In This Issue - Oklahoma AG Credit

WINTER 2015
OKLAHOMA AGCREDIT
In This Issue
2............................. Farm Credit 100
4...............................Jamison Ranch
8.......................Schenk Family Farm
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
OKL A HOM A
®
AgCredit
Fresh Perspectives
By Butch McComas
CEO of Oklahoma AgCredit
T
he votes are in and the merger has
passed. Not only passed but passed by
a landslide with 95% yes votes from both
association’s stockholders!
Year of Celebration
With the New Year, there is much to
celebrate. Along with the fresh start of
Oklahoma AgCredit are the centennial of the
Farm Credit System and the renovation of
the magazine/newsletter to customers.
This is an exciting time as we transition
from Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma
(ECOK) and from Chisholm Trail Farm Credit
(CTFC) to Oklahoma AgCredit. In short,
Oklahoma AgCredit is the largest and
strongest Farm Credit association in
Oklahoma:
• More than $1 billion in assets
• Capital position of more than $200 million
• Territory covering 60 of Oklahoma’s 77
counties
• Still a member of the nearly 100-year-old
Farm Credit System
The goal of this merger is to accent the
strong points from both organizations.
Oklahoma AgCredit has the financial
strength to offer a great patronage program
to its members. It has the capital position
to be a stable lender to Oklahoma’s farmers
and ranchers through good times and bad,
from small part-time operations to large
full-time operations. Oklahoma AgCredit
employees are some of the most qualified and
dedicated
agricultural
lending
professionals in the state. They are
committed to make our asociation the
lender of choice for Oklahomans.
Deep Roots
Launching Oklahoma AgCredit is
exhilarating, yet saying goodbye to its
predecessors is a bit sad. Both ECOK and
CTFC were strong organizations with very
proud histories. ECOK served the eastern
half of Oklahoma for more than 25 years,
serving as a strong, reliable financial partner
IFC OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
for farmers and ranchers in that region. CTFC
has done the same in central Oklahoma.
A proud member of the Farm Credit
System, Oklahoma AgCredit is backed by
a 100 year foundation. With that much
history, Farm Credit has a rich story to tell.
Learn more at FarmCredit100.com.
Fresh Perspectives
Respect for members who helped make
ECOK and CTFC lasting organizations,
inspired
the
re-naming
of
this
magazine. Oklahoma Rural Roots will mail to
customers, prospects, rural realtors, FFA
chapters and others in January and June
with Winter and Summer issues.
Oklahoma Rural Roots will highlight
members from across the territory, like
longtime customers at the Jamison
Ranch, page 4 and the Schenk’s on page 8.
Oklahoma Rural Roots will make the
connection between Oklahoma AgCredit
and the national Farm Credit System. See
pages 2-3 for a timeline that illustrates the
formation and progression of the System.
The section labeled Roots will keep you
informed about association staff and
member-owner benefits and programs.
Oklahoma AgCredit has a fresh online
presence as well. Go to OkAgCredit.com to
login to online banking, securely send files
to your loan officer or to read how your
association is supporting rural Oklahoma
communities. If you haven’t already, find
us on Facebook and Twitter. We share
pictures and information about association
sponsorships, scholarships, events and more
through our social media.
I am very proud to be the CEO of this great
organization. I am proud to introduce you to
the very first of many magazines of the new
OKLAHOMA AGCREDIT.
