CAES Newswire: AgGeorgia Farm Credit Makes Six-Figure Gift to Support New CAES Poultry Science Building
With a $100,000 pledge to the new Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), AgGeorgia Farm Credit is the first six-figure donor to a campaign that will accelerate research, scholarship and applied solutions for the largest sector of Georgia’s No. 1 industry.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by nearly 5,000 member-borrowers, with a mission to improve the lives of Georgia’s farmers, families and rural communities.
“AgGeorgia Farm Credit is dedicated to advancing the whole of Georgia agriculture, and a huge part of that agricultural pie is poultry,” said Dave Neff, AgGeorgia’s board chairman. “When we saw plans for the new Poultry Science Building, we immediately knew this was a great fit and opportunity for AgGeorgia to give back. There are so many that stand to benefit from the work that will be done in this cutting-edge facility, including many of the members of our cooperative.”
AgGeorgia specializes in ag lending with loan and lease products for farmers and agribusinesses, as well as long-term fixed rate options for land buyers. Approximately a third of AgGeorgia’s $1.1 billion lending portfolio consists of loans to the poultry industry, said Corey W. Cottle, chief marketing officer for AgGeorgia Farm Credit.
“We are truly grateful for the support of AgGeorgia, not only for their history of fostering growth in Georgia’s agricultural community, but also for ensuring the next generation of poultry scientists, leaders, and innovators. We’re proud to partner with them to collectively make Georgia the epicenter of poultry science,” said Todd Applegate, head of the Department of Poultry Science.
The estimated $54.1 million project will increase the size of the Department of Poultry Science’s existing facilities in CAES to more than 70,000 square feet, modernizing instructional and lab space; providing centralized, student-focused facilities; and helping to attract and retain world-class researchers. State-of-the-art learning labs will bolster the traditional classroom experience with production courses, demonstrations and relevant field-learning exercises and contribute to the department’s expanding FFA, 4-H and other youth programs, as well as assist with student recruitment efforts. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2022 with completion in fall 2023.
AgGeorgia is a member of the nationwide Farm Credit System, established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. AgGeorgia serves 79 counties in Georgia with 19 office locations.
To make a gift to the Poultry Science Building Fund, contact Mary Ann Parsons, senior director of development for CAES, at (706) 542-3390 or visit the CAES giving page.
- Published by Maria M. Lameiras for CAES News
Pictured: From left, AgGeorgia chief marketing officer Corey Cottle, poultry science department head Todd Applegate, CAES Dean Nick Place, AgGeorgia board member Bobby Miller, AgGeorgia board Chairman Dave Neff, AgGeorgia board Vice-chairman Jack Bentley and AgGeorgia CEO Rob Crain celebrate the lender's six-figure gift to the UGA Poultry Science Building Campaign.
Hart County’s Patti York Named to AgGeorgia Farm Credit Board of Directors
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Hart County’s Patti York to its Board of Directors. The board conducted a thorough search to fill the vacancy created by the recent retirement of long-time director Anne Smith of Madison County. Mrs. York’s appointment to the position is effective for the remainder of the term, which expires 12/31/2021. Mrs. York will be eligible to be elected by AgGeorgia’s member-stockholders later this year for another 4-year term.
“Anne Smith left a tremendous legacy at AgGeorgia, thus there were big shoes to fill for this position,” said AgGeorgia Board Chairman Dave Neff. “The Board wanted to be sure to appoint a replacement that was respected in their community, understood the challenges faced by full-time farmers, and maintained appropriate geographic representation from across our service area. Mrs. York checked all of those boxes and more, and will add great value to our board.”
Mrs. York is a long-time broiler grower for Fieldale Farms and is also owner of JSK Farms, a cattle and sheep operation she operates along with her son and son-in-law. She has been a poultry grower for nearly 26 years. Patti is also the Women’s Chair for the Hart County Farm Bureau, board member of the Hart County Water & Sewer Authority, and a member of Bethany Baptist Church.
Mrs. York resides in Hartwell along with her husband, Kenny. She has two stepsons, Zach York (Katie) and Eli York (Madison Johnson), son Jeff Brown (Cassie), two daughters, Savanna Baker (Daniel) and Karli Brown, and three grandchildren, Jud Brown, Camillia Brown, and Lincoln York.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit Announces Hire of Corporate Secretary
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Rachael Crowell as Corporate Secretary in the Perry Office. Mrs. Crowell is a native of Bibb County. She obtained an associate’s degree from Columbia Southern University and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Project Management. Rachael has several years’ administration and business experience and enjoys baking and traveling in her spare time. Mrs. Crowell resides in Houston County with her husband Alan and children Cameron and Dylan.
