AgGeorgia Farm Credit is proud to provide an annual internship program each summer that is specifically designed for college junior and seniors. The 10-week program gives a 360 degree look at the functions of the daily routines of the branch offices and allows the interns to explore ag lending at AgGeorgia. A mentor is assigned for guidance through the many facets of farm lending with opportunities for them to observe areas of executive management, operations, appraisals and branch lending. Specific areas of focus also includes accounting, marketing, credit philosophy, loan documentation, and legal issues. From meeting with customers to making approval recommendations on actual loan packages, experienced credit staff offer exposure of start-to-finish financial analysis and loan structuring. The interns also experience the Farm Credit cooperative model, relationships with member/borrowers and the communities in which our offices are located.
Meet our 2021 interns:
Courtney Conine is a graduate of University of Georgia/ Tifton with an agribusiness degree. She is from Grady County and was very active in the Pelham FFA chapter and competed in various activities like Discussion Meet, Meats Evaluations and was part of the chapter officer team. Courtney was very involved for 14 years in livestock shows, especially swine, that allowed her to travel and make many acquaintances. While at UGA/Tifton, she was on the ambassador team, president of the UGA Tifton Agribusiness Club and member of the UGA Block and Bridle. She enjoys cooking for family and friends, working with pigs and other livestock, making homemade snacks and tailgating for UGA football games and deer hunting. Her favorite thing to do is play with her dog, Scout. Courtney has accepted a job in the ag department of a local commercial bank and plans to use the tools she learned to further her career in finance.
Braswell Davis attends Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton and is from Colquitt County, Georgia. His study of interest at ABAC is agribusiness where he is working toward a bachelor’s degree. “I chose to get a degree in agribusiness because I enjoy agriculture and the many things involved in it. I started my college career in Valdosta and had planned to get a business management degree,” Braswell explains. “I decided, though, if I was going to find a career in agriculture, I knew ABAC would be a great place to learn more about what I enjoy.” Braswell chose to apply for the internship program at AgGeorgia because he’d not seen the financial side of ag. He wanted to see how the farmers get help with their operations, purchasing new land, equipment, poultry houses, etc. “AgGeorgia has shown me that a relationship with the customer is important,” Braswell stated. “During my internship, I was able to go out and see customers, and I noticed there was a relationship built between the customer and AgGeorgia employees. AgGeorgia does everything they have to do to make loans work and to keep the customer satisfied.” Braswell also enjoys fishing, hunting and spending time with friends and family. He will look to begin his career after graduating in 2022.
Faith Fantroy is from Montgomery, Alabama and is attending Fort Va l ley State University m aj or i n g i n agricultural economics. Faith developed an appreciation for ag through her connection with FFA, participating in livestock shows, and their small family pig and chicken farm. She is very involved in Northside Church of Christ, where her family also attends, and she is leader of the youth group. She is a member of the Fort Valley State Lady Wildcats basketball team and enjoys drawing in her spare time. When asked what her plans were after completing her AgGeorgia internship, Faith said emphatically, “Complete senior year!”
Anna-Leigh McCartney is from Cook County, Georgia, and is a student of the University of Georgia/ Athens. She plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management and upon graduation in May of 2022, would like to begin a career in lending or human resources. Anna-Leigh enjoys traveling and reading, and is involved with the Wesley Foundation, a Methodist supported college ministry; Alpha Gamma Delta, a college sorority; and Relay for Life, a nationwide community group raising funds for cancer research. She has also volunteered at the Athens Humane Society, and has devoted time in missions in Jamaica.
Hannah Whitaker graduated from ABAC in May of 2021 with a Bachelors of Science in Agribusiness degree. Hannah grew up in Manatee County, Florida and was active with showing cattle all across the southeast. She has been involved in FFA, 4-H and has been a member of the Florida Junior Cattlemen’s for 8 years. She likes spending time with family and friends, enjoys cooking and attends Journey Church in Tifton. Upon completion of the AgGeorgia internship, Hannah accepted a position within the Farm Credit System where she began her career in August of 2021.
Caleb Warren is an agribusiness major at ABAC and is from Warner Robins, Georgia. Although his family was not involved in agriculture, Caleb became interested in the industry when he was offered a part-time job on a small cattle farm during his sophomore year of high school. He grew to love agriculture and developed an appreciation for everything farmers do. He decided on furthering his education at ABAC to achieve his goal of an ag career. Caleb has since worked on a large pecan orchard in Hawkinsville, interned at the Georgia Department of Agriculture and with AgGeorgia, and says each of these experiences has confirmed his choice to pursue a career in agriculture. He plans to graduate in 2022. “Through the AgGeorgia internship I have been able to learn more about what they do for rural Georgia and how they truly want to improve agriculture in our state. My internship has been incredible and I cannot thank AgGeorgia enough for this experience.”
For information on the AgGeorgia internship program, contact Lesley Hurst, Human Resources Administrator/Training & Recruiting at 478-987-8300 Ext. 130 or at lhurst@aggeorgia.com.