Leader: Farm Credit Employee-Borrowers

Farm Credit Lending support to all of agricultureÂŽ

leader

Check out page 15 to learn about our upcoming annual stockholder meetings!

Volume 23 | Issue 1 | $3.95

Farm Credit Employee-Borrowers:

a view from the inside

in this issue farm and land

4 A Unique Perspective

Julie Shearer, a business relationship specialist in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, draws on personal experience when helping customers finance their dreams.

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6 STANDING ON BOTH SIDES Growing up on a farm, Kelli Wilson, a loan officer in Frederick, Maryland, found a passion for the field, which led her to a career with Farm Credit.

8 PUTTING SERVICE FIRST

For 24 years, Sherrie Howard has been the face of Farm Credit’s East New Market office. She is also a poultry farmer with her husband, David, raising chickens for Perdue.

10 PASSION FOR AG

Becky Daniel, a loan processor in Martinsburg, West Virginia, knew Farm Credit was the lender for her family when she and her husband, Scott, decided to renovate their 1900s farmhouse.

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MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA

If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the Leader, contact Jenny Kreisher at 888.339.3334, e-mail her at jkreisher@mafc.com or write her at MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 45 Aileron Court | Westminster, MD 21157. This publication is for you, our reader. We’d love to hear from you!

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO

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.

Paul Baumgardner Chairman

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

Cover image by Morgan Figgins, Farm Credit marketing intern.

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MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors

Jennifer L. Rhodes Vice Chairman Brian L. Boyd Gary L. Grossnickle Laura M. Heilinger Dale R. Hershey 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

president’s message

president’s message

The Farm Credit Way

events | deadlines

mar

event

place

15 Sales closing for spring planted crops

10-11 Washington County Homeshow Hagerstown, MD

17-18 Frederick County Homeshow Frederick, MD

20-21 PennAg Spring Banquet and Annual Meeting Manheim, PA

21-22 Virginia Agritourism Conference Williamsburg, VA

apr event

1 Easter

3 Annual Stockholder Meeting Thurmont, MD

4 Annual Stockholder Meeting Dover, DE

5 Annual Stockholder Meeting New Holland, PA

13 Farm Credit Employee Event Offices Closed

may event

place

place

1 Sales closing for nursery 28 Memorial Day Offices Closed

My career with Farm Credit started over 20 years ago. I thought for a brief moment (seriously—30 days), that my path was leading me elsewhere—somewhere away from agriculture, the industry I grew up in. I was wrong. The magnetic pull of not only Farm Credit, but the agricultural community, and all of the passionate people who make sure we have safe food on our table day after day, was too strong. I returned, and I’m thankful for that each morning, as I get up and head to the office.

I know I’m not the only one that feels that way, and this issue of the Leader proves that to be true. We have a handful of employees that have been with us for 20 and 30 years, and one special employee in particular who has been putting up with us for 55 years! Not only are they Farm Credit experts, but the majority of them grew up in the industry we’re so honored to serve. And a number of them continue to farm, which gives them (and us) a unique perspective on our customers and how we can better help them.

Julie Shearer is a perfect example. Julie’s been with Farm Credit for over four years, beginning her career as a customer service representative, and is now a business relationship specialist in our Lancaster, Pennsylvania office. She and her husband, Mike, worked with Farm Credit on a building project, which Julie says taught her the ins and outs of the loan process.

Julie is now able to use her own experiences when helping customers who call in looking for financing options.

Kelli Wilson, a loan officer in our Frederick, Maryland office, has been a pillar of the ag community in and around Frederick County since she was very young, growing up on her parent’s farm and getting involved in FFA. After graduating college, Kelli knew she wanted a career in ag financing, and got a job with Farm Credit. She’s been helping our customers and their families succeed for 25 years.

Everyone who stops by our East New Market, Maryland office knows Sherrie Howard. She’s been a customer service representative with us for 24 years, and does everything from answer phones to prepare loan documents. When she’s not helping our customers or her fellow colleagues, Sherrie and her husband, David, raise chickens for Perdue on their farm in Federalsburg.

Another passionate employee and ag community member is Becky Daniel, a loan processor in our Martinsburg, West Virginia office. Becky and her husband, Scott, worked with Farm Credit when they renovated their 1900s farmhouse. Though she’s been familiar with Farm Credit’s loan process for years, her first-hand experience has been invaluable as she helps customers get what they need to see their dreams come true.

A few things have changed throughout my career with Farm Credit, but something that hasn’t, and the piece I’m most proud of, is our commitment to our employees, our customers, and their families.

Equally as important is our commitment to our communities. It’s the Farm Credit way. Turn to page 14 to see how we’re giving back, and learn about the new office spaces we’ve invested in this year.

For a full list of events, please visit mafc.com VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 1 | mafc.com | 3

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customer service Farm Credit’s commitment to providing ongoing training opportunities for employees means better customer service. Business relationship specialist Julie Shearer, who’s involved with her family’s farm, has gained a greater understanding of what her customers deal with through both her own experience and the training she has received through Farm Credit.

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Story and photos by Sally Scholle | Mike Shearer grew up in a farming family and his wife Julie was familiar with rural life and ag equipment. But Julie quickly learned her way around the ag industry after becoming involved with Mike’s family farm and his custom farming enterprise, and gained even more knowledge after getting a job with Farm Credit.

Julie’s career with Farm Credit began four years ago when she started as a customer service representative. “I was the face for the customers,” she says.

