dream of a thriving ecosystem coupled with diversity in agriculture and the community. “I didn’t grow up in a farm community,” she states. “Yet, I share so many values of environmental stewardship, sharing

food with community, and growing food that’s important to my culture and heritage.”

Nia recognizes Farm Credit for the “dedication to farmers growing their operations” and thanks the staff that are farmers themselves or grew up in agriculture” for sharing their knowledge with her. She explains, ”I’m from

the city and have different life experiences from many farmers. I hope I can be a strong example for other women of color and encourage them to take the leap and follow their farming dreams.”

Visit Beauty Blooms Farm on the web at beautyblooms.org.

“I didn’t grow up in a farm community. Yet, I share so many values of environmental stewardship, sharing food with community, and growing food that’s important to my culture and heritage.”

— Nia Nyamweya

Photo by Andrea Haines

Photo by Andrea Haines

Photo by Andrea Haines

Photo by Andrea Haines

Growing Together,

SHARING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY

Story and photos by Michelle Kunjappu

Lancaster County, PA

It’s been a long, slow climb for Devin and Kristi Barto, but ten years of internships, job experience, online classes, and “reading everything [they] could get [their] hands on about farming” is paying off.

Recent recipients of Farm Credit’s Farmers on the Rise award, the couple leases five acres in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania for their Fifth Month Farm, the vegetable CSA they began in 2018.

The new permanent roof, which the couple was able to finance through the award, will offer the Bartos protection from the elements in the washing and packing area. The overhang now covers the wash station “which also helps us meet food safety requirements because it’s sheltering the food and equipment,” explains Kristi.

Lancaster County’s summer weather allows the Bartos to run their CSA early June through the end of September. They have multiple pickup locations and subscriptions available in both Lancaster and Philadelphia. Additionally, they supply farm-fresh vegetables to area restaurants as well as a local wholesale outlet.

The couple’s four high tunnels harbor vegetables all winter, providing 14 weeks of salad greens, fingerling and sweet potatoes, squash, beets, and carrots, among other produce to their members.

As the CSA moves into its sixth year, its continued growth and popularity can be at least partly attributed to the couple’s blending of talents and efforts.

Although Devin did not have a background in agriculture, his interest in agriculture was piqued when he attended a biodiesel conference with a college roommate. Afterward, he pursued an internship on a nearby farm. “Honestly, by day three of being on a farm I thought yeah, I’ll probably do this,” says Devin. In addition to taking classes and reading on his own, he found mentors in farming who invested in him and allowed him the experiences he needed to bring to his own business.

Ongoing relationships with these mentors, who were good at both growing things and the business side, Devin says, have proven valuable, and “I still talk to them, maybe once a year with a question,” he says. “When I first started, I emailed or called all the time.”

Kristi, who holds a bachelors degree in fine arts, did not have a background in agriculture either. She found her own agricultural mentors in addition to learning alongside Devin.

Kristi spent time employed at a successful farm stand outside of Philly as well as at a local flower shop. “Working in those operations helped me develop a broad skill set and it was good to see how other businesses are successful,” she says. Kristi also worked in several bakeries, where she obtained food safety certification and expanded her knowledge of food. “I didn’t have a very straightforward path, but now that I’m running this business with Devin and farming, it has become clear how all things came together in a really beautiful way to help us be successful.”

When asking what advice she’d give to other young, beginning, and small farmers, Kristi recommends they “invest in educating themselves about marketing, especially

digital marketing.” Kristi has taken marketing classes at a local college and continues to see the benefits. Our online presence “brings us more customers and also allows us to access customers without having to physically always be at a farmers market or at a farm stand; it has allowed us to reach a wider audience than we otherwise would have,” she says.

The couple has been with Farm Credit since forming their business in 2018. Over the years, the Bartos have found Farm Credit employees to be a valuable resource, beyond simply providing financial solutions. According to Kristi, one employee in particular has proven to be an asset to their operation — Leslie Hoover, Farm Credit's Accounting & Consulting Services Manager. "She has helped us feel comfortable making financial decisions and feel like we’re going in the right direction,” says Devin. “Leslie helps our business be so organized and we know we’re making datadriven choices.”

“I didn’t have a very straightforward path, but now that I’m running this business with Devin and farming, it has become clear how all things came together in a really beautiful way to help us be successful.”

