Leader: Making an Impact

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Farm Credit Lending support to rural AmericaÂŽ

leader

Check out page 12 for a full list of our 2017 calendar photo winners!

VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | $3.95

Making an Impact

s MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA

In This Issue

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO

FARM AND LAND

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors Paul Baumgardner Chairman Jennifer L. Rhodes Vice Chairman Brian L. Boyd Gary L. Grossnickle Laura M. Heilinger Dale R. Hershey

4 MTown ushroom Festival Brings Together

6 Opening Up a New World Helen and John Tuel of Glenwood,

Pietro Industries of Kennett Square, Maryland had no idea teaching one Pennsylvania has been growing child to ride a horse would turn into mushrooms and helping their community the Therapeutic and Recreational thrive for three generations.

Riding Center, helping both children and adults with disabilities.

Walter C. Hopkins Anthony M. Ill T. Jeffery Jennings M. Wayne Lambertson Fred R. Moore Dale J. Ockels Ralph L. Robertson, Jr. Alan N. Siegfried Douglas D. Scott Joseph D. Snapp Fred N. West

facebook.com/MidAtlanticFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit mafc.com/blog

8 Making A Difference in Children’s Lives 10 Finding Joy in Helping Others Josh Wharton of Millsboro, Delaware Turkey farmer David Hughes of Timberville, started the Good Ole Boy Foundation to help children and families across the Delmarva region get through tough times a little bit easier.

Virginia finds happiness in helping with his local Relay for Life team and ensuring area kids get to school safely on his bus everyday.

+MafcMidAtFarmCredit MidAtFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit

OUR ASSOCIATION

12 Calendar Photo Contest Winners 13 Save the Dates:

questions or ideas If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the

14 In Memory of George Dunning 15 The 5 C’s of Credit

The Leader is published quarterly for stockholders, friends and business associates. If you wish to no longer receive this publication, please email: unsubscribe@mafc.com. Use “Unsubscribe Leader” in the subject.

2017 Annual Meetings

COMMUNITY

16 Properties for Sale

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Leader, contact Jenny Kreisher at 888.339.3334, e-mail her at jkreisher@mafc.com or write her at MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 700 Corporate Center Court | Suite L | Westminster, MD 21157.

This publication is for you, our reader. We’d love to hear from you!

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 mafc.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: MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA by calling 800.333.7950 or writing: MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 45 Aileron Court | Westminster, MD 21157

s president’s message

The joy of giving back

s events | deadlines DEC

6-8

event

place

Virginia Farm-to-Table Conference Weyer’s Cave, VA

6 Pennsylvania Women’s

Agricultural Network Symposium State College, PA 13-15 Growing Pennsylvania’s Organic Farms Conference Harrisburg, PA

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Christmas Eve Observed

25

Christmas Day

26

Christmas Observed

Offices Closed Offices Closed

Jan 2017 event

1 New Year’s Day

2 New Year’s Day Observed

11-13 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Tradeshow (MANTS) 12-14 Future Harvest Conference

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

place

Offices Closed Baltimore, MD College Park, MD Offices Closed

20-22 Horse World Expo Timonium, MD FEB event

20 President’s Day

place

As we celebrated Farm Credit’s centennial this year, we heard many stories from farmers across America who thank Farm Credit for helping them get through tough times. It’s always a good reminder that, at the end of the day, we’re in the business of helping people—no matter what situation they are facing.

Helping others is an aspect of rural America and agriculture that has stood the test of time. Regardless of what may be going on around them, many of our customers and their families take the time to give back to their local communities in a variety of ways.

A perfect example of this is Chris Alonzo, a third generation mushroom farmer from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. He and his family are very involved in the local branch of the American Mushroom Institute (AMI), which hosts multiple events throughout the year that directly benefit the community’s students, library, and senior center.

Helen and John Tuel of Glenwood, Maryland left their careers to start the Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Center (TRRC), which teaches kids and adults with disabilities how to ride horses. As a result, their students gain confidence and build social skills. A few of their clients ride competitively in the Maryland Special Olympics.

The Good Ole Boy Foundation, founded by Josh Wharton of Millsboro, Delaware, works with other community members to help kids suffering from illness have a little fun to help them get through whatever challenge they may be facing. They helped fulfill one child’s wish of driving a tractor by coordinating a parade of over 70 vehicles. Talk about making an impact!

David Hughes, a turkey farmer from Shenandoah County, Virginia, gives back to his community by working with Relay for Life throughout the year to raise money for cancer research. He also drives a school bus for his local elementary school—a job he loves, and tries to make as fun as possible for the kids he sees every day.

Many of our staff members share this same passion for helping their local communities. This past July, we lost a member of our Farm Credit family—George Dunning. George was a loan officer in Dover, Delaware for over 26 years. You can learn more about George and the lasting impression he made on his local community on page 14.

As you read this issue, we hope you are as inspired as we are to get out and help others in your area this holiday season. In fact, we hope you keep that momentum throughout the New Year.

From all of us at Farm Credit, have a safe and happy holiday season!

