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

In the Summer/Fall 2021 Issue:

• AgGeorgia Annual Summer Internship Program
• Meet Rob Crain, AgGeorgia CEO
• Insurance Reminder
• Association News
• Property for Sale

Download the Summer/Fall 2021 Issue.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to be hosting Regional Member Appreciation Events in Cartersville, Franklin Springs, Dublin, and Tifton at the below dates and locations.  As opposed to years prior, there will be no voting for director seats at these meetings, as elections will be held via mailed ballots to be sent November 2nd.  These meetings will give the opportunity for Directors, staff, and members alike to network with our membership, thank borrowers for their business, enjoy a delicious seafood buffet from Gay's Seafood, and win cash and prizes...including a John Deere Gator to be awarded November 3rd. 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25TH | 7:00 P.M.
Clarence Brown Center
5450 GA-20, Cartersville

Tuesday, October 26th | 7:00 P.M.
The Swails Center at Emmanuel College
2200 W Main St, Royston

Monday, November 1st | 7:00 P.M.
The Dubose Porter Center at Oconee Fall Line Technical College
560 Pinehill Rd, Dublin

Tuesday, November 2nd | 7:00 P.M.
UGA Conference Center
15 RDC Road, Tifton

For more information, contact your local branch or email rsvp@aggeorgia.com.  

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Melinda S. Corley, CSP, as Director of Human Resources in the Perry Corporate Office.  A native of Clayton County, Ms. Corley received several certificates from Clayton College and State University, including the designation of Certified Staffing Professional from the American Staffing Association and SHRM CP and SHRM-SCP certifications.  She has over 25 years of experience, most recently as Human Resources Manager at two credit unions in the Atlanta area.  Melinda’s experience involves all areas of Human Resources, including employment law, wage and salary, payroll, employee benefits, recruitment, employee onboarding and engagement, training and development, succession planning, career pathing, compliance and policy.  She expects to obtain a Bachelor of Applied Science Administrative Management (Organizational Development) from Clayton College in 2022. Ms. Corley is a member of several leadership groups such as Society of Human Resources Management, Georgia Human Resources Council and the Georgia Trainers Roundtable Council.

As a resident of Jones County, Ms. Corley is excited to be at AgGeorgia.  Her oldest son, Cole, is a student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, and her youngest son, Caden, is a student in the Jones County School System. Both are very involved in FFA and 4-H, with Cole receiving the 2021 Georgia State FFA State Star Farmer Award in Agriculture Business (Nursery Operations).  Both sons work on the family’s 380-acre timber operation in Crawford County.  “This opportunity to provide my experience to AgGeorgia allowed me to be closer to home,” Melinda says.   “As a volunteer with the Jones County Public Schools, I am excited to make the transition from Atlanta to Perry and be able to offer my service to the staff of AgGeorgia and to the community.”  The Corley family also includes James Hunter, a native of Queensland, Australia that has more than 20 years of service in the United States and Australia to Price Companies, most recently the Georgia Chips division in Macon.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Benjamin Strickland as Commercial Relationship Manager in the Waynesboro Office.  A native of Washington County, Mr. Strickland is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Business, and a minor in Public Administration.  He has a background in timber, with his family owning a pine tree farm in the county.  Being from the Tennille area, Benjamin is also knowledgeable and familiar with row crops.  

Mr. Strickland is looking forward to using his agricultural background to provide personalized and prompt service in meeting the agricultural financing needs of the residents of Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, McDuffie and Richmond Counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Ben Henderson as a Commercial Relationship Manager in the Tifton Office.

A native of Lowndes County, Mr. Henderson worked on a farm until graduating from Tift County High School.  Afterwards, he immediately began working in the customer service industry and quickly moved into customer service management where he worked for six years.  Ben then made a career move with a different company and for four years was in a sales manager position. He resides in Colquitt County with his wife, Dakota, and two sons, Walker & Eli.  He enjoys spending time with his family, and when time allows, playing golf.

Mr. Henderson is looking forward to using his farming experience, customer service and sales background to provide personalized and prompt service in meeting the agricultural financing needs of the residents of Cook, Tift and Turner Counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Amanda “Mandy” Hicks as Loan Operations Specialist in the LaFayette office.  A native of Hixson, Tennessee, Ms. Hicks worked in the medical and dental field for the last twenty years.  She is the proud mother of Rachael Hicks, who has her Master’s Degree in Biology from the University of West Georgia.