— Kristi Barto

A PartnershipLEADS TO GROWTH

Story by Carrie Bomgardner

Cumberland County, PA

Farmers on the Rise winner Ryan Brown of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, always knew his career path. “Farming wasn’t something I was pushed into,” remembers Ryan. “I enjoyed planting seeds, watching them grow and reaping the harvest. It’s a sense of accomplishment and no two days are ever the same.”

While in middle school, Ryan began milking cows on his grandpa’s 110 acre farm, eventually transitioning to crop and beef cattle work. After high school, Ryan continued farming parttime while also employed as a railroad diesel mechanic for 12 years. He and his wife Andrea eventually bought his grandpa’s farm in 2015.

In 2017 and 2018, Ryan participated in the Ag Biz Masters program, learning about farm business financials and making important connections.

“A high school classmate was in my Ag Biz class and also owned a farm,” Ryan shares. “We started an informal partnership trading equipment back and forth on our farms.”

By 2019, Ryan bought his first combine and large planter to expand his partnership into custom crop work and he also began working as a local Pioneer seed representative. It was a big year that allowed Ryan to leave the railroad and officially farm full-time.

Today, Ryan and his partner continue raising their own crops and combined with custom acreage, crop 4,000 acres for farmers in a three-county area. He direct markets about 20 fed steers and also raises 20 brood cows for club calves. In addition to the seed business, he also leads digital agronomy efforts in a four-county area, taking soil and grid samples for farmers.

Thankful for the award money, Ryan used a portion of the funds to purchase a RTV for the

agronomy business and he plans to direct the balance toward updated animal handling equipment.

What’s Ryan’s advice for other aspiring farmers on the rise? “Never pass up an opportunity without at least thinking through it,” he says. “Be ready to step out of your comfort zone.”

“Farming wasn’t something I was pushed into. I enjoyed planting seeds, watching them grow and reaping the harvest. It’s a sense of accomplishment and no two days are ever the same.”

— Ryan Brown

Baltimore County, MD

Agritourism BRIDGING GAPS With

The Farmyard, located in Parkton, Maryland, is a place where visitors can gather to experience a rural way of living alongside owner Renee Wilson. “Agritourism is my full-time job and lifetime passion,” she shares. Growing up on a farm, Renee always had the support from her parents to pursue her dreams in agriculture. “My parents had two daughters,” she notes. “I see it as a blessing because we didn’t have a brother to do the ‘hard jobs’. We, as females, were empowered by others in the industry. We were expected to do all of the same things and work smarter.”

Renee is a Farm Credit Farmers on the Rise award recipient. “I’m grateful and humbled to be chosen,” she shares. “This was my second year applying and my situation drastically changed from the year prior. While hearing the stories from other participants, my perspective shifted from competitive to appreciative. The honor has incentivized me to ‘keep going’ and encourage other young farmers to pursue their goals.”

Renee is utilizing the award funding for construction of a 40' x 60' metal pole building

Those who have the opportunity to grow up on a farm understand the responsibility necessary to care for animals and the sense of accomplishment that comes along with harvesting crops. It’s only natural to want to share that feeling with others, especially those who are not used to rural living.

Story and photos by Andrea Haines

with two “lean-tos”. The barn provides a dry storage space for hay and feed, as well as box stalls to separate animals. This allows her to remain operational all year-long.

She has found that the farm not only inspires her but others in her community, some with no prior agriculture knowledge. “It has become clear to me that The Farmyard is so much more than just a business,” she expresses.

“It’s having a real impact, creating a place for agriculture and our community to succeed.”

From caring for horses and donkeys, feeding cattle and goats, to community gardening, Renee is developing a classroom experience for visitors to gain much needed knowledge about how farmers work and crops grow.

Renee utilized tools from Farm Credit to create her business plan. “My family has conducted

business with Farm Credit for decades and we appreciate the guidance they offer,” she shares. “Having a personal relationship with a trusted source has helped my operation tremendously,” Renee shares. “We’re growing rapidly, and I look forward to expand in years to come.”

You can find more information about The Farmyard on their website, thefarmyardllc.farm

“It has become clear to me that The Farmyard is so much more than just a business. It’s having a real impact, creating a place for agriculture and our community to succeed.”