Offices Closed

For a full list of events, please visit mafc.com

VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | mafc.com | 3

FARM AND LAND

Volunteers put a small town on the map Story and photos by Sally Scholle

| Decades ago, a thrifty carnation grower experimented with growing mushrooms under

the benches in his greenhouse. That experiment would eventually create the mushroom capital of the county: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Peter Jr., Regina and Chris Alonzo check the progress of portobellos in one of Pietro Industries’ mushroom houses.

Today, the descendants of those dedicated growers continue to see demand grow for their crop. Chris Alonzo, a third generation mushroom grower and president of Pietro Industries, has seen many changes in the industry since he started farming, and knows more are on the horizon, which will only make the process more efficient.

“We’ve had close ties with Penn State University through the years, and they’ve helped us learn more about the right raw materials to use, how to get the correct spores to grow good quality mushrooms, and many other advances,” says Chris. Chris 4

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explains that Kennett Square developed as a mushroom growing region due to several factors. There’s easy access to raw materials such as hay, straw and horse manure in Chester County. The hard-working Italian immigrants who labored in stone quarries during the summer and on mushroom farms in winter eventually became the owners of those farms when the stone quarries shut down. Mushroom growers had easy access to a busy eastern train route that served major east coast cities for market distribution.

Chris’s grandfather, Peter Alonzo, Sr., started the family farm in 1938 after

gaining experience working on a local mushroom farm. He had four rooms and grew two crops each year. Chris’s father, Peter Alonzo Jr., took over the business in 1967, and Chris became involved with the business in 1994. Today, Pietro Industries grows white, crimini (baby bella) and Portabella mushrooms.

“My grandfather was a farmer,” says Chris. “He got the raw materials, made the compost, repaired everything, screened soil in the summer, and grew mushrooms in the winter. My father, Peter Jr., was an entrepreneur. He took the farm from four growing rooms to 27 rooms. With some

pietroindustries.com mushroomfestival.org facebook.com/pages The-MushroomFestival/102268809610

partners, he created Laurel Valley Farms, a composting facility. Instead of my father making the compost, they hired an expert staff to make compost for a dozen different growers. He also created a cooperative packing company to sell mushrooms. My father branched out and tried to improve the way the business functioned.”

Today, Chris not only heads up the family business that keeps 150 people employed, he’s a dedicated volunteer and devotes countless hours to ensuring that his community will continue to thrive.

The Alonzo family’s volunteer efforts started in the 1970s when Peter Jr. ran the Miss Mushroom pageant, which eventually became part of the town’s annual Mushroom Festival. When the American Mushroom Institute (AMI) moved from Chester County to Washington, D.C., Peter Jr. was instrumental in starting the Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania (MFPA) to serve as a local branch of the AMI. Chris explains that the goal of MFPA is to bring awareness of the mushroom industry within the community and to be proactive in dealing with issues such as labor and odor that could potentially affect the community.

One annual event that Chris’s father, Pete, devotes time to is a golf tournament,

an important event that brings revenue to help fund the Mushroom Festival. “This year marked the 31st year of the golf tournament,” says Chris. “The golf tournament is a major fundraiser and provides money for scholarships, the local library, the annual Mushroom Fesitval, the Cinco de Mayo Festival, the senior center, and 4-H.” The Mushroom Festival, which is held the first weekend after Labor Day, is a major event. “What started as a pageant became a festival celebrating mushrooms,” says Chris. “We shut down about eight blocks of the town of Kennett Square for the weekend and about 100,000 people come to town. There are vendors, rides, cooking competitions, a mushroom eating competition, celebrity chef demonstrations, and restaurants competing for the best mushroom soup.”

One large tent at the festival is dedicated to an exhibition of the entire mushroom growing process—from mixing compost to growing and harvesting mushrooms to using the spent compost. Mushroom growers are on hand to help visitors understand the process and answer questions.

During the festival, Chris and his wife Regina manage the mushroom sale area. About 40 companies donate fresh

mushrooms for sale throughout the weekend. “People go home with fresh mushrooms,” says Chris. “Maybe they’ve never tried them before.”

In the last fifteen years, the festival has given back more than $800,000 to local charities. Chris says that operating the festival is a massive cooperative effort among local merchants, law enforcement, public safety, and many others. Although it’s a huge undertaking, Chris and other volunteers believe that the festival is an important celebration that helps put Kennett Square on the map.

“My dad and I have always volunteered and been part of it,” says Chris.

“There are many of us who do a lot. We look at it as a way to be a face of the industry to the community. If we did nothing, it would be hard for the community to know what we really do. It’s important to be out there talking about what we do behind those closed doors.”

In addition to his extensive work with the town’s Mushroom Festival, Chris currently offers his time as volunteer with the Jewish Community Center of Delaware, the American Mushroom Institute, Mushroom Farmers of PA, the Ag Development Council, and the OSHA/ AMI Alliance. l

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Pietro Industries has maintained a long working relationship with Farm Credit. They recently helped the company purchase an automated headfiller (on left), which makes the process of filling the growing house more efficient.

The Mushroom Festival, held annually the first weekend after Labor Day, draws 100,000 visitors to one of the country’s most unique food celebrations. Kennett Square closes eight blocks to host celebrity chefs, cooking competitions and a variety of mushroom-themed learning activities.