“Customer service is the first introduction anyone has to Farm Credit. Our voice is what you hear when you call into the office or how we greet you when you walk in the door.”

About one year ago, Julie transitioned from customer service representative to her current role as a business relationship specialist. Julie explains this newly created position acts as a support role to the loan officers. “I’m the middle man between the customer service representative and the loan officers,” she says, adding that her position allows loan officers to spend more time with customers.

“If a customer calls and the loan officer is unavailable, they can talk with me and I can get them the same answers.”

Julie can also help facilitate many of the procedures the loan officer would handle, which means faster, smoother progress for customer requests.

Julie has found that Farm Credit loan officers come to the company with diverse agricultural backgrounds, from equine to dairy to produce, and continue to learn about other segments of the industry as they work with customers. She believes that this diversity helps staff members relate to customers. “Our number one priority is to help the ag industry and farmers,” says Julie. “We offer different loan packages and options that traditional banks don’t offer, which farmers need to ensure their businesses succeed.”

Farm Credit offers a variety of continuing educational opportunities for employees, and helps employees determine what path they want to pursue. Julie has taken advantage of several educational opportunities offered

by Farm Credit, including assistance in receiving her associate’s degree in business administration.

This spring, Julie will be starting Farm Credit’s Leadership Development Program. “Farm Credit offers a lot of good training,” she says. “I just finished a two year business development program. We also have an online learning portal, where we can browse training opportunities and sign up for whatever we’re interested in, like cash flow management, tax returns, or customer service.”

Julie’s ongoing education has also included on-the-farm learning as she works with her husband Mike, and Mike’s parents Bob and Doreen on their grain and pig finishing operation in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. The family farms 450 acres of both owned and rented acreage, and Mike also operates a custom harvest and planting business. Although Mike currently works for his father, he and Julie are working with a transition team to implement a succession plan for the farm that will include the formation of an LLC. Julie finds that her own experience is helpful when it comes to facilitating loans for customers. After securing financing for the new pig finishing building she and Mike constructed in 2015, Julie has a better understanding of ag lending and is prepared to help customers work through the same process. “I deal a lot with letters of credit,” she says, adding that such a letter is required in most Pennsylvania townships for construction projects. “I know from first-hand experience how the townships want everything, and what is needed to get the letter of credit released.”

Mike says working with Farm Credit was advantageous for the finishing building because of their competitive interest rates. “Their patronage really helps bring the interest rate down,” he says.

Mike added that Farm Credit offered the flexibility to help them complete the project in the fastest and most economical manner. “They were really good with helping us get what we needed from the beginning,” he says.

“Then, when we were ready to take the next step, they were there to help us see the project through to completion.”

While Mike will continue finishing pigs and custom farming after the transition is complete, Julie will eventually take over Doreen’s role and handle bookkeeping and accounting for the farm business.

Julie says being a Farm Credit employee as well as a customer gives her a unique perspective that helps her better serve customers. Co-workers often ask for her input. “We’ll discuss things in the office and work together to find the best solution for our customers,” she says.

Just as Farm Credit is dedicated to their customers, they are also committed to working with employees to pinpoint their skills, develop strengths, and take advantage of personal interests. Julie says that with numerous long-time employees entering retirement, the company is focused on preparing current employees to fill those positions over the next several years.

But for Farm Credit, it’s more than just filling positions. The company is devoted to keeping up with the everchanging world of agriculture, creating new positions as needed, and keeping the needs of customers at the forefront of its services. Julie has a strong appreciation for the time and effort Farm Credit puts forth to ensure both its employees and customers are receiving the best possible service. She also enjoys meeting the challenges that come with the wide variety of farm families served by the association.

“I like the fact that every day is slightly different,” says Julie. “Different needs, different people each day.” l VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 1 | mafc.com | 5

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both sides of the fence Where do the worlds of cows and calculators intersect?

They both play important roles in Farm Credit loan officer Kelli Wilson’s life.

Working on the family farm since she was big enough to tag along with her parents, Kelli uses her farming and finance skills every day. Her love of farming and ability to juggle the responsibilities of her two jobs and family come from her parents, Richard and Pat Pry, whom she calls her role models.

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Story by susan walker and Photos by susan walker and morgan figgins | Throughout her childhood on Needwood Farms, the farm at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains in Burkittsville, Maryland where her family has been raising animals since 1915, you could find Farm Credit loan officer Kelli Wilson working on the farm with her parents, Richard and Pat Pry, her brothers, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Whether she was following behind a wagon helping clear rocks from a field, bottle feeding the Angus and Black Baldy calves her family raises for their freezer beef operation, or helping unload hay as soon as she was big enough to lift the bales, farming and family have been at the heart of Kelli’s life. And, they still are.

Today, Kelli is still up before the sun to help her parents, who are now in their 80s, but still work hard on the farm every day, care for the family’s 200 head of cattle and grow all the crops that are used to feed the closed herd. She also helps tend the quarter acre family garden that feeds four

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families every year, helps her mother can and freeze the hundreds of pounds of produce they harvest every summer, unloads hay and straw, and sells the beef her family produces.

Kelli’s 17 year old son and 19 year old daughter are the fifth generation of the family to be raised and work on Needwood Farms. Her siblings’ grandchildren are the start of the sixth generation. Her parents were the first family on the long stretch of Route 17 to place their farm in agricultural preservation.

“I wanted to protect the farm and be able to pass it on to my children and grandchildren,” explains Richard.

“From day one, everything we’ve done on the farm has been about family and I wanted to help preserve that.”

