Our Leader magazine covers news from our members, our Association and our local agriculture community.

In the Fall 2022 Issue:

• AgGeorgia's Basic Training 101: The 2022 Summer Internship Program
• Leasing Has Its Advantages: Is AgGeorgia's leasing program right for you?
• Property for Sale

Download the Fall 2022 Issue.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Camille Dungan as a Credit Administrator in the Perry Office. Camille began her career with AgGeorgia in 2017 as a credit analyst, and in her new position, will lead a team of credit officers in several AgGeorgia offices.  She is looking forward to working with credit officers to support the mission of AgGeorgia and provide our members an enjoyable lending experience.  

A native of Oconee County, Camille is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness.  She and her husband, Tyler, reside in Monroe County on his family’s land where they have a small cattle farm.

Kristie Speed of Carnesville, Georgia has been announced as the winner of the grand prize drawing from the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Regional Member Appreciation Events.  Mrs. Speed was selected at random on Wednesday, November 3rd from all entries submitted during the Regional Member Appreciation Events held October 24th, 25th, November 1st and 2nd in Cartersville, Jefferson, Tifton and Dublin, respectively.  Mrs. Speed came by the office recently to pick up her new 2022 John Deere Gator XUV590E, and is shown enjoying her new prize on her farm.  

Kristie and husband, Carlton, are members of AgGeorgia’s Clarkesville Branch. 

Congratulations Mrs. Speed, and thank you to all members who attended our events and registered to win.  We appreciate your business!
 

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Jaime Medlock as Mortgage Loan Originator.  Having worked in the financial industry for 26 years, Mrs. Medlock also has over 4 years of experience in residential mortgage financing in the Farm Credit System.  In her new role, she will provide knowledgeable, locally originated loans for home purchases, construction, and refinancing, with the benefit of mortgage rates that homeowners have come to expect for their most important purchase. 

Jaime and her husband, Chris, are residents of Collins, Georgia in Tattnall County and they have two children, Maci and Hannah, along with two grandchildren.  Mrs. Medlock is excited about this new opportunity to provide home mortgage solutions throughout AgGeorgia’s 79 county service area. She can be reached at jmedlock@aggeorgia.com or 478-595-7892. NMLS #1742702, Equal Housing Lender.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit has donated the final $10,000 needed to rebuild “The Big Peanut” monument that was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018.  This donation, along with funds from the Ashburn Turner County Chamber of Commerce, the Turner County Young Farmers and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, will ensure that the monument is restored to its prominent location along Interstate 75.

“The Big Peanut Monument is a tribute to all of South Georgia’s farmers and agricultural industries that are the backbone of our economy. We are proud that Turner County is home to this testament and we are working hard to get it back up, repaired and restored in all its former glory,” said Ashley Miller, Executive Director for the Chamber.  Miller worked diligently to coordinate efforts and was instrumental in bringing awareness to the need for funding.  

What began as a restoration project and fundraising campaign to renovate the monument by the Turner County Young Farmers quickly turned to a more extensive rebuild after Hurricane Michael’s destruction.  “The Big Peanut was declared a state monument in the early 1990’s and the Young Farmers had begun a community service project to refurbish the Peanut,” explained Dennis Kendrick, Turner County Young Farmer Advisor. “But in ’18 when the hurricane came through, it expedited the process and the need to refurbish it.  We’ve been working since then to get funds to get this peanut monument restored and we’re looking forward to the money that AgGeorgia Farm Credit has donated going to good use.  It will go very far to secure getting this monument back up,” Kendrick said.

When the need for funds was brought to the attention of AgGeorgia, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to donate the funds needed.  “We are excited to be a part of the monument’s reconstruction,” said AgGeorgia’s CEO Rob Crain.  “Supporting our state’s number one industry, along with supporting this local community and its farmers, is an opportunity our organization couldn’t pass up.  We understand the significance of agriculture and the major economic impact it has for our state.  We are proud to be involved in the re-establishment of this monument.”