The community golf tournament is a major fundraiser for the Mushroom Festival, and also provides money for scholarships, the town library, the senior center, 4-H and the Cinco de Mayo Festival.

VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | mafc.com | 5

FARM AND LAND

Opening up a new world for people with disabilities Story and photos by susan walker, Anne Sieling and Mary Gardella

| A knock on the door completely changed the path of Helen and John

Tuel’s life. A woman noticed the pony grazing in their backyard and asked Helen if she would teach her son with Down syndrome how to ride.

“She had already asked several stables to teach her son and they had all said no because of his challenges,” remembers Helen. “But I didn’t feel qualified to teach him either. I didn’t know how to ride. We were just pony sitting for a friend, but I decided to give it a try.”

As the weeks passed, Helen noticed that her student was learning a host of skills, like telling time and building new vocabulary, as well as becoming more confident. More parents approached

Occupational therapist Alysa Simms says TRRC’s clients become deeply connected to the horses and build bonds that give them a new outlet for expressing themselves.

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her about teaching their children with disabilities. “I couldn’t say no. I was hooked!” she says.

Helen gave up her career as a dental hygienist and earned her doctorate in education administration from Vanderbilt University so she and John could start the Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Center (TRRC), a 501c3 non-profit organization, on a 12 acre farm in Lisbon, Maryland.

John, who has a degree in finance and accounting from the University of Maryland, left his more than 20 year

career in management with the Safeway supermarket chain to handle TRRC’s finances and management of the stable.

“Helen’s the idealist, the one with all the big ideas. I’m the one who helps us find ways to make those ideas happen. It’s a well-balanced partnership,” says John.

In 1994, the Center, represented by the Tuels, purchased a 55 acre farm in Glenwood, Maryland. They’ve continued to expand the services they provide to meet the growing needs of people of all ages, including a number of veterans,

trrcmd.org

and those living with a wide range of conditions, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, muscular dystrophy, amputations, PTSD, mental health issues, spinal cord injuries, terminal illnesses, and more. Explains John, “We work with about 200 people a week, mostly children and young adults. A lot of the kids have been with us for 15 or 20 years. They’ve grown up here.”

The facility, which has earned premier accreditation from Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) and is one of the top 10 therapeutic riding centers in the country, includes two outdoor riding arenas, an indoor, climate-controlled arena, trails through the fields and woods, a conference/meeting center, playground, and a garden where the children grow vegetables and flowers. All the facilities are accessible and the equipment, like saddles, for example, adapted so that all their clients can use them.

Helen and John are in the process of raising money to build the newest addition to TRRC, an indoor, sensory-sensitive arena for clients with sensory processing disorders such as autism, Asperger’s, ADD, and ADHD. The new arena will allow the staff to provide specially–tailored therapeutic interventions in a space that minimizes distractions and environmental stimulation.

s In addition to providing therapeutic riding

services, TRRC also boards horses and offers recreational riding lessons to the public, an added source of income for the organization.

In addition to providing therapeutic horseback riding, also known as hippotherapy, TRRC also offers equine-assisted therapy, a hands-on type of psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, and music therapy. By bringing all these different types of therapy together in one location, clients and their families don’t have to travel between multiple doctors’ appointments to get the care they need.

“When people come to us, they’re therapy tired,” explains Helen. “They spend so much of their time at doctor’s offices and hospitals, they’re stressed and worn out. Here, they can get the therapy they need in a beautiful country setting. The kids really enjoy riding and don’t really think of it as therapy. It’s the one therapy appointment they never want to miss.

For parents and siblings, this setting is less stressful. They can relax. The siblings can play on the playground or take riding lessons with their brothers and sisters. It’s an experience they can share.”

TRRC’s staff of 20 includes seven PATH-certified riding instructors, support staff, 20% of whom have developmental delays, and two occupational therapists who are also PATH-certified riding instructors, Katie Roe and Alysa Simms.

Notes Alysa, “The horse brings unconditional acceptance for the rider

s John Tuel (left) says that while the days may be long, “I’d much rather wake up here and head out to the barn to work than go to some building and sit at a desk all day.”

and helps the kids build confidence.

Unlike other types of therapy, riding masks how hard they’re working on their balance, building strength and other physical skills. It doesn’t feel like work. And because we’re on a farm rather than in an office, the kids practice skills in a safe clinical environment, then take them out onto our playground and practice them in real life with other kids, which helps build socialization skills.”

“We worked with one young woman who had cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder and was deaf. Riding gave her a way to express herself and build her independence. On a horse, she had a voice and could advocate for herself,” adds Katie.

A number of TRRC’s clients ride competitively in the Maryland Special Olympics. One, Ben Stevick, won one silver medal and two gold medals in equestrian events in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

“What motivates us are the big and little successes of the families we serve,” says Helen. “We’re ‘unstuck agents.’

We motivate our clients to keep trying.

The horse opens whole new worlds and gives them a new level of freedom.

They’re outside, riding in the woods, going places they really couldn’t in a wheelchair.” l

s s Riding a horse helps riders with physical disabilities improve strength, balance, and flexibility.

Occupational therapists Katie Roe and Alysa Simms explain TRRC’s family-friendly approach to therapy.

VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | mafc.com | 7

FARM AND LAND

The Good Ole Boy Foundation: Meeting community needs by motivating volunteers | Generosity and kindness are not hard to find within farming communities, but Josh Wharton of Millsboro, Delaware has taken the concepts to the next level.

Story by Nancy L. Smith and photos courtesy of Josh Wharton

In November 2012, on the way home from the hospital with their newborn son, Josh heard of a child with a brain tumor who would be celebrating one last Christmas. He asked his wife, Katy, if there was something they could do to help.

The couple created a Facebook page and got an overwhelming response. That year, the Christmas season was a little brighter for that child and about 25 other families.

“I said, ‘Hey, we’ve got something here. Let’s see what we can do,’” recalls Josh.

Since then, the Good Ole Boy Foundation, which Josh co-founded, has rallied hundreds of Kent and Sussex County, Delaware volunteers to help others.

“We are a kid-focused foundation.

Our goal is to mobilize the community in an effort to unite resources and assist families in their time of unforeseen difficulties,” says Josh.

The foundation, a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, is run by a volunteer board of five including Josh. He says, “Nobody

gets a paycheck,” and overhead is a mere five percent.

Most of the foundation’s activities address local needs, but in 2014, the foundation helped a terminally-ill fiveyear-old from Missouri. One of the child’s wishes was to drive a tractor, so when his family was treated to a beach vacation by another organization, the foundation rallied local farmers who created a tractor parade for the boy with about 70 vehicles.

Josh credits the community’s desire to help, “We have such a following. We’re able to get people to do things.”

Earlier this year, the foundation led an effort to build a wheelchair ramp for a four-year-old Seaford, Delaware boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. “He will need a wheelchair ramp soon, but he definitely didn’t want one that looked like a wheelchair ramp. So we built him a playhouse ‘garage,’” says Josh.

The huge project involved sending the child and his family to an Ocean City hotel while volunteers spent their weekend working through rain and snow

to build a large deck and playhouse, equipped with power and a television with surround-sound. “It even has cable,” notes Josh. A ramp connects the clubhouse to the home. “As his mobility becomes more limited, his backyard will be his own vacation place,” says Josh.

The boy’s two older sisters had their bedrooms painted and decorated by foundation volunteers. More than a dozen businesses, professionals and individuals contributed to the project.

Recently, when a Millsboro, Delaware family lost their home in a fire, the foundation got to work and “Twentyfour hours after their house burned down, we had hundreds of people coming out to give their donations and stuff they had and it wasn’t really monetary. Within 24 hours, the family was back on their feet,” Josh reports.

He recalls another family that “had a serious need for one of their children. I made three calls and got $15,000,” demonstrating the foundation’s ability to mobilize community support for those in need.

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Josh Wharton, right, and Farm Credit loan officer Ron Lindale pause in front of a tractor at Wharton Farms in Millsboro, Delaware.

Rain and snow did not deter a crew of foundation volunteers from completing construction of a deck and clubhouse for a five-year-old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. From start to finish, the project took one weekend.

A youth meets his favorite race car driver, Danica Patrick, thanks to the efforts of the Good Ole Boy Foundation.

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A four-year-old heart transplant patient gets a super welcome home after a long hospital stay. In addition to meeting the superheroes he loves, the boy was honored with a bicycle parade.

Josh, who studied agricultural production at Delaware Technical Community College, has been farming since he began driving a tractor at age 6 or 7. He says he does just about everything on Wharton Farms, operated by his father Scot, his Uncle Joel and grandfather Ronald, although his farming time is limited by his job as an operations supervisor with Delaware Electric Cooperative.

His outgoing personality means he is the emcee at the foundation’s two annual fundraising events. The Sweethearts Ball, an “adult prom,” in February has become so successful that it will be moving from the 250-seat facility used in the past to a 450-seat venue.

The biggest event of the year is Pull’n, Peel’n & Pick’n in March which offers pulled pork, shrimp and a band and draws 900 participants. The party,

which benefits both the foundation and the Dagsboro Fire Department, features an auction of diverse donated items.

“We will sell anything,” says Josh.

Items on this year’s auction block ranged from Labrador retriever puppies to a cardboard cutout printed with the face of a foundation board member.

Those items—including the cardboard face—fetched more than $1,000 each in spirited bidding.

“The best thing about the foundation is the kids getting involved. They learn life isn’t about collecting stuff. It’s about what you can give back to the community. It changes lives,” says Josh, the father of three.

At Christmas, foundation volunteers of all ages spend most of a night at Walmart, goodoleboyfoundation.com facebook.com/GoodOleBoyFoundation

shopping for more than 100 local families.

Josh explains, “We are there for hours—until 4 in the morning. It takes us an hour and a half just to check out.”

Also at Christmastime, foundation volunteers perform random acts of kindness such as delivering candy to hospital staff, purchasing lunch for a veteran or delivering other surprises to deserving citizens.

Some people are pushing the foundation to expand, but Josh does not want it to get too big. “We want to stay here in our community. It is worth doing, but it takes a lot of time away from your family.”