And while the family was the first to put their farm into preservation, they weren’t the last. Richard says there are now 6,000 contiguous acres along Route 17 in agricultural preservation, a big step towards ensuring the future of this farming community.

After her morning work on the farm is done, Kelli’s day as a loan officer at the Frederick, Maryland office of Farm Credit gets rolling. She’s been working in the agricultural finance industry for 25 years, after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in the

field. Her first job was with the former Staunton Farm Credit (now Farm Credit of the Virginias), where she worked for four years. When her husband Raymond got a job in Charles Town, West Virginia, they moved back to the area where she grew up and she began her career with Central Maryland Farm Credit, now MidAtlantic Farm Credit.

“It’s been a tremendous career,” Kelli says. “As a farmer myself, I share the experiences my customers go through and have empathy for their challenges. I know what it’s like to have a crop devastated by a storm. I’ve sat at the table with my parents while they were crunching the numbers, figuring out who to pay when money was tight.

I’ve been where they are, and I think that understanding is the foundation of the relationships I have with my customers. It’s great to work in the community where I was born and raised.

In fact, I went to school with a lot of my customers. When my two children were younger, customers would tell me to bring them along to loan signings, so our kids could play together. It’s not your typical business relationship. It’s closer than that.”

In addition to helping her customers find the right loan for their situation, Kelli coaches her young customers and firsttime borrowers, sharing the insights she’s gained as both a farmer and specialist in agricultural finance. “I’ve worked with multiple generations of customers.

Some of my younger customers today were at the table when their parents signed their loan documents. I really enjoy helping them finance their dreams and celebrating their successes and milestones with them. That’s the best part of the job.”

Not only is Kelli a Farm Credit loan officer, she’s also a customer. Farm Credit

helped Kelli and her husband finance the home they built on her parent’s farm and their small herd of beef cattle. Her parents are also longtime customers.

“We choose to borrow from Farm Credit because they truly understand farmers and the complexities of running a farm,” Kelli explains. “The staff is amazing, and they make the process as straightforward and simple as possible.

I have customers who have also worked with commercial banks, and they’re shocked at how much less paperwork there is for a Farm Credit loan. There aren’t as many hoops to jump through and you don’t have to spend time trying to get your loan officer to understand where you’re coming from or how the loan will impact your farming operation.

Most of the staff have experience farming themselves, and that makes a world of difference for customers like me and my family.” l VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 1 | mafc.com | 7

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Story and photos by Nancy L. Smith and courtesy of Sherrie Howard | In a world where “customer service” can be an alien concept, Sherrie Howard, customer service representative in the East New Market, Maryland office, is a refreshing reminder of what a true commitment to helping others is all about.

Sherrie did not seek her job; it came looking for her. After a career in banking started back in 1971, she was asked to apply for a position at Farm Credit by Bob Hastings, former manager of the East New Market branch office. She got the job and has been assisting Eastern Shore farmers since 1994.

“Sherrie is a wonderful team member, and a great asset for Farm Credit,” praises her supervisor Mia Wright, division operations manager. “She comes in ready to work, ready to help anyone. She wears many hats, and is a great mentor, as she coaches new employees. Sherrie is someone you can count on for knowledge, especially about poultry,” Mia adds. ”I’m a people person,” Sherrie says, explaining that her duties at the office come naturally to her. “I do a little bit of

everything. You’re answering the phone, you’re waiting on customers, and you’re taking care of problems. You’re just, every day, the person they come to. If the loan officer is not in the office, I close the loans for them. Mostly, I handle everything when they are unable to,” explains Sherrie, who is modest about her highly responsible job.

Her roots on the Eastern Shore run deep. “My mother and father were both born and raised in Dorchester County.

Knowing everybody in the area makes all the difference,” she says.

Throughout her years on the job, Sherrie has seen significant changes.

When she began, “It was called Chesapeake Farm Credit. It was Denton, East New Market and Chestertown. At that time, each office did everything

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themselves—they answered their own phones, they took care of all their loans.

We actually typed up the loan papers and did the loan closings.”

Mia explains that Chesapeake and several other small operations were merged to create MidAtlantic Farm Credit in 2000.

Despite becoming part of a larger entity, Sherrie says, “It’s always been a little office. We have always called ourselves a little family because there are only five of us who work there. We all get along.”

Longevity is an office trait. Sherrie worked for 18 years with the now-retired Linda Scott, whom she had known even before coming to work at Farm Credit.

The merger brought a consolidated phone system. Sherrie explains that

agriculture

The Howard clan gathers at Christmastime: son Mark, daughter-in-law Erin, granddaughters Taylor, Meredith and Emma, David, Sherrie, granddaughters Kylie and Lauren, daughter-in-law Kelly and son Bobby. A lot of history can be found on their farm, including an old stone barn where David’s father started growing poultry in the 1960s. When Sherrie isn’t on the farm or with her family, she is assisting Farm Credit borrowers in the association’s East New Market office.

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phones can be answered for any of the seven branches on the Eastern Shore. In addition, “If our Pennsylvania offices are offline in a meeting, we will answer their phones. We all help each other out, from states away!”

“A lot has changed over the years,” Sherrie adds, noting that, although she liked the way some things were done in the past, “It’s better for the people.

Things can be done online now—a lot of e-mailing, and scanning. The paperwork is about the same.”

Complementing her paperwork and computer-related responsibilities, Sherrie maintains, “No matter what I am doing, I’m customer-oriented. I’m there to greet the customer and make sure I can help them at all times.”

