AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 AgGeorgia Farmers Market grant program. Grants in the amount of $2,000 each were distributed to five local markets throughout the cooperative’s territory for use in advertising and promotional objectives. This is the fourth year of the program, with the cooperative so far awarding $34,500 to help support rural Georgia markets and their vendors.

“The importance of supporting American farmers can’t be overstated,” said Corey Cottle, AgGeorgia’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Particularly when it comes to young, beginning, small, and veteran farmers, their first outlet for selling their crops is often the local Farmers Market. Markets offer an excellent way to keep dollars local and assure quality that imported crops often cannot match, and we’re proud to help these markets effectively spread that message.”

The 2024 AgGeorgia Farmers Market Grant recipients are: 
•    Comer Community Market
•    Dallas Farmers Market
•    LaFayette Farmers Market
•    Amicalola Regional Farmers Market
•    Nashville Farmers Market

The Nashville Farmers Market is over 6000 square feet, hosting over 50 local farmers and vendors.  The Market is also a hub of the Azalea Sprinter Tourist Train, bringing in new visitors each week.  "The City of Nashville is thrilled to be chosen as a recipient of the AgGeorgia Farmers Market Grant.  The Nashville Farmers Market underwent a complete remodel and expansion in 2023.  This grant helped the market provide new signage and complete renovations.  We cannot thank AgGeorgia enough for choosing our market as a recipient," says Dawn Morrison, Economic Development Director for the City of Nashville.

AgGeorgia plans to continue the program in 2025 and encourages interested markets in the association’s seventy-nine county service area, particularly those who have applied and have not yet been selected, to apply next year.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Zach Hopper as a Commercial Loan Officer in the LaFayette branch.  A native of Gilmer County, Mr. Hopper is a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.  Zach worked at Tyson Foods for seven years as a broiler and breeder technician and a hatchery manager before joining the team at AgGeorgia.  He lives in Elijay with his wife, Jessie, and daughter, Riley.

Mr. Hopper looks forward to using his agricultural 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 Danielle Houston and Danielle Crocker as Member Service Representatives in the Chatsworth and Rome Offices, respectively.

A native of Colorado Springs, Mrs. Houston has over ten years of experience in banking, working directly with branches and behind the scenes.  She lives in Sugar Valley with her husband, Colton, and their dog.  In her free time, Danielle enjoys cross-stitching and embroidering, reading, baking, and going to concerts.  

Danielle Crocker, from Rome, Georgia, has over ten years of customer service and office management experience.  She lives in Calhoun with her husband Jared and two sons, Jeffrey and Austin, and daughter, Sammie.  Mrs. Crocker likes crafting and decorating and watching Georgia Bulldogs and Braves games.

Mrs. Houston and Mrs. Crocker look forward to applying their knowledge and experience in serving the agricultural needs of producers and rural residents of North Georgia.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Cheek to Credit Administrator.  Mr. Cheek started his career with AgGeorgia in 2010 as a Loan Officer Trainee in the Royston Branch and was promoted to Loan Officer six months later.  In 2016, he moved to the Credit Department as a Credit Analyst and was promoted to Senior Credit Analyst in 2020.  

Jason grew up in Canon and is in the process of moving back there with his wife Kenzie and daughter Lanie. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending UGA football games, and going out on Lake Hartwell.

In his new role, Mr. Cheek is leading a team of credit analysts, monitoring risk assessment, and working to ensure sound lending decisions are made effectively and efficiently.  Jason has a wealth of ag knowledge rooted in his fourteen years of lending and credit experience with AgGeorgia, and he looks forward to utilizing his experience and talented team to continue serving AgGeorgia members.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is disbursing $7,828,920 to current and former borrowers of the cooperative. Members who held loans with AgGeorgia in 2016 will receive a portion of this payout, with checks expected to be mailed the first week of July. AgGeorgia’s board already declared a cash dividend of over $14 million in April to members who had loans in 2023. The upcoming distribution brings the total paid to borrowers in 2024 to $22,310,920.

Glee Smith, Chair of AgGeorgia’s Board of Directors, said the distribution underscores the value of the cooperative model. “AgGeorgia was established for the benefit of our members, and as with any cooperative, our objective is to maximize value for them,” said Ms. Smith. “The funds to be distributed are no longer needed to capitalize the Association, so we are happily putting those dollars back into our borrowers’ pockets.”