— Renee Wilson

CONNECTING NEIGHBORS, Growing For The

Community

Story by Andrea Haines

Chester County, PA

Providing friends and neighbors with an online farm stand from May through January, the firstgeneration farm owner is one of Farm Credit’s Farmers on the Rise winners. “Accepting the award validated the efforts and sacrifices that our family has made,” shares Robert. “The application and interview experience was an opportunity for me to think critically about the business side of our operation that, in and of itself made applying worth the effort. To be seen as a leader in agriculture has encouraged me to put more effort into our agricultural community and given us the confidence to continue to put in the work to build an agricultural business.”

Robert and his team will be building a second movable high tunnel with the funding provided by the award. “The high tunnel will help even out seasonal employment for staff, lengthen our harvest season, and help us grow crops with higher marketable yields,” he explains. “A guiding principle of mine is to invest in production capacity that evens out the seasonal workload in an effort to provide staff with consistent year-round employment.”

Flavorful seasonal produce has suburban visitors flocking to the green gardens of Down to Earth Harvest in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, owned and cared for by Robert Todd and family.

His plan is to double output in four years, focusing on marketing and distribution. “I would like Down to Earth Harvest to be a resource for other farm startups and grow the number of small farms in suburban areas,” he shares. Robert urges others to “start small and use social capital in your community”. He says, “It just takes one connection at a time to build your reputation and skill set.”

When applying for assistance, Robert claims, “passion and hard work are intangible, but your numbers are going to speak loudly. Being financially literate takes effort and time.” His relationship with Farm Credit is strong. “They have expertise and understanding of small and large ag operations. The staff is responsive and supportive, and the cooperative model returns profits to farmers they serve.”

Robert is looking forward to the future. “When you’re excited about taking on tomorrow it’s easy to wake up early and get to work.”

You can check out Down To Earth Harvest on the web at downtoearthharvest.com or on these social media platforms: Facebook: @downtoearthharvest.csa Instagram: @downtoearthharvest YouTube: @downtoearthharvest5267

“I would like Down to Earth Harvest to be a resource for other farm startups and grow the number of small farms in suburban areas.”

— Robert Todd

Achieve the Dream SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS Helps

Berkeley County, WV

Award winner Tyler Butts, Berkeley County, West Virginia, discovered his agricultural passion at the county fair. “I wasn’t born on a farm,” Tyler shares. “Friends in agricultural organizations allowed me to keep my 4-H and FFA animals at their farms. Everybody helped me figure out a way to pursue my dream. Those were the people that I wanted to surround myself with and who I wanted to be.”

Fast forward, life has come full-circle for Tyler, a 10-year agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Spring Mills High School, Martinsburg, WV. In 2015, his family purchased a 100 acre farm to run beef cattle; Tyler and his family also began housing project animals for kids in the county.

“My FFA chapter includes kids from both farms and towns,” says Tyler. “But many of our farms are now housing developments.” Nestled 40 minutes from the Washington, D.C. metro area, the county has experienced explosive growth, earning “fastest growing county on the East Coast” honors.

To extend educational opportunities for his 65 FFA members, Tyler plans to use his award money to design and build a new cattle corral system. “I want to teach cattle handling and management to the kids on the farm,” Tyler explains. “The new system will be safe for others and efficient for us.”

Story and photos by Maria Listman

“Friends in agricultural organizations allowed me to keep my 4-H and FFA animals at their farms. Everybody helped me figure out a way to pursue my dream. Those were the people that I wanted to surround myself with and who I wanted to be.”

— Tyler Butts

Thirty-five Angus and Simmental brood cows rotationally graze on Antram Farm. The family also sells embryos direct from two donor cows and raises some of the embryos for fair show circuit calves. With the remaining award money, Tyler wants to improve the cattle’s

winter feeding area, preventing and reducing run-off on the farm.

Tyler reminds other aspiring farmers to never lose their passion. “This industry can be trying,” he acknowledges. “Remember why you got involved.”

The Farmers on the Rise program helped Tyler remember his why. “I enjoyed meeting all the finalists,” Tyler notes. “None of us came from the same walk of life and yet we all shared the same passion for agriculture. I was blown away.”

FARMERS ON THE RISE

Acknowledge A VIEW TO

By Maria N. Listman

Clarke County, VA

The name of their farm and business is a play on words that not only emphasizes the magnificent setting, but also their perspective of how they train horses. They focus on natural horsemanship, and the point of view the horse has when being trained.

“How horses think, learn, and interact is important. We use more psychology, teaching and training with the horse, versus making him do it,” explains Michael.