In addition to a demanding fulltime job, Sherrie and her husband David farm and raise chickens for Perdue. “I grow a small bird. I guess we have close to 100,000 in each flock,” says David, explaining the chickens leave the farm when they weigh about four pounds.

“They only take 35 to 40 days to get to full size,” he notes.

“We’ve had roasters and broilers.

We’re sort of graduating down to less of everything,” laughs Sherrie.

Their son, Bobby, describes the evolution of the chicken business on the farm. “When the broiler industry was first getting started, they had chickens in every building they could put them in around here.”

David adds, “Back in the early 1960s, they put them in the barn. They also had a couple of other buildings here they put chickens in.”

Their sons, Bobby and Mark, farm 400 acres with David. “We grew watermelons for 30 years. Now we grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and cucumbers,” says David.

The cucumbers are sold to Kenny Brothers, a broker in Bridgeville, Delaware.

“We’ve been growing close to 89 acres of cucumbers a year,” says Bobby. “It was almost 100 acres last year.”

In addition to farming, David drove harness horses for almost 20 years. Harness racing is in the blood of both families.

“David’s father had [Standardbred] horses right here on the farm and we owned some for a time, too,” recalls Sherrie.

David adds, “Her grandparents were into racing.” Sherrie continues, “My grandfather had his own tracks in Cambridge and Federalsburg. They would do racing there on Saturdays.”

David’s dad and mom had one on the couple’s current farm, says Sherrie, during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Mark continues the family horse heritage, keeping horses and maintaining a track. “We were raised at the track,” he recalls.

Sherrie and David’s Federalsburg, Maryland farm previously belonged to David’s parents who moved there in the late 1950s. “They started growing chickens here in the 60s,” says David, who explains he and Sherrie moved to the farm in 1991.

While Both Sherrie and David have discussed retirement, “I haven’t set a goal.

I haven’t set a timeframe yet,” she says.

With five granddaughters ranging in age from seven to 16, all of whom live just down the lane, Sherrie says she will be spending more time with them when she does decide to retire. “And helping me,” David adds quickly. l

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Story and photos by Maggie Wolff Peterson | The renovation of a 1900s farmhouse that Becky and Scott Daniel undertook five years ago involved a complete overhaul of their home east of Martinsburg, WV. “We touched just about every room,” Becky says.

Completing the job involved receiving a loan from Farm Credit, for which the Daniels are not typical clients.

Becky has been a loan processor for the association for 12 years. But, working for Farm Credit didn’t affect the process of acquiring the loan, she says. “We went through the exact same process as everyone else does.”

The biggest renovation was the kitchen, which had been a small addition at the back of the house.

Before replacing the space, tearing off the old addition revealed original chestnut siding that had clad the entire exterior of the house. Today, that siding is a wooden accent wall in a two-story addition that contains a large, updated kitchen and a second-story space.

For seven months, the family lived without a functioning kitchen, using dining room electrical outlets to power a few appliances. “We had an electric skillet, a crockpot and a microwave,” Becky explains. “If you couldn’t cook it in that, we weren’t eating it.”

Becky says she was practically born to work with Farm Credit. “I was raised on this farm,” she says. “My mom was born in our house and I was raised here.

My job at Farm Credit is easy because I am familiar with the industry, having come from a farm background. Giving people what they need to fulfill their goals is so rewarding.”

The Daniels own a 100 acre farm and rent an additional 500 acres, where they grow corn and soybeans, and raise cattle and sheep. They have also utilized Farm Credit for operating funds from time to time, as other needs have presented themselves. “Farm Credit has

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been a great partner to us through the years, through all the ups and downs of farming,” Scott adds.

Last year, Scott transitioned from dairy farming to be able to enjoy some nights and weekends off, as well as the occasional vacation. When the Daniels transitioned from dairy farming to crop farming, Farm Credit was there with a line of credit to smooth “cash flow differences,” Scott adds.

Previously, the farm had been operating on twice-monthly milk revenue, but crop farming meant “being paid at harvest, for grain,” Scott explains.

“Grain production is seasonal cash flow.”

The Daniels have a long history with Farm Credit, going back before their own home. “Our home was financed by them, but even before that, my dad was a Farm Credit customer. Scott’s dad, too.

Our roots run deep,” Becky says proudly.

Today, the majority of work on the farm is passing to the next generation.

The Daniel children, Christopher, 18, and Jenna, 14, raise and show livestock and have been leaders in FFA and 4H for years.

A past FFA president, Christopher finds a great purpose in farm life. “It’s a sense of doing,” he says. January is when you want them born for the fairs around here,” he explains. On an early winter afternoon, Christopher kept an eye on the nine pregnant ewes in his flock of 20, having scheduled lambing to correspond with livestock show events in summer.“ Scott says he hopes to pass the farm to his children someday. Raising them in a farming environment “means the world to me,” he says.

“Kids can learn work ethic, they can learn life and death on a farm,” he explains. “They learn real-world things. It’s

self-learned, rather than being taught.”

Additionally, within the public school community, farm kids support each other through organizations such as FFA. “It’s a core group of friends and like-minded people,” says Scott. “It’s a community within a much larger community.”

Scott and Becky met as teenagers, showing dairy cows in Jackson’s Mill, “in the center of West Virginia,” she says.

Farming has been the center of their family life since the beginning.

“Our children have been on the show halter since they were three years old,” Becky explains. “Because of that, they have the same love of agriculture that we do. Our month of August is county and state fairs. It’s a full 21 days of showing.”