Though it takes a toll, Josh seeks no accolades for his considerable effort, saying “The foundation is merely a conduit between the generosity of individuals within our community and the families who need a helping hand.” l VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | mafc.com | 9

FARM AND LAND

Although raising 34,000 turkeys keeps David Hughes busy every day, he still finds time for community service, sings in a barbershop quartet, and maintains a parttime job as a school bus driver.

Turkey Farmer Finds Joy in helping others Story and photos by Stelleda Friend

| David Hughes grew up in a farming family. He began his career in agriculture right after

graduating from Virginia Tech in 1985. His business, Rivermont Farm, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, currently houses 34,000 birds. David is an active member of the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative—an organization based in Hinton, Virginia, owned by 160 growers located mostly in Northern Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia.

Farming has always been a way of life for David, but even though it’s his livelihood, he maintains a rewarding part-time job, is involved with several community organizations and is an avid sports fan. With three employees, David finds time to take the occasional day off from his busy seven-day a week turkey operation to attend a Hokies football game in Blacksburg, where he holds season tickets.

In addition, David is involved with 10

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a number of community organizations, working year-round to raise money for cancer research as a member of a local Relay for Life team. He also sings in a barbershop quartet that recently performed the National Anthem at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

David’s wife passed away in 2008 and though he has no children of his own, he has a role in the lives of little ones on a daily basis as a school

bus driver for Plains Elementary in Timberville, a job he has done for the past 18 years.

“I had 14 new kindergartners this year,” David says. Naturally, a few were crying when they got on the bus for their first ride to school. “Some of the parents were crying, too,” he says, “but I make it fun. I love my kids like they’re my own. I always compliment them on their outfit or their backpack, so that makes them feel comfortable.”

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David talks with Farm Credit loan officer Jason Miller about the new solar panels at David’s farm in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

He’s also a deacon, head of the Missions team, and vice president of the capital campaign at West Side Baptist Church in Harrisonburg.

If that all didn’t keep him busy enough, David has been elected for a three-year term to serve on the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative’s Grower Advisory Board, and he is vice president of the board of Mosaic Federal Credit Union.

Even though David has the process of raising turkeys down to a routine science, his latest investment puts his farm on the cutting edge of agricultural technology. Last year, he partnered with Paradise Energy Solutions of Paradise, Pennsylvania, for a study to assess his farm’s energy needs. He determined it would be worthwhile to invest $500,000 to install 560 solar panels that will generate enough energy to run the 32, 51-inch fans that keep his birds cool all summer long. The beauty of the system is that there’s no wasted energy, David says.

“I’ll use what I produce,” he says, adding that the system will eliminate 168 tons of carbon dioxide per year, save thousands of trees, and hundreds of barrels of oil. In addition to that, the investment should be paid for within a few years. “This is going to be a sevenyear payoff,” David adds. “That’s what impresses me about putting this in. No electricity bills after seven years.”

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For the past 18 years, David has worked as a bus driver for Plains Elementary in Timberville, Virginia.

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Poults gather to feed at Rivermont Farm. Keeping his turkeys healthy as they grow up is key to David’s operation since the turkeys are raised without antibiotics.

David made the investment with a loan from Farm Credit. The investment in solar energy is mainly an investment in the health and well-being of his livestock.

“The more efficient your houses are, the better off your birds are. It’s to our advantage to keep the birds healthy,” says David.

“That is an important consideration,” adds Jason Miller, David’s Farm Credit loan officer. “If the birds are under stress, they’re more susceptible to illness.”

The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative has contracts with Wegmans, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and the cooperative’s biggest customer is Dietz & Watson, the Baltimore-based company that helped found the organization in 2004.

Prior to the formation of the cooperative, David had a contract with Pilgrim’s Pride, but when that company decided to stop selling turkeys and focus only on chicken, he and many other turkey farmers were in a panic.

They got together and decided to form a cooperative with the help of several state lawmakers, including then-governor Tim Kaine. They got funding from the state and from Dietz & Watson to go with their own investment in the cooperative, which was based on the size of their operations. All profits of the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative go back to the farmers.

“We’ve been fortunate to have only three years that we had a loss,” David says, “so it’s been really good.”

Last year, the cooperative made the decision to cover the heating costs of turkey growers’ houses, another investment in the birds’ health intended to ensure future profits. “It’s a very proactive co-op,” David adds. “We’ve been able to weather some storms where some other companies went under.”

David’s parents ran a dairy farming operation in Northern Virginia while he was growing up and they owned his land in Shenandoah County. When he graduated from Virginia Tech, his father, Bill, was raising beef cattle and hogs, but David says he could “see the writing on the wall” with falling hog prices, and decided poultry was the future of his business.

“Poultry—it was kind of like a no-brainer. This is the poultry capital of the world,” he says.

Many chicken farmers have another job in addition to raising chickens. When he decided to do poultry, David knew farming would be his primary occupation and decided the additional time necessary for raising antibiotic-free turkeys would be worthwhile.

That decision has paid off. The VPGC is now one of the major antibiotic-free turkey growers in the country. l VOLUME 21 | Issue 4 | mafc.com | 11

OUR ASSOCIATION

2017 Calendar Winners Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo for our 2017 calendar contest! It was tough to choose the top 25, but the winners are listed below. If you didn’t make it into the calendar—don’t worry! Your photo still has a chance of being shared on social media, or used in a future issue of the Leader.

