AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Chance Newton as the Human Resources Office Coordinator. A native of Houston County, Mr. Newton obtained a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University in 2022.  An avid Atlanta Braves fan, Chance also enjoys traveling and exploring new places.

In his role, Mr. Newton will manage the Corporate Office in Perry in addition to coordinating orientations, assisting with recruiting, training materials and new hire onboarding, and organizing employee relation activities and events.  AgGeorgia is pleased to have Chance join the team and looks forward to his contributions to our cooperative.

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.

Emmanuel University was selected as a recipient and its Agriculture Department used the $4,970 grant to provide a raised bed demonstration area and training courses for agriculture students, homeowners, and commercial growers.  “Many thanks to AgGeorgia for supporting agricultural education in all schools,” said Owen Thomason, Agriculture Department Chair at Emmanuel.  “At the college level, many times funds are not available to enhance our teaching and learning experiences. Through the AgGeorgia Community Mission Fund grant program, Emmanuel University has been able to develop a raised bed garden that will be used by our students and the local community.  This demonstration and research area is already in use by our classes and hopefully in the near future as an example for local fruit and vegetable growers."

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 www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

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.

Colquitt Christian Academy was selected as a recipient and was awarded funds to obtain a storage shed and needed supplies for Ag Education classes and hands-on learning labs.  “The Community Mission Fund Grant has made it possible for Colquitt Christian Academy to have a storage shed built to safely store insecticides along with gardening tools, chicken feed, and potting soil,” said Leana Atkinson, CCA Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor.  “These funds also purchased much needed supplies used to enhance our hands-on agricultural learning lab which consists of raised beds and a chicken coop with chickens.  The supplies have helped me teach my students farming principles which in turn have helped my students grow a love for agriculture,” continued Leana. “As an Ag teacher, I am grateful to AgGeorgia Farm Credit for investing in the future of agriculture in our rural community.”

Mrs. Atkinson teaches students in grades 4-9 about the importance of agriculture and maintains that the experience at CCA either enhances what students experience at home with rural living, livestock, and plants, or it exposes them to the idea of where their food and fiber actually comes from.   In addition to creating an educational experience, the vegetables and eggs produced from the hens are donated to the community.  

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 www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

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.

The Westfield School was selected as a recipient and used the grant to cover the cost of garden towers, gardening tools, seeds, and educational resources for their Garden Tower project.  “Our Upper School Green Team is growing herbs and vegetables thanks to a Tower Garden growing system,” says Gigi Placucci, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs for The Westfield School.  The Tower Garden growing system grows plants with water and liquid nutrients instead of dirt, and uses 98 percent less water than traditional methods, helping plants grow faster and maintain more nutrients. “This system was made possible because of AgGeorgia Farm Credit. We look forward to eating these herbs and vegetables in our cafeteria this spring!”

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 aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit has allocated $50,000 to support non-profit organizations in their endeavors and to further the future of agriculture in Georgia. The Community Mission Fund operates on an application-based grant system, with grants of up to $5,000 awarded per organization per year. The fund was created in 2023 and funded 12 organizations last year.

The Fund's mission is to build strong partnerships and alliances, leveraging resources to preserve and promote farmers, families, and our rural communities.  The fund has two main objectives: to invest in the future of agriculture and to enhance and impact the quality of life in rural Georgia.  To be considered for funding, organizations' values and purpose must align with the fund's mission.  As part of the application, organizations are to submit a detailed proposal for a project the grant will fund.

“We are excited about the 2nd year of our Community Mission Fund program,” said Corey Cottle, CMO of AgGeorgia Farm Credit. “The organizations awarded with grants in 2023 have done some amazing things with their funding, and we are eager to see what will be accomplished by the next group of recipients.”

Grant applications will be accepted through June 30, 2024. To qualify for a grant, organizations must be located within the 79 county area where AgGeorgia Farm Credit conducts business. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” – John F. Kennedy

Farmers are CEO’s
Most farmers would never consider themselves CEOs – but that’s exactly what they are. They are the chief decision-makers, overseeing a business. They also wear the hats of mechanic, meteorologist, agronomist, veterinarian, engineer, nutritionist, and more. 
Farming today truly is a business and requires knowledge not just of how to grow crops and raise livestock, but also of how to manage both finances and risk.  With a tight farm economy, understanding how to manage the farm finances and using records to make decisions is more critical than ever. 

At Farm Credit, we want your farming operation to be successful.  Whether you are coming home to the family farm, starting a first-generation business, or if you grow row crops, livestock, or vegetables, we recognize the need for all farmers to know more about business and financial management.

AGAware serves the next generation 
In 2011, the national award-winning AGAware® program was created to help ensure that future farmers will be prepared and strong financially so they may continue doing what it is they love. It’s been Farm Credit’s mission for more than one hundred years to serve farmers and rural America. 

AGAware® consists of both farm finance training workshops for young, beginning, and small farmers as well as community awareness events to help make consumers aware of what farmers actually do to put food on everyone’s table. 
Since the AGAware® program was established in 2011, more than 1000 farmers in Georgia and South Carolina have taken the classes and graduated from the program.