For Christopher, his favorite part is having lambs born. “Trying to match the right ram to the right female and see the outcome is interesting to me. It puts five months of waiting into perspective,” he says. In summertime, Christopher works on other farms in the region. “We’ll put a couple of thousand bales of hay in the barn and work until it’s done or until dark, whichever comes sooner,” he says.

Jenna’s leadership in FFA is demonstrated in a case full of trophies, ribbons and awards, particularly for public speaking. “I’ve gained a lot of leadership skills because of FFA,” she says. “I’ve been able to talk in front of 400 people—something many other students don’t get an opportunity to do.”

It’s the perpetual rhythm of farm work that appeals to Jenna. “Whenever I get bored, I have something to do,” she says. “And, I have met so many people through the agricultural world. Without farming, I wouldn’t know how to live!” l

Christopher, Becky, Scott and Jenna Daniel operate a 100-acre farm outside Martinsburg, having sought occasional loans from Farm Credit to help with cash flow and capital improvements.

Both Christopher, 18, and Jenna, 14, raise livestock including sheep, to show and sell.

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our association

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innovation IS

First-ever AgPitch celebrates those working to evolve the industry

By Morgan Figgins, Farm Credit marketing intern

“With the ever-changing landscape of agriculture, we’re being challenged to be innovative in how we support the future of this industry. Drawing on the experiences of and successes we have seen in the emerging technology and life sciences communities throughout the region, we came up with the concept of AgPitch,” states Andrew Rose, director of Innovation, Strategy, and Business Development with Farm Credit.

AgPitch is a variation of a crowd pitch, similar to the hit ABC show “Shark Tank”. On December 1, 2017, five entrepreneurs presented their agriculture business idea in front of a live audience and a panel of judges to compete for cash and an array of business services such as legal advice, accounting, risk management, and more.

AgPitch’s format is unique because even with judges present, the crowd ultimately determines the winner.

Andrew continues, “Agriculture, by necessity, has always fostered a sense of innovation. By spotlighting what has been naturally occurring, we are allowing agriculture to share in the capital that has traditionally been focused more on the cyber-security, computer applications, medical advances, and other industries.

This sense of innovation inspired the focus of this crowd pitch on agriculture.”

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The search for applications began a few months before the event with the opening of an online application form.

Andrew describes the application criteria as “fairly broad” and went on to say, “We were looking primarily for businesses, and business ideas, that addressed issues in the agricultural community with innovative solutions.”

A total of 38 applicants went through a round of pre-judging, where several industry professionals evaluated each application for viability, innovation, and if they were “ready for prime time”. From those 38, five finalists were selected to pitch live: Ben Lee of Rockville, Maryland; Bennett Wilson of Lexington Park, Maryland; Kelton Clark of Annapolis, Maryland; Mihir Pershad of Baltimore, Maryland; and Rick Hood of Thurmont, Maryland.

AgPitch17 took place during the

2017 Rural Maryland Council Conference in Annapolis, Maryland as one of the several breakout sessions. The panel of judges consisted of: Larisa Cioca, lecturer and advisor with Agricultural Business Management, Leadership, and Communication at the University of Maryland, College Park; Jenny Rhodes, senior agent and extension educator with the Agriculture and Natural Resources department of the University of Maryland Extension, Queen Anne’s County; Mike Thielke, executive director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center; and Gianna Arnold, partner with Saul Ewing, Arnstein, & Lehr.

Each audience member was given a piece of fake money, called a “biostar buck” valued at $56 as they walked in.

The judges each received one $56 bill, as well as one $101 buck. The value of each buck represents a piece of Farm Credit

history: 56 to represent the year 1956, when Farm Credit received a charter (meaning it became a full borrowerowned institution), and 101, the number of years Farm Credit has been supporting American agriculture.

Finalists were each allotted five minutes to pitch their business idea to the judges and audience. After each presentation, the judges were given the opportunity to ask the pitcher questions about his or her idea. When the final presentation concluded, contestants lined up by the exit extending their baskets in hopes of collecting the most bucks.

The total tally, which was counted immediately after the event concluded, revealed Ben Lee and the idea of Nano Air Bubble Aeration System (NABAS) as the winner of the very first AgPitch.

Ben has been involved in the NABAS project since 2016. NABAS improves water quality to increase plant yield, while decreasing the need for fertilizers and other additives without changing

the pH balance or other characteristics of the water. Other uses of NABAS include a farm animal disinfectant, a vegetation disinfectant, and a spray to extend the freshness and shelf life of produce.

Ben explains, “You can only introduce gas into water through bubbles. The smaller the bubble, the better the gas absorption.” The NABAS “claim to fame” is the size and quantity of their bubbles, and the technology used to produce them. Standard bubble size is 100 microns and with the NABAS, 91% of the bubbles created are five microns or less. This gives the bubbles the ability to create buoyancy and push suspended solids to the surface.

Case studies have shown the NABAS oxygen water to remove anoxic zones in roots, increase yield by 25-64 percent in sunflower micro greens, and create 11 percent bigger and 14 percent heavier tomatoes with the use of 15 percent less fertilizer.

“Agriculture is so broad and with that comes a ton of opportunities,” says Tom

Truitt, CEO of Farm Credit. “Regarding innovation, we’re really fortunate to have the Baltimore-Washington corridor right in the middle of our footprint, which helps stir innovation in the local ag sector. Ben is a shining example of someone who is truly leading the way when it comes to innovation in the industry.”