Their business is multi-faceted, keeping them busy year-round. They primarily focus on training horses for their owners and offer riding lessons. In addition, they teach clinics along the East Coast, and Marion has taught in Europe as well. Horse sales have recently been added to their list of services offered, and they always make time for shows. Whether they are showing their own horses, or a client’s horse, they thoroughly enjoy competing.

Michael shows in eventing and dressage with young horses. Marion is a Grand Prix dressage rider, and has earned the distinguished U.S. Dressage Federation Gold Medal Rider Award. They grew up riding horses, and each started their own business before meeting.

Marion is from Switzerland, and the couple met in Florida while at horsemanship school. They trained and worked for Pat and Linda Parelli.

Viewpoint Equestrian is nestled along the ridge of Boyce, Virginia. Trees frame the land with rows of fencing to delineate each pasture’s purpose. Farmers on the Rise winners, Michael and Marion Alway, own and operate the horse haven, and have a wait list that is eight months out.

Michael was their apprentice, barn manager, and did tour arena management. Marion was Linda’s protégé, and you can find her in the Parelli's videos.

They are a power couple in the equestrian world, with humble and genuine demeanors. It’s not surprising that they also make time to train-up the next generation of horse lovers.

They plan to use their Farmers on the Rise award funds to upgrade their facility and expand the apprenticeship program offered on their farm, which teaches horse care, farm management and much more.

They have great plans for the future, while raising their two-year old daughter. A newly built indoor arena is just the beginning. They’ll

be expanding their training services with videos and a YouTube channel. Their personal goals are to inspire and educate, while focusing on natural horsemanship and English performance.

For information about Viewpoint Equestrian, see their website at viewpointequestrian.com or check them out on Instagram: @viewpoint.equestrian

“How horses think, learn, and interact is important. We use more psychology, teaching and training with the horse, versus making him do it.”

— Michael Alway

Tradition Continues WITH

ROOM TO GROW

By Maria N. Listman

Sussex County, DE

Amanda grew up on the family farm, where she and Josh now operate their business. Her parents own Burnite Mill Show Pigs and growing up, she developed a deep appreciation for swine. Her passion for the species inspired her to earn her Masters Degree from Virginia Tech in Animal Science with a concentration in Swine Reproductive Physiology.

Josh is a sixth-generation farmer and diesel mechanic who works on his family’s farm in Greenwood. They grow small grain, and his family tills up to 800 acres in the area.

Together, they work on each other’s family farms while holding down full-time jobs.

Burnite Mill Meats was conceptualized during the pandemic, when locals reached out to purchase food. Amanda’s family never offered cuts of meat to the public before, until it became a serious need. She and Josh quickly realized that they had a viable business on their hands, so they went all in.

They now own and operate Burnite Mill Meats in the town of Felton, a main thoroughfare to Delaware beaches. They raise cattle and hogs

Farming is like breathing to partners Amanda Fabi and Josh Smith of Greenwood, Delaware. It’s natural and necessary to make them feel whole. Their families have a rich history in agriculture, and they plan to carry it forward.

on Amanda’s family farm—one that originally belonged to her grandparents. Their business is named after the road it sits upon, and to show appreciation to family.

As Farmers on the Rise winners, Josh and Amanda have great plans to expand their meat business. Drilling a well and installing

an automatic watering system are immediate needs for their operation. Next, they are building a storefront to serve their community, and beach-bound visitors along the road.

“It’s been a work in progress,” says Amanda. “I’m lucky to have him to help, and he shares the same love.”

With family at the forefront, and the drive to keep Delaware agriculture thriving, there’s no stopping them.

You can follow Burnite Mill Meats on Facebook: @burnitemillmeats

“It’s been a work in progress,” says Amanda. “I’m lucky to have [Josh] to help, and he shares the same love.”

— Amanda Fabi

HELPING SUPPORT THE

Future of Agriculture

Introducing

Horizon Farm Credit has designed a NEW offering to serve the needs of the next generation of farmers! This program is uniquely designed to help provide young and beginning farmers with the tools and resources necessary for success.

Components of this program include:

• Loans for young and beginning farmers

• JumpStart grant program for those just starting out in ag

• Farmers on the Rise award program for producers with three to seven years of experience

• Education and networking opportunities ...and more!

Visit horizonfc.com/growahead for complete program details.