2024 Farm Finance Trainings
The AGAware® Workshops introduce farmers to a variety of financial-related topics critical to running an operation. These topics include Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Family Finance & Family Budgeting, Risk Management, Accrual Income, Applying for Financing, Preparing a Business Plan, Technology & Record Keeping, FSA/SBA, and Other Programs. 

AGAware® is also certified for FSA Direct Borrower Training Credits in GA, NC, and SC.

The training is open to anyone who wishes to develop a better understanding of how to run a successful farming operation, of any type and size.

All classes are held from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and a free lunch will be provided. Workshops will be held at the following Georgia locations:

Tuesday, July 16 ǀ Metter, GA ǀ Georgia Grown Innovation Center | 25 South Terrell St.  
REGISTER: AgSouthFC.com/AGAware

Friday, July 19 ǀ Moultrie, GA ǀ Lily Pond Event Center | 275 Dorminey Rd.  
REGISTER: Aggeorgia.com/agaware

Friday, July 26 | Jefferson, GA | Jackson County Ag Facility | 1869 County Farm Rd
REGISTER: AgGeorgia.com/AGAware  

The 2024 AGAware workshops in Metter and Moultrie, Georgia are presented in partnership with Team Agriculture Georgia and USDA Risk Management Agency. The event is funded in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency under award number RMA23CPT0013410. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

To see other 2024 AGAware workshop opportunities in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and to register, go to AgGeorgia.com and AgSouthFC.com.

For more information about AGAware, contact Heather Brannen at Heather.Brannen@AgSouthFC.com or 912-764-9091. Or Jessica Bassett at JBassett@AgGeorgia.com 

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Jackson Wadsworth as Credit Analyst for Capital Markets.  A native of Monroe, Mr. Wadsworth attended the University of Georgia where he received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Agribusiness.  He was an ambassador for the College of Agriculture and served as President of AGR (agriculturally based fraternity).

Jackson spent the summer of 2021 as a Financial Analyst Intern with Rabo AgriFinance before moving to Denver to join the Farm Credit System with CoBank as a Senior Credit Development Associate. During this time, he completed credit rotations with the Regional Agribusiness, Corporate Agribusiness, and Power, Energy and Utilities banking groups. In 2023, Jackson became a Senior Credit Analyst for CoBank’s Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group where he helped manage a $2 billion portfolio of over twenty large and publicly traded agribusiness companies, as well as collaborated with the Capital Markets team on syndicated and participated transactions.

Mr. Wadsworth looks forward to applying his agricultural and financial experience to serve the agribusiness sector in AgGeorgia’s 79 county territory.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Bryce Murkerson in the position of Appraiser.  A native of Pulaski County, Bryce graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in economics.  He interned in the summer of 2022 within the Farm Credit System.

Mr. Murkerson resides in Hawkinsville with his parents, Jay and Lesley, and two sisters, Jenni and Ansley.   Bryce enjoys sports, especially the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs, along with golf.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Rachael Crowell to Employee Experience Manager. In this role, Rachael will work with the Human Resources team on employee engagement, event planning, onboarding, and promoting a positive work environment for staff.  

Mrs. Crowell began her career with AgGeorgia in June of 2021 as Corporate Secretary. She was previously employed with the City of Warner Robins for over a decade and has over ten years of experience in Human Resources which includes employee onboarding, payroll and record keeping, event management, and coordinating training.

Rachael lives in Warner Robins with her husband Alan and their children Cameron and Dylan (and five dogs).  AgGeorgia looks forward to the contributions Rachael will make to the Human Resources team in her new role.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Stephanie Jackson as Regional Lending Manager. In this role, Stephanie will supervise, train and support Loan Officers in AgGeorgia’s Dublin, Perry, Sandersville, and Waynesboro Branches, which collectively serve 25 counties.

Mrs. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing and is no stranger to the farm or agricultural lending. “As a farmer’s daughter, agriculture is very important to me,” said Stephanie. “I grew up on a cattle and row crop farm in Telfair County and learned the value of hard work and an appreciation for agriculture.” Mrs. Jackson also worked for USDA Farm Service Agency for over 15 years and held multiple positions over her tenure, serving the longest in the position of Farm Loan Manager for 25 counties.

Mrs. Jackson fills the position formerly held by Melissa Redd, who was recently promoted to Director of Loan Operations. “I'm excited about adding Stephanie to our Regional Lending Manager team,” said Nick Hartley, Chief Lending Officer for AgGeorgia. “I've known Stephanie for over 10 years and I’ve seen her develop as a leader in agricultural finance. Her leadership will provide continuity of the excellent service members have come to expect under Melissa Redd and will allow Ms. Redd the capacity to focus on her new leadership role.”  

Mrs. Jackson resides in Perry with her husband, Ron, and daughter Presley. Stephanie looks forward to utilizing her agricultural background, networks, and finance experience to meet the borrowing needs of the farmers and rural land owners in her region.