Tom also believes that the United States agriculture industry is “uniquely qualified” to meet the needs of the growing population. “Innovation is going to be a key part,” he adds.

With one AgPitch under our belt, plans are underway for another one in the future. “AgPitch will continue to evolve and grow through partnerships with universities, the regional/national incubation system, investors and entrepreneurs,” says Andrew. “We’re thrilled with the feedback we’ve received from our first event, and we look forward to meeting more ag entrepreneurs through this opportunity.”

For more information about AgPitch, please visit agpitch.com. l

volume 23 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 13

our association M CO

M I T M E N T TO O U R

communities

Our employees love where they live, work, and play, and we couldn’t imagine it any other way! We enjoy doing what we can to help our communities continue to thrive, whether it’s by helping a farmer purchase land or equipment, coaching our kids’ sports teams, or hosting canned food drives in our offices. Below are some of the many community activities our employees were involved in over the past year.

If you see us out and about wearing our “Farm Credit Cares” t-shirts, please say hello, snap a pic, and send it to mmalinowski@mafc.com. We hope to see you at a community event soon! nggwwitithh voolulunnteteeeririn PPeennnnststaaffff v tsts r To r To ysysfofo ToTo

new views NE W YEAR

Dover collected canned goods and holiday gifts

Winchester crew donates canned goods to local food bank

Delmarva staff volunteered to help at Mountaire Farm’s Thanksgiving for Thousands event

tminster ent at the Wes SMM departm elter Cold Weather Sh

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| volume 23 | issue 1 | mafc.com

Tammy Price volunteering with Junior Achievement

More Delmarva staff supported Mountaire Farm’s Thanksgiving for Thousands event

new views NE W YEAR

Last year was one of growth for us, including the expansion of our headquarters office in Westminster, Maryland. Our branch office moved to the newly-renovated building at 45 Aileron Court on January 11. The project included the addition of work spaces, two conference rooms, and a new board room, which is open to community groups for meetings.

This past December, we were excited to announce that we purchased a new building on Eby Chiques Road in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, with plans to renovate and relocate our Lancaster office there later in 2018. We’ll be adding offices and a community space, which will also be available for local organizations to use for meetings or presentations.

We’re proud to deepen our roots in both Carroll and Lancaster counties through the investment in these buildings. If you have any questions, or would like more information on using any of our locations for a meeting, please give Lisa Bicking a call at 888.339.3334.

The agriculture industry is made up of a diverse set of people—farmers, ranchers, extension agents, scientists, veterinarians, and many others. Each has their own unique story, but all are working together to ensure the future of agriculture remains stronger than ever. We want to celebrate each and every one of you who have dedicated your lives to fulfilling this mission, and who work to educate others on the importance of agriculture!

Please join us at the location nearest you to meet fellow agriculture community members, including Farm Credit staff and directors, for some great food, and to learn what your association has planned for the coming year.

2018 Annual Meeting Dates April 3

Thurmont Event Complex / Thurmont, MD**

April 4

Modern Maturity Center / Dover, DE

April 5

Yoder’s Restaurant / New Holland, PA

*New location for 2018!

Please plan to arrive at 5:45pm for some tasty appetizers and the opportunity to network with Farm Credit directors, staff members, customers, and industry representatives. If you have a question about your association or the industry, this would be a great time to come out and learn more.

Meeting Agenda 5:45pm

Registration, Networking and Appetizers

6:45pm

Call to Order

7:00pm

Dinner

8:00pm

Business Meeting

All of those who attend can enter to win a 2017 John Deere Gator, and have the chance to win some really fun door prizes!

TWO WAYS TO REGISTER westminst

er headq

uarters

Visit mafc.com and complete the online registration form by March 23.

Fill out and mail back the RSVP postcard in your annual meeting information statement, which you will be receiving soon.

If you can’t make a meeting this year, don’t worry! You can follow along on social media using #MAFCAM. We hope to see you in April!

future Lancaster of

fice

volume 23 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 15

community Dover, Delaware

Cambridge, Maryland

Well-maintained active horse farm with fenced-in riding ring and large fenced-in pastures. Horse trails throughout. Horse barn currently has three stalls, with the option of creating another stall.

Barn has hot water bathing stall and loft for storing hay. Large garage/workshop and equipment storage shed. $459,900.

Ross Range Farm is a unique sportsman and nature lover’s paradise. Finest sporting lifestyle on this 454 acre farm with over four miles of protected waterfront on Phillips Creek and the Little Choptank. One and a half miles of road frontage. Three houses, barns, outbuildings, docks, and ponds.

Development potential. $4,350,000.

Contact Daniel Tartt, Remax Horizons, 302.745.1611.

Contact Jon Ginn, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.310.4699.

Centreville, Maryland

Centreville, Maryland

Riverview Farm on the Chester River. 145 pastoral acres. Main house, guest house, garage with apartment and a riverfront building site. Private and secluded. 15 minutes to Chestertown (road or water) and 20 minutes to Easton. Deep water, exquisite living, sporting and entertaining. $3,900,000.

Contact Richard Grieves, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.924.3999.

Need financing for any of these properties?*

Call Farm Credit at 888.339.3334.

Ten acres, bring your horses! Custom-built Colonial with gorgeous views of property.

Hardwood floors, custom kitchen, hickory cabinets, double ovens, and gas cooktop.

Spacious family room with built-ins and fireplace. First floor master, bath and walk-in closets. Screened-in porch, custom deck, and patio. $649,900.