Mandy made a life change in 2014 when she moved to Chattooga County with her significant other, John, to live on his family farm where they run a commercial herd of Black Angus and Charolais.  She is a member of the Chattooga County Young Farmers and volunteers with the local Animal Shelter, 4H and the Chattooga County Ag Fair.  Her final move in transitioning to the world of agriculture was to start her career with AgGeorgia.

Ms. Hicks looks forward to using her agriculture knowledge and experience to service the needs of residents of Catoosa, Dade and Walker Counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Miley Myers as Loan Operations Specialist in the Royston Office.  A native of Henry County, Ms. Myers graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Agricultural Science degree with a major in Animal Science.  She is currently working towards a Master of Agribusiness Management degree at Mississippi State University.  Ms. Myers worked as a production planner at Olympic Steel and has worked as a farm hand on several different equine and beef farms.  Miley has also volunteered as a coach for the Oglethorpe County 4-H Horse Judging team and currently has four horses of her own.  She resides in Jackson County and is engaged to Jacob Hogan.

Ms. Myers looks forward to using her agriculture knowledge and experience to service the needs of residents of Banks, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Stephens Counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Justin McCarty as Loan Operations Specialist in the Royston Office.  A native of Walker County, Mr. McCarty graduated from Truett McConnell with a Bachelors degree in Business Management.  He has prior financing experience with a credit union and experience in accounting and tax preparation at Shubert and Company.  Justin currently resides in Jackson County where has been helping his fiancée, Harlee, and her family with their chicken houses, hay and cattle operations.

Mr. McCarty looks forward to using his previous work experience and agriculture knowledge to service the needs of residents of Banks, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Stephens Counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce that grants of $1,500 have each been awarded to the Wiregrass Farmers Market (Tifton), the Market on Madison (Dublin) and Sylvester’s Farmers Market.  The grants are intended to help supplement the markets’ advertising and promotional objectives.  “Our goal for developing this Farmers Market Grant is to help support those markets that support local farmers and the rural economy, while also providing access to fresh and healthy food and preserving our rural lifestyle and farmland,” said AgGeorgia Chief Marketing Officer Corey Cottle.

Randi Hickman, Director of the Wiregrass Farmers Market in Tifton, describes the grant as a tool to help boost engagement with its vendors while also educating the community.  “The Wiregrass Farmers Market is more than just a great place to shop, it’s also a place to learn about food, farming, cooking and traditional skills,” said Hickman.  “The grant funds from AgGeorgia will allow us to promote our Market throughout the county and the neighboring counties through targeted print ads and strategically placed social media outlets.

Jordan Crabb, market manager for the Market on Madison in Dublin, indicated their appreciation for the grant and additional reusable tote bags donated by AgGeorgia for vendor use at the market.  “We are very thankful to be receiving this grant from AgGeorgia. Our farmers and vendors are such diligent workers so this is extremely special to us.  The Market on Madison is a wonderful asset for our community. We see thousands each month traveling from all over the state to enjoy fresh, local products.”

Sylvester’s Farmers Market Director Karen Singletary describes the grant as a tool to advertise for the market and also for the market’s signage.  “The grant funds from AgGeorgia will allow us to promote our Market through other sources, which has primarily been Facebook, in an effort that will allow us to grow our Market,” Singletary said. “I would like to grow our farmers market and offer other options like homemade jellies and other things.”

This is the first year the cooperative has offered a Farmers Market Grant, but additional funds have been set aside to offer this grant again in 2022.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Michelle Avant to Compliance Officer.  Mrs. Avant began her career with AgGeorgia in April of 2008 in the Tifton office and has served AgGeorgia in various appointments and positions.  She has worked as a Loan Assistant, Training Assistant, and most recently as the Compliance Specialist, in addition to serving on the Compliance Committee and FCC/Presidents Council Help Desk.  Michelle has been responsible for a range of compliance successes, from implementing major compliance changes to resolving daily compliance challenges.

She attended Valdosta State University and was an Accounting graduate of Wiregrass Technical College. In 2018, Michelle obtained the ABA Certificate in Lending Compliance from the ABA School of Banking.  Mrs. Avant resides in Berrien County along with her husband Alan and two children, Samantha and Alexis.