Stop by one of our offices today to pick up your copy!

Cover:

Taylor Ziegler Myerstown, PA

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Save the Dates Mark your calendars for our 2017 annual meetings. We look forward to seeing you there!

OOO

Walkersville, MD New Holland, PA Dover, DE

April 4 April 5 April 6

Please check out mafc.com/ annual-meetings.php for more details as they are confirmed.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Farm Credit!

volume 21 | ISSUE 4 | mafc.com | 888.339.3334 | mafc.com

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OUR ASSOCIATION

In Memoriam When it comes to volunteering, you’ll find that many of our employees are involved in their communities. But, if there is one employee that comes to mind when we think of a commitment to selfless volunteering, it’s our wonderful and muchmissed friend George Dunning.

George worked as a loan officer in the Dover, DE office for 26 years and passed away earlier this summer. He was a great friend, co-worker and mentor, and is missed dearly by our staff. Although George is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the volunteerism he provided to his community.

Working with youth was a passion for George. For many years, he coached a Smyrna Little Lass softball team and continued to financially support the program once he stopped coaching. George was a huge supporter of the FFA – he was involved in his local Smyrna FFA Chapter, as well as served as a Career Development Event (CDE) judge at the state level for Delaware. He volunteered at his church’s clothing closet and worked their sound system. George was also a Salvation Army Bell Ringer at Christmas time and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels (and even coordinated it for the Dover office to all participate monthly!).

He was on the Board of Directors for the Delaware Agriculture Museum, and an active member of the Kenton Ruritan.

George is a true example of selfless giving and leadership within our communities. He is greatly missed, but his actions will live on forever.

How do YOU make an impact?

We love to learn how people work to make a difference in their communities—not only during the holidays, but throughout the year.

So, we want to hear from you! Do you or your family members volunteer with a community organization? Send your story to Jenny Kreisher at jkreisher@mafc.com and you could win a gift basket full of fun Farm Credit goodies! Your story may also be shared on social media or in our next Leader issue.

Please submit your story by January 1st to be entered. We look forward to hearing from you!

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COMMUNITY Bridgeville, Delaware

Georgetown, Delaware

Looking for history with plenty of land to have horses, plus peace and quiet? Home built 1868 with a new master bedroom, bath and a walk-in closet. New, updated kitchen. It is a must see with over nine acres and less than 25 miles to the beaches. $495,000.

“Equine Estate” with custom-built contractor’s home. Includes a beautiful stone fireplace in the living room and master bedroom, three bedrooms, three full baths, separate professional office/shop, barn with four stalls, tack room, and shaving shed. Property is surrounded by mature trees­—enjoy the beautiful views. $529,000.

One of a kind waterfront property on Sinepuxent Bay. Located directly across from Assateague Island. 7.62 acres of uplands and marsh. Boat landing is nearby. $450,000.

Contact Tjark Bateman, Jack Lingo Realtor, 302.745.0018.

Contact Teresa L. Rogers, Wilgus Associates, Inc., 302.236.4807.

Contact Cam Bunting, Bunting Realty, Inc., 410.641.3313.

Boonsboro, Maryland

This pristine property sits on 26.65+/- acres.

Cape Cod features approximately 4,350 square feet of living space. Features three bedrooms, three and a half baths. Main level master bedroom, large kitchen with granite countertops, and a gas fireplace in the living room.

Finished lower level. Property has multiple barns and sheds. Fenced for livestock. Quiet location within minutes to major highways. $899,900.

Contact Jason Hose, Mackintosh, Inc. REALTORS, 301.491.2625.

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Boyds, Maryland

Montgomery County Ag Reserve. 25 scenic acres with a beautiful adaptation of the “Hines” house. Three bedrooms, two and a half baths.

Exquisite detail throughout. Close to MARC train. Adjacent to miles of trails and Potomac Pony Club. Poolesville School District. 12 acres in hay. Partially wooded. $995,000.

Contact Pat Smith, PBS, Inc., 301.530.9152.

Berlin, Maryland

Chestertown, Maryland

Waterfront farm on the Chester River! Dock with boat lift, in a private location. Close to Chestertown. Natural setting with two ponds, woodland, tillable acreage, marshland, wildlife, and hunting opportunities! Four bedroom, four bath home, property, improvements are in excellent condition and very well maintained. $1,395,000.

Contact Wm. David Leager, Sassafrass River Realty, Ltd., 410.778.0238 or 410.708.0891.

Chestertown, Maryland

Crapo, Maryland

Denton, Maryland

Eastern Shore waterfront farm on 42 acres with 690’ of water frontage and sweeping views of Langford Creek. The property offers a lovely, well-maintained home, circa 1800 and 33 tillable acres and rip-rap shoreline. Great for hunting. Also available is an adjacent 11 acre private waterfront lot. $1,950,000.

Sportsman’s retreat with 240+ acres, 5290’ of waterfront on Raccoon Creek next to Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area. Property has seven ponds with tillable acreage and marsh areas. Main house has 4,491 square feet of living area, guest house, pool, and three additional homes for extra guests. Listing consists of four parcels. $750,000.