Contact Melissa Tippett, Meredith Find Properties, 410.241.7409.

* Financing availability subject to loan approval and property eligibility.

Crapo, Maryland

Easton, Maryland

Chestertown, Maryland

Fronting the Chester River, this is one of the most picturesque horse farms in Maryland.

This prominent Thoroughbred horse breeding operation raised home-bred, stakes-placed winners. The property also features 152.49 acres improved with main residence, historic train station, caretaker house, barns, and more! $2,495,000.

Contact Clint Evans, Cross Street Realtors, 410.778.3779.

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Lake Cove consists of 200 acres of excellent hunting and nature habitat on the Honga River in Dorchester County, Maryland. This property has been carefully maintained offering a main house, garage, bunk house and much more.

Tons of Sika deer, geese, ducks, and turkey reside on the property. $515,000.

Hunting Creek Farm, a sportsman’s waterfront dream, offers 8,500 square feet, brick manor house, brick guest house, caretaker’s house, barns, and outbuildings. Large pool, tennis court, and a protected deep water dock on Hunting Creek with 3/4 mile of shoreline and 186 acres. $7,900,000.

Contact Henner Gibbons-Neff, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.829.0698.

Contact Jana Meredith, Meredith Fine Properties, 443.235.3404.

These listings were submitted by individual real estate agents. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is not responsible for typographical errors or pricing discrepancies.

Hurlock, Maryland

Preston, Maryland

Historic plantation on 177 acres on the scenic Wye River. Three separate parcels, deep water dock (approximately eight feet) with boat house, pool, tennis court, multiple guest/tenant houses and outbuildings, dog kennels, generator, and a picturesque tree-lined drive. First time available in over 50 years! $7,450,000.

Move-in ready horse farm. Four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, 6.4 acres. Property backs to Hunting Creek. Three stall Amish built barn, two large pastures, tack room, and outdoor wash area. Chicken coop, workshop with lean-to, three storage sheds, and carport. Small orchard with apple, pear, peach trees, figs, and mulberry bushes. Open floor plan. $260,000.

Private five acre setting on Crowberry Creek.

Enjoy walking the paths through the woods to the water’s edge and watch the birds in flight.

Home built in 2005 featuring plenty of natural light and many amenities. Attached heated garage, plus finished area above garage that is heated and cooled. $389,000.

Contact Cliff Meredith, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.924.0082.

Contact Dawn M. Kyle, Champion Realty, Inc., 410.310.5899.

Contact Debbie Meredith, Benson and Mangold, 410.310.8922.

Preston, Maryland

Trappe, Maryland

Contemporary three bedroom, two bathroom home offers sun porch, patio, in-ground pool, hot tub, and both hardwood and ceramic tile floors. Three bay shop/garage, Conestoga horse barn with three stalls and an office, two run-in sheds, paddocks, and pasture on 30 acres.

Wildlife abounds. Only .9 miles to the Choptank Marina. $734,000.

Beautiful Talbot County woodland property offers privacy from the hustle and bustle of town life. Mature trees may be logged. Three access trails. Perfect for the serious deer and/or turkey hunter. Desirable, quiet and serene location for the nature lover’s dream home. Minutes to Easton or Cambridge. $649,900.

8.88 +/- acre estate lot located in tranquil Howard County. Zoned RCDEO, Tier IV. Sub-dividable into two lots. Schools are highly rated. $649,000.

Contact Mike Stevens, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.829.5003.

Contact Sara Nicolas, Maryland Land Advisors, 866.910.LAND.

Contact Rick Covell, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.829.2165.

Worton, Maryland

Albany Township, Pennsylvania

Woodbine, Maryland

Ashland, Pennsylvania

Job creation tax credit, workforce development incentives for new/expanding businesses.

Parcel is in the masterplan and is in a strategic location. Industrial zoning.. Verify all info with Kent County Economic Development.

Additional land available! $1,008,525.

Exceptional 350 acre farm in Lynn and Albany Townships. Large center hall stone farmhouse, five bedroom frame farmhouse, and two bank barns. It has rolling fertile farmland, beautiful views, lush pastures, woodland, an ever-flowing trout stream, as well as a two acre pond. One of the prettiest farms in Pennsylvania. $3,500,000.

Rural area of Ashland is offering this dream farmette on 12+ acres. An eight year young home with open floor plan, three bedrooms, three full baths, and an office are just some of the highlights. A 60’ x 35’ barn with eight stalls, wash rack, tack room, and a loft for thousands of bales. Call today for your private showing! $379,900.

OPPORTUNITY Contact Vincent Payne, Realty Navigator, OPPORTUNITY 410.924.3182.

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

Contact David Zoschke, RE/MAX of Reading, 610.223.9837.

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Properties for sale

Easton, Maryland

volume 22 | issue 4 | mafc.com | 17 EQUAL HOUSING

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community Conestoga, Pennsylvania

Fleetwood, Pennsylvania

Hampstead, Pennsylvania

18.3 acre farm with five bedroom home with an open floor plan, Dutch door with dog door bell, first floor master with fireplace and screened-in porch, and in-ground pool. Dog kennel has automatic waters and five kennel run. Barn has six-eight stalls, electric, hot and cold water, hay storage, outdoor sand arena, and lit pastures. $1,175,000.

3,000+ square foot all brick ranch style home with four bedrooms, three full and one half bath. Full eat-in kitchen. Florida room overlooking the backyard with in-ground pool and hot tub. Oversized two car attached garage, plus a two car detached garage. 10’ x 16’ fully equipped greenhouse. All on 7+ acres. Oley Valley School District. $375,000.