AgGeorgia welcomes Rachael to our Association and looks forward to the contributions she will make in serving the members of the cooperative through her experience and educational background.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit Announces Hire of Nate Tran in Perry
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Nathaniel (Nate) Tran as a Business Service Specialist in the Perry Office. Mr. Tran is a native of Portland, Oregon and is a recent graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Economics and Minors in Statistics and Marketing. He is co-owner of Blue Pines Farm, a six house poultry farm in Dooly County, Georgia. Nate is a resident of Houston County and he enjoys basketball, football, card collecting, fishing, cooking and gaming.
AgGeorgia welcomes Nate to our Association and looks forward to the contributions he will make in serving the members of the cooperative through his educational and agricultural background and experience.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit Announces Important Change to Refund Program; $6.2 Million in Payments to Borrowers
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is excited to announce to borrowers a significant change to its Patronage Refund Program. Beginning with the 2021 Patronage Refund (to be issued spring 2022), distributions will be made entirely in cash. Previously, dividends declared by AgGeorgia’s board were split between cash (received up front) and surplus (received in 7-10 years). This change means that rather than waiting multiple years to receive their entire distribution, borrowers will now receive all refunds in cash the year after interest is accrued.
“We know that farming is expensive and our member-borrowers need their money now, not 7 years from now,” said Dave Neff, Chairman of AgGeorgia’s Board of Directors. “That’s why our board has made the decision to issue all future patronage refunds in cash, allowing member-borrowers to re-invest in their operation or pay off debt faster.”
Related to the outstanding surplus held by members, AgGeorgia is also pleased to announce that over $6.2 million is being paid to borrowers of the cooperative, with checks expected to be delivered by the last week of June. The payout consists of surplus revolvement from AgGeorgia’s 2013 Patronage Refunds. Surplus portions were taxable when declared at that time, so no additional income taxes are due on the disbursement. Members with outstanding surplus earned from 2014-2020 will continue to receive surplus checks over the next several years, subject to annual board approval, while AgGeorgia completes its transition to the all-cash patronage plan.
2021 marks the 33rd consecutive year the cooperative has returned profits to its borrowers, with over $404 million in cash being paid out since 1988. This distribution comes after AgGeorgia’s Board of Directors already declared dividends of over $15.6 million in April, with over $4.9 million of that paid in cash. With this upcoming cash return, AgGeorgia will have distributed over $11 million in cash to the borrowers of the cooperative in 2021.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit Announces New Hire in Washington
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Allison Johnson as Loan Operations Specialist in the Washington Office. A native of Wilkes County, Allison was a proud FFA member in high school and is looking forward to again being connected to agriculture and serving farmers. Mrs. Johnson also has banking/finance experience, working as Head Teller at a bank for four years. She resides in Tignall, Georgia with her husband, Rhodes.
Mrs. Johnson looks forward to using her knowledge and experience to service the needs of residents of Lincoln, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro and Wilkes Counties.
Efrain Jaimes Joins AgGeorgia as a Loan Operations Specialist
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Efrain (Efra) Jaimes as Loan Operations Specialist in the Perry Corporate Office. Efra is a native of Venezuela and earned a degree in Business Management from Middle Georgia State University. He and his wife, Debbie, and children Xander and Mia live in Houston County. Efra and Debbie enjoy tending their Latin American Aju Dulce peppers in their family garden.
AgGeorgia welcomes Efra to our Association and looks forward to the contributions he will make in serving the members of the cooperative.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Katelyn Stoddard as an Account Specialist in our Royston office. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Stoddard graduated from The University of Georgia where she received a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree in Agribusiness. In high school, she was a member of Jefferson High School FFA and exhibited cattle. Katelyn previously worked at Jackson County Farm Bureau as a secretary and office manager. She currently resides in Madison County with her husband, Michael, and their two dogs, Lily and Daisy.
Mrs. Stoddard looks forward to using her agricultural and business background 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 Lily Mize as Loan Assistant in the Royston Office. A native of Hart County, Mrs. Mize worked as a Teller and Personal Banker and worked as the Attendance Clerk and did front office work for Franklin County Middle School. She is a hobby chicken farmer and lives on her family’s SimAngus farm. Lily resides in Franklin County with her husband, Jesse, and their two daughters, Claire and Charlotte.
Mrs. Mize looks forward to using her previous experience and agriculture knowledge to service the needs of residents of Banks, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Stephens Counties.