Spotless rancher on over 4.5 acres surrounded by woods and farmland, with no restrictions and huge detached garage. Room for your horses and other furry friends! House is stickbuilt and in move-in condition with laminate hardwood flooring and newer HVAC. $235,000.

Contact Richard Budden, Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate, 443.480.1181.

Contact Walt Tice, Exit Latham Realty, 410.463.0500.

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Contact Renee Rishel, Exit Latham Realty, 410.310.7024.

Easton, Maryland

Elkton, Maryland

Farmette with a beautifully maintained Cape Cod home and barn. House has an open floor plan with four bedrooms and three and a half baths. Property consists of 11+/- acres with stocked ponds, fields and a wooded area.

Excellent site for the nature lover and outdoorsman, yet close to all the town amenities. $599,000.

Build your dream home on 49 acres with 1,700 feet of shoreline and deep water dockage on a rip-rapped shore line that has a cleared homesite and driveway installed, so you can enjoy this estate area site with western exposure and abundant wildlife now. $1,295,000.

57.1226 acres with pole barn. Stream on property. In Ag Preservation and adjacent to other preserved properties. Awesome views overlooking preserved valley. Currently mostly pasture with some woods, but could convert fair amount of acreage to tillable. Close to Fair Hill. $645,000.

Contact William “Skipper” Marquess, Exit Latham Realty, 410.924.3212.

Contact Christ W. Taylor, Beiler-Campbell Realtors, 717.786.8000.

Contact Tim Miller, 410.310.3553.

Elkton, Maryland

Elkton, Maryland

Federalsburg, Maryland

Lovely historic stone and frame home located in a private 15 +/- acre setting surrounded by mature woods. Older barn, three bay shed/ garage, open fields, and a small pond in the woods further compliment this unique offering.

For anyone seeking a comfortable country lifestyle. Close to Fair Hill! $529,000.

Lovely six bedroom home, fully fenced and gated with eight stalls and multiple paddocks.

Additional barn for storage and hay, and separate guest quarters conveniently located next to stable. Tennis court and beautifully landscaped grounds. Close to Fair Hill. $399,000.

Peace and privacy on this completely wooded lot with 5.83 acres surrounded by woods and farmland. Close to tax free shopping in Delaware. Zoned residential, but has not been perc tested. Hunting and camping on your own land! $45,000.

Contact Beverly Fawcett, Patterson Price Real Estate, 800.336.LAND.

Contact Karen Kunda, Patterson Price & Associates, 443.466.5375.

Contact Iva Herr, Exit Latham Realty, 410.829.7244.

Finksburg, Maryland

HOUSING 28EQUAL acre horse farm with 30’ xEQUAL 50’, sixHOUSING stall brick OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY barn with storage above. Lighted riding ring, four fenced paddocks, three fenced pastures, pond, and board fencing. Large brick rancher with spacious room sizes, three fireplaces, loads of storage space, and in a great location. Estate sale, sold “as is”, also some subdivision potential.

REALTOR $479,900. ®

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Contact Garry Haines, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616.

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Forest Hills, Maryland

St. Omer’s Farm is a gorgeous well-designed and operating 40 stall MD Thoroughbred Nursery. 121 +/- acres located in the rolling Harford County countryside. Beautiful stone residence circa 1802, two employee homes, exerciser. Unbelievable lifestyle second to none. $2,990,000.

Contact A. John Price, Patterson Price Real Estate, 888.909.FARM.

Properties for sale

Easton, Maryland

Hagerstown, Maryland

Classic farm house with five bedrooms and two full baths. Detached three car garage and with tons of storage space. Over 11 acres to expand or grow a producing farm. Large bank barn, lofting barn, and stone structure building holds historic traditions. Monthly income possibility – ask agent. $499,000.

Contact Sherry Scire, RE/MAX Achievers, 301.573.8302. volume 21 | issue 4 | mafc.com | 17

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COMMUNITY Millers, Maryland

North East, Maryland

Oxford, Maryland

Hereford zone! 4000+ square feet, situated on 8.85 acres framed in mature trees for total privacy. Hardwood floors and 9’ ceilings. Master suite with garden bath and jetted tub. Beautiful L-shaped pool, patio and deck for relaxing. Fire pit for evening gatherings and front porch for rocking! Three car garage and more. $579,900.

Detached oversized three car garage. Backs to farmland. 1.22 acres, three bedrooms, two baths. Skylights and cathedral ceilings added to the addition update. This bi-level is like no other you have ever seen before. Deck overlooks well-maintained backyard. Located in Calvert Elementary / Rising Sun Middle and High School area. $275,000.

Little York Farm. Waterfront farm on Island Creek, conveniently located along the Easton to Oxford corridor. This beautiful property has 105+/- acres consisting of four recorded waterfront lots, 71 residual acres with three additional development rights, 81 acres tillable farmland, and hunting. $1,995,000.

Contact Linda Borgmann, Riley & Associates Realtors, 443.286.1725.

Contact Melinda Wimer, Harlan C. Williams Co., REALTORS, 443.553.5352.

Contact Traci Jordan, Exit Latham Realty, 410.310.8606.

Queenstown, Maryland

Sherwood, Maryland

26.88 acre farm and house on the Wye River.