109.9 acre farm. Hampstead area. First time offered, same owner since 1954. Picturesque gentleman’s farm, approximately half mile blacktop road for access to nicely situated farmhouse and outbuildings. Has one acre reserved building lot. Subject to farm land preservation easement. $1,125,000.

Contact Anne M. Lusk, Lusk & Sotheby’s International Realty, 717.291.9101.

Contact Ed Spayd, RE/MAX of Reading, 610.587.4762.

Contact Larry Haines, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616.

Landenberg, Pennsylvania

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Need financing for any of these properties?*

Call Farm Credit at 888.339.3334.

Lovely 17.50-/+ acre Chester County gentleman’s farm located on two sides of a tributary of the White Clay Creek. Two well-constructed brick homes and buildings proudly built by owner/master mason situated on a promenade overlooking the pond, barn, adjacent paddocks, and riding ring. $729,999.

Beautiful 70 acre farm with an adjacent 10 acre tract for a total of 80 acres in South Annville Township, PA. Former dairy farm, currently used for horse boarding and crops. Clean and green, zoned agricultural. With a 20+ mile view from the extensive front porch of the recently remodeled home. $1,495,000 farm and $245,000 lot.

Contact Karen Kunda, Patterson Price Real Estate, 443.466.5375.

Contact Jody Artz, Century 21 Krall Real Estate, 717.507.3530.

Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Historic 1870 Victorian farmhouse with four bedrooms. Property has bank barn, workshop, and garage. Enjoy beautiful views, large pond, and mountain stream. There is a nice mix of fields and woodlands. Close to Routes 443, 309, PA Turnpike, and recreation areas. $398,000.

Contact Jonathan D. Coles, New Pennsylvania Realty, 570.449.8197.

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New Freedom, Pennsylvania

* Financing availability subject to loan approval and property eligibility.

New Ringgold, Pennsylvania

A great opportunity to own the property of a well-established, highly reputable local business. Owners have successfully run their organic nursery/landscaping business out of this location for 12 years. Property consists of a house, barn, eight greenhouse structures, underground irrigation system, pond, huge parking area, and more. $599,900.

EQUAL HOUSING Magnificent 432 acre country estate. Stone OPPORTUNITY manor house with five bedrooms, custom kitchen, great room, home theater, pool, large garage. Caretaker’s house. Multiple barns and workshops. Frontage on Little Schuylkill River. This entire property bespeaks of quality, elegance, and upscale country charm.

REALTOR $3,750,000.

Contact Travis Eberly, Horning Farm Agency, Inc., 717.725.7274.

Contact Perry Long, New Pennsylvania Realty, Inc., 570.386.5000.

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Fabulous circa 1840s Bucks County stone farmhouse. Four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, handsome bank barn with new siding and roof, charming guest cottage, in-ground pool, and tennis court all down a quarter mile long, recently paved driveway leading to this 57 secluded acre site in scenic Bucks County. $1,550,000.

Contact Chip Williams, Long and Foster Real Estate, 610.442.6559.

West Hanover Township, Pennsylvania

Truly a fantastic location. Owner is selling the eastern portion of his land, (home and buildings not included) which is six-seven +/- acres.

Public water and sewer nearby. Zoned R-1, permits half acre lots. Buyer is responsible for subdivision, approvals, and fees. $265,000.

Contact John Kallimanis, RE/MAX Delta Group, Inc., 717.512.6117.

SING

Washington Township, Pennsylvania

Opportunity knocks! Spacious home – 3,588 square feet of versatile living space. Two staircases, hardwood floors, and contemporary kitchen. 9.9 acres of land with a partial barn (part has substantial storm damage). $235,000.

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

Washington Township, Pennsylvania

Saddle Valley Farm. Farm and ranch. 75 stall barn, 35+ acres. Two indoor riding rings with viewing room in one. Two outdoor riding rings.

Wash stalls, and multiple tack rooms, offices, rest room, laundry room, fenced pastures, round pen, and a five bay garage. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, pre-fab ranch home. $499,900.

Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian and Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790.

Millwood, Virginia

Strasburg, Virginia

196+/- acres of prime Clarke County farm land.

Outstanding land, exceptional location, gently rolling, well-drained soils with minimal rock. A dairy farm for over 50 years, this farm could also support equine, livestock or crop operations.

1850 frame farmhouse, tenant house multiple sheds/barns. $1,510,000.

Truly a Shenandoah Valley gem! Two house 248 acre farm (one is rental), studio, barn, shop, and outbuildings. 28 fenced acres pasture, 220 acres wooded on Little North Mountain.

Hiking, riding, and hunting trails will lead you the mountain top. Outstanding views across the Valley to Signal Knob and Massannutten Mountain. $1,250,000.

Contact Jack Schutte, Clarke County Properties, 540.837.1429.

Contact Steve Buck, Sager Real Estate, 540.335.0493.

Properties for sale

Pipersville, 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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REALTOR

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888.339.3334 | mafc.com

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT NO. 1608

45 Aileron Court Westminster MD 21157

Stay connected to Farm Credit

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Often imitated.

Never duplicated.

There is something to be said about a lender who has been serving rural America for more than 100 years—and that’s us, Farm Credit! Don’t be fooled by “here today, gone tomorrow” lenders.

We’re the original experts in agricultural lending. If you’re looking for financing and exceptional customer service, give us a call today.

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