Farm Credit Mid-America, a Louisville-based lender serving agriculture and rural communities in four states, has been named winner of the 2013 Agribusiness of the Year award.
The award, sponsored by the Agribusiness Industry Network, was presented today to Farm Credit’s president and CEO Bill Johnson during the annual Farm-City Luncheon at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Now in its 21st year, the Agribusiness of the Year honors a Louisville-area agribusiness which excels in financial growth and stability, employee relations and contributions to the overall agricultural economy.
Farm Credit Mid-America operates in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee, serving more than 97,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The association, with $19 billion in assets, provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes, including real estate, operation, equipment and housing.
They also offer related services such as vehicle, equipment and building leases, and help customers manage risk with crop insurance and fixed rate financing for farm real estate.
The regional co-op is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, established in 1916 by Congress. The network was created to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers and ranchers.
Farm Credit Mid-America has gotten high marks as an employer. This year they were recognized as one of the state’s top 10 best places to work in the large company category by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Employees are offered numerous training and self-improvement programs to upgrade
efficiency, enhance customer service and prepare for advancement in the
organization.
This year, the association will contribute more than $2 million in sponsorships to youth organizations, young farmer alliances and agricultural groups. They have also supported urban farm-to-table food programs, Habitat for Humanity building projects and mobile science centers staffed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
FFA and 4-H have also benefited from Farm Credit’s support of such activities as championship livestock auctions at the Kentucky State Fair and market shows and related exhibits at the National Farm Machinery Show and the North American International Livestock Expo.
Farm Credit Mid-America has exhibited substantial growth in recent years, even as other sectors of the economy have struggled. The co-op has a business presence in all counties in its four-state territory, and this year has opened four new offices and boosted hiring to accommodate its expanding customer base.
Gary Huddleston | AIN Chairman