The payout consists of surplus revolvement from AgGeorgia’s 2016 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 2017-2020 will continue to receive surplus checks over the next few years, subject to annual board approval, while AgGeorgia completes its transition to the all-cash patronage plan. Starting with the 2021 refund, annual patronage refunds are now paid in all-cash rather than a cash/retained surplus split.

2024 marks the 36th consecutive year the cooperative has returned profits to its borrowers, with over $472 million in cash being paid out since 1988.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  

Studio Farmer, Inc was selected as a recipient and used the funds to initiate a community garden and to participate with Dr. Bevel in development of a hydroponic garden at the cancer research center on the campus of Augusta University.  The research facility will use the herbs to conduct studies on the nutritional aspects of the fight against cancer.  The organization also plants gardens in neighborhoods for easy access to fresh vegetables while restoring dilapidated structures in the area.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page, here.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  

Southeast FFA Chapter was selected as a recipient and used the funds to purchase new livestock pens to facilitate a smooth transition while the Chapter’s barn is rebuilt.  In February, Southeast FFA faced a tragic fire incident resulting in the complete loss of its barn facility and the unfortunate loss of all goats and pigs housed within. Despite this devastating event, no students or staff members were reported injured.

The barn, a cornerstone of the Chapter’s agricultural education program, was central to providing hands-on learning experiences for students. In the wake of this loss, they are steadfast in their commitment to rebuild and restore these vital educational opportunities.  

“This generous donation ensures that our students will continue to benefit from practical, experiential learning in agriculture and animal husbandry.  We extend our sincere gratitude to AgGeorgia Farm Credit for their invaluable support during this challenging time.  Their contribution accelerates our recovery efforts and reaffirms Farm Credit’s commitment to fostering educational excellence in our community,” states Zack Lumpkin, Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor at Southeast Whitfield High School.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page, here. 

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotions of Matthew Hart and Ryan Whitfield to Commercial Loan Officers.

Mr. Hart joined the AgGeorgia team in June of 2023 as a Consumer Loan Officer in the Washington Office, where he worked to serve an existing portfolio.  In late July of 2023, he moved to the Royston Office in the same position, but with a new emphasis on member visits, community events, and outreach activities.  Matthew will handle forestry, logging, vegetables and fruit crops, and recreational/hunting portfolios in his new role.

A native of Jackson County, Mr. Hart graduated from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with a degree in Agriscience and Environmental Systems and a minor in Turfgrass Management.  Before joining AgGeorgia, he worked at John Deere as a branch manager, at USDA NRCS as a soil conservationist, and as a territory sales representative. An avid outdoorsman, Matthew enjoys hunting, hiking, and gardening, and added that he “loves to support Georgia agriculture wherever and however he can.” Mr. Hart lives with his wife (and their chickens) in Jackson County.

Mr. Whitfield began his career with AgGeorgia in 2019 as a Credit Officer, serving multiple branches across AgGeorgia’s North Georgia territory.  Ryan analyzed nearly $200 million in loan actions over that span in addition to playing a key role in multiple special projects. He is a cornerstone in the credit department, with a track record of providing insightful data to help make critical business decisions.

Ryan grew up in Elbert County and received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Agribusiness from the University of Georgia.  He comes from a multi-generational farm family and grew up spending time on his grandparents’ farms raising cattle and goats.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

Adairsville High School FFA was selected as a recipient and used the funds to purchase equipment, including a livestock trailer, to allow students to raise and show livestock.  Adam Joslin has been the FFA Advisor at Adairsville High School for six years; during that time, students had to provide the equipment necessary to show, or borrow equipment from the community.  While using borrowed equipment is not ideal, it has created learning opportunities for students.  When a borrowed trailer was severely damaged, Mr. Joslin partnered with a local welding shop to teach the Ag Mechanics class real-life welding skills and fixed the trailer together.  

“This grant will provide funds to make it more feasible for students to raise livestock and expose all our students to more animals.  Livestock is the 3rd largest Ag commodity in Bartow County, and we want to
grow the industry,” states Mr. Joslin.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at https://www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Kolby Lewis as a Mortgage Loan Originator.  Mr. Lewis is a native of Colquitt County and graduated from Valdosta State University where he earned a bachelor's degree. He has previous lending/financial experience with a bank in Tifton and has obtained extensive real estate knowledge through several completed courses. Kolby resides in Tift County with his wife, Miranda, and baby daughter, Kendall. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and golfing in his spare time.

Mr. Lewis looks forward to applying his experience to service the mortgage needs of AgGeorgia’s 79-county coverage area and can be reached at 229.239.9883 or klewis@aggeorgia.com.