According to Kendrick, Metal Fabricator Cole Sercer expects to have the reconstruction completed in early 2023.  “We’ll be glad to have the monument back up and to have everyone celebrate with us,” Kendrick said.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa C. Storm to Chief Credit Officer.  Lisa began her career with another Farm Credit System institution as a Credit Analyst in 2001 before transferring to AgGeorgia as a Credit Administrator in 2012.  During her tenure, she has assisted in the development and implementation of various credit training programs both in the Association and within the AgFirst District.  

Mrs. Storm currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Forum for Ag Lending, a national Farm Credit conference promoting the professional development of Farm Credit employees. In her new position, Mrs. Storm will oversee the overall credit quality of the Association loan portfolio, including all of AgGeorgia’s eighteen offices, capital markets, and special assets.

A native of Peach County, Mrs. Storm received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Georgia Southern University and also completed the Southeastern Ag Lenders School at Clemson University. She and her husband, Guy, reside in Perry with their daughter, Adelaide, and are active members of Perry United Methodist Church.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently conducted its annual Director and Nominating Committee elections with the assistance of elections facilitator Survey & Ballot Systems.  Four candidates were elected to the Board of Directors and thirteen candidates were elected to the Nominating Committee.

After being provided a slate of candidates by a Nominating Committee of stockholders, AgGeorgia gave the opportunity for floor nominations at its October 19th Annual Meeting held in Perry.  There were no nominations from the floor for the four Director positions with terms expiring December 31, 2022, or for the 2023 Nominating Committee.  The candidates identified by the Nominating Committee were then voted upon via mailed and online ballot, with the following elected:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

To serve a 4-year term:

Position #2, Director Region #3 — Jack W. Bentley, Jr. (Wilkes Co.)
Position #1, Director Region #4 — Robert Bradham "Brad" Edenfield (Burke Co.)
Position #2, Director Region #4 — Joe. A. "Al" Rowland (Johnson Co.)

To serve a 1-year term:

Position #2, Director Region #6 — Henry C. "Clint" Wortman, Jr. (Brooks Co.)

2023 NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Each to serve a 1-year term:

Rebecca A. Agnew (Walker Co.)
Derrell C. Bennett, Jr. (Cook Co.)
Joseph Cole Elrod (Jackson Co.)
Jimmy D. Franks (Burke Co.)
Charlie Howington (Franklin Co.)
Melvin B. Hudson (Dooly Co.)
Michael Scott Moore (Dooly Co.)
David B. Norman (Colquitt Co.)
John H. Reece (Gilmer Co.)
Jason T. Ridley (Murray Co.)
Hugh H. Veal, Jr. (Johnson Co.)
(Alternate) William Scott Everidge (Dooly Co.)
(Alternate) Matthew F. Perfect (Houston Co.)

Congratulations to all of the elected directors and Nominating Committee members who now have the opportunity to represent the over 5,000 member/borrowers of the association.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Penelope Hern as Collateral Analyst in the Royston Office.  Mrs. Hern is from Montreal, Canada and received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Quebec in Montreal. She moved to Maryland in July of 2020 and worked as a Licensed Settlement Agent/Title Insurance Producer in Maryland for a title company.  Penelope moved to Georgia in April of this year and worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation as Right of Way Specialist, dealing with Eminent Domain and land acquisition.  She resides in Hull with her husband, Kyle, and her dog, Pogo.

Mrs. Hern looks forward to using her knowledge and experience to enhance the cooperative for the benefit of our members.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Seth Newell as a Consumer Loan Officer in the Tifton Office.  Mr. Newell is a native of Worth County and graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness.  Along with familiarity with agriculture, his previous career experience includes a position as field technician for Vantage Southeast.  Seth resides in Sylvester and enjoys golf and deer hunting.

Mr. Newell looks forward to using his ag background in servicing the financing needs of the residents of Cook, Tift, Turner and surrounding counties.