Currently farming 24 acres. Two large barns, silo, milking house, and sheds. 2403 Bennett Point Road. $999,000.

Contact Ana Maria, Long and Foster, 410.827.9063.

Contact Roo Wood, Exit Latham Realty, 410.822.3555.

Sparks, Maryland

Trappe, Maryland

Six acre (two lot) horse farm in the Hereford zone. Five stall barn, three run-in sheds, three separate pastures, paddock area, and round pen. House has three bedrooms, two baths, and a brand new septic and water pump.

Newer furnace and water heater. Also includes pine floors, replacement windows, and wood burning stove insert. $399,900.

Private retreat and grand entertaining on 44+ acre property with heated pool, patio areas, and decks. There is an 864 square foot addition set-up as the ultimate game room. Gourmet kitchen, formal living areas, private office, den, luxurious master suite, and three additional bedrooms round out this grand property. Truly a master builder’s home! $875,000.

34.37 acres, nice bank barn, small farm pond, and pasture. Farmland under cultivation. $240,000.

Contact Bruce Wisnom & Karen Langford, Riley & Associates, 410.329.2100.

Contact Jim Latham, Exit Latham Realty, 410.822.2152.

Contact Larry Haines, Haines Realty Co., 410.876.1616.

Auburn, Pennsylvania

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Chesapeake Bay waterfront acreage.

Broad water panoramic view home site, fronting on Chesapeake Bay and Poplar Straights. 30+ primarily wooded acres with notable wildlife.

Recent residential feasibility analysis was done, including estimated development costs available to serious-minded buyer. $495,000.

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Westminster, Maryland

Barnesville, Pennsylvania

You can own a piece of history. The John & Catherine Fisher Stone Grist Mill, built in 1821 and situated in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

Charming, Brick Miller’s House, picturesque mill pond, 1,700’ long mill race. Frontage on Pennsylvania trout stream, magnificent park-like setting on over 10 acres. $475,000.

Situated in the rolling countryside of Ryan Township, Schuylkill County, this 15 acre farm features a charming, circa 1870 architecturally perfect Victorian farmhouse. Home has five Bedrooms, two Baths, and large spacious rooms.

Bank barn, nice mix of fields and woodland, a mountain stream, and beautiful views! $335,000.

Contact Gary L. Coles, New Pennsylvania Realty, 570.386.5000.

Contact Jonathan D. Coles, New Pennsylvania Realty, 570.386.5000.

Upper Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania

Berryville, Virginia

Beechdale Farm welcomes you! Magnificent limestone home on a 64.7 acre estate features marble floors, crystal chandeliers, spacious master bedroom suite, state-of-the-art horse stable, maintenance barn, and so much more!

Call today for your personal tour of this impressive property. $3,250,000.

954 S Delaware Drive in Mount Bethel. Step back into history. This charming farmhouse is nestled in 2.5 acres. You will find many desired features, including hardwood flooring, high ceilings and large rooms. Over one acre fenced area. 5,400 square foot barn, plus several outbuildings. $269,900.

Large track of prime Clarke County land. One of a kind – flat, open land ( 113+/- acres).

Suitable for a horse operation, beef cattle farm, sheep, goats, or vineyard, and much more.

Unrestricted land is presently leased for crops (corn). A must-have property with five dwelling unit rights. $1,100,000.

Contact Hostetter Lehman Group, 717.354.6416.

Contact Ron DeCesare, The Great American Real Estate Company, 610.863.6205.

Contact Nancy Shirley, ReMax Roots, 540.533.1503.

Cape Charles, Virginia

Middletown, Virginia

Winchester, Virginia

100 +/- acre farm on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Center pivot irrigation, irrigation pond and 110’ x 58’ shed. Five bedroom, two bath, 2,900 square foot two-story farmhouse with split heat pump air conditioning, hot water baseboard heat, two interior staircases, rear screened porch, and open front porch. $599,000.

35 private acres with views of Signal Knob and river frontage on north fork of Shenandoah River.

Timber frame log home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, large wrap-around deck, floor to ceiling cathedral ceilings and windows, and gorgeous stone fireplace. Kitchen has granite and stainless steel appliances, lower level partially finished. $629,000.

Horse lover’s 10 acre farm with sprawling four bedroom, four bath brick ranch. Two car garage, attached in-law suite, all brick six stall horse barn, tack and wash rooms, four board fence, riding ring, paddocks, and run-in sheds. Fifteen minutes west of Winchester Hospital. $640,000.

Contact Chip Schutte, Remax Roots, 540.323.0732.

Contact Wendy Gooditis, Remax Roots, 540.533.0840.

Contact Ralph W. Dodd, Ralph W. Dodd & Associates, LLC, 757.678.5377.

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Properties for sale

Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

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What puts the life in your lifestyle?

If you have a dream to add more life to your lifestyle—whether it’s a pond for your kids to enjoy, fencing to keep your puppy safe and close to home, or even a brand new farm that would give everyone a little more room—call your local Farm Credit office. We want to be your lender for life.

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888.339.3334 | mafc.com EQUAL HOUSING

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT NO. 7175

45 Aileron Court Westminster MD 21157

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