Another harvest and fall season has come to an end. As we reflect back on 2012, we have again been blessed by an overall good growing season and the agriculture economy continues to do very well when compared to the overall general economy. As winter begins, we begin to look toward 2013 and make plans to better serve you, our customers, just as you plan for next year in your farming operation.

We have just completed our fall customer appreciation events in all 36 service center offices. Thank you to those who took time to visit with us, pick up your surplus allocated check and enjoy a time of food and fellowship with our local service center employees. These employees do a great job planning these events to be something that you are proud of and enjoy attending each spring and fall. This gives us an opportunity to express to you our appreciation for doing business with Carolina Farm Credit and also allows us to emphasize the financial benefits of doing business with a cooperative.

We have just completed another successful food drive as a part of the NC Cooperative Council’s efforts to recognize co-ops and the positive impact they have on their communities. Cooperatives across the state joined together to collect food for those in need. This year employees and customers in our association collected over 5,000 pounds of food, which has been donated to food banks throughout our territory. Thank you for helping us make this food drive such a success. This allows us to give back to our local communities and ensure their success.

Our recent director election process has been finalized. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Herbert “Hub” Cheeks for his service on our board for the past three years. Mr. Cheeks served Carolina Farm Credit well, and was a very engaged board member during his term. I enjoyed working with Mr. Cheeks and would like to express our appreciation to him for his service to Carolina Farm Credit.

We would like to welcome Kaleb Rathbone as a new member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Rathbone was elected in Region One to serve a five year term. Mr. Rathbone is from Haywood County, and has a beef cattle operation. In addition to his farming operation, he is Superintendent for Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. We appreciate Mr. Rathbone’s willingness to serve on the board and look forward to working with him in the future.

Our new Brown Summit Service Center is in the final stages of construction, and should hopefully be completed by mid-December. We are excited to be upgrading our service center facilities for our Guilford and Rockingham county members and look forward to serving you at this location for many years to come. Thank you for continuing to utilize our products and services. Best wishes as we wrap up 2012 and for a successful 2013.

Labels: December 2012