HEADQUARTER OFFICE
601 E Kenosha ...Broken Arrow OK 74012
918-251-8596 ........ 866-245-3633 toll free
CONTACT POINTS PER BRANCH
Full details at OkAgCredit.com
ARDMORE .................2507 N Rockford Rd
580-226-8859
BROKEN ARROW ......... 601 E Kenosha St
918-251-8596
OKEMAH, OKMULGEE, SKIATOOK
CHICKASHA ........... 1027 W Choctaw Ave
405-224-6214
DUNCAN............................... 1902 S Hwy 81
580-255-0370
DURANT ...................................2303 W Main
580-924-8008
ATOKA, TISHOMINGO
ENID.................................805 Chisholm Trail
580-237-2535
IDABEL ......2100 SE Washington St, Ste B
580-286-2121
KINGFISHER ................. 17765 US Hwy 81
405-375-5087
EL RENO
MCALESTER ...1104 S George Nigh Expy
918-423-0207
HOLDENVILLE, STIGLER, TALIHINA
MUSKOGEE ..... 2810 W Shawnee Bypass
918-682-7826
STILWELL
PAULS VALLEY ..........................509 W Paul
405-238-5573
PAWHUSKA ..............127 W Main St, Ste A
918-978-6658
POTEAU ................... 28824 State Hwy 112
918-649-3704
SHAWNEE ............2801 N Kickapoo, Ste B
405-481-5454
STILLWATER ........................ 623 S Western
405-372-1841
BLACKWELL, CHANDLER, DRUMRIGHT,
TONKAWA
VINITA .................. 265 W Dwain Willis Ave
918-256-7588
BARTLESVILLE, JAY, MIAMI, PRYOR
WATONGA ...1420 N Clarence Nash Blvd
580-623-4959
AgDirect...................................agdirect.com
866-507-6555
ROOTS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary Bledsoe .......................................Lincoln County
Dan Childs ........................................Johnston County
Larry Cochran........................................Alfalfa County
Verl Daugherty .................................... Caddo County
Bob Eubanks............................................Craig County
Jim Freeny ..................................... McCurtain County
Jay Grace........................................... Jefferson County
Paul Heath .............................................. Blaine County
Jimmie Jarrell ....................................... Garvin County
Wayne Johnson ..................................Ottawa County
Brian Knowles ..................................... Haskell County
Bob Loudermilk............................Muskogee County
Kenneth Markes ............................... Garfield County
Roger Moore .........................................Mayes County
Brad Scott ......................................... Jefferson County
Kevin Smith.............................................Major County
Appointed Directors
Ross Love
R. Dale McDaniel
Dick Smart
Volume 1, Issue 1
About Butch
McComas
• Butch has more than 28 years of
experience with Farm Credit.
• Grew up working on his family’s farm in
Caddo County.
• Graduated from Oklahoma State
University in December 1980.
• Began his Farm Credit career in January
1981. Has held many positions within the
Farm Credit System, including working
for FLBA of Pueblo, Colo.; Chickasha PCA,
Okla.; Farm Credit Bank of Wichita, Kan.;
and Clinton PCA, Okla.
• Butch spent some time working as a
consultant and commodity broker for a
private business before returning to Farm
Credit in 1992. He was named CEO of the
Enid PCA in 1993.
• The Enid PCA and South Central
Oklahoma PCA merger in 2002 resulted
in Chisholm Trail Farm Credit, with Butch
as CEO.
• Following the joint management
agreement in January 2015, he
became CEO of Farm Credit of East Central
Oklahoma and Chisholm Trail Farm
Credit.
Farm Credit 100: Farm Credit
Logos Through the Years
F
arm Credit’s centennial logo gives
visual representation to the System’s
nearly 100 years of history. It’s also part
of a long tradition of using logos to
represent Farm Credit’s brand – creating a
visual, emblematic representation of the
System.
The
Farm
Credit
brand
representation
has
evolved
immensely
throughout
the
organization’s
history.
The
first
Farm
Credit
marketing
materials were text heavy with few
graphics. The Federal Farm Loan Board,
the System’s governing agency, was part
of the Department of the Treasury, so the
organization used the department’s
official seal as its emblem.
With the establishment of the Farm
Credit Administration in 1933, however,
Farm Credit’s visual branding began in
earnest.
National Farm Loan Associations and
Production Credit Associations soon
had their own logos to differentiate
the regional organizations. Farm Credit
pamphlets and brochures instructed
customers to look for “The Sign of
Dependable Credit”– represented quite
literally by a sign above an Association
door.
As the System and its marketing
efforts grew, Farm Credit added to its
collection of graphic illustrations.
Farmers reviewing their dividends at the
mailbox became a common graphic, as
did a smiling cartoon dollar sign, sideby-side with a farmer or actually
doing farm work. By 1955, the Farm Credit
Administration’s
Stock
Illustrations
circular had grown to more than 50
pages.
Many
corporations
developed
more streamlined, purposeful logos
in the 1960s, and Farm Credit was no
exception. The organization made big
changes in 1963, replacing its many
graphics with circular emblems of
different colors, including:
• An overall service logo
• “Land Bank blue” logos for the
Federal Land Banks and Federal Land Bank
Associations
• A red logo for the Production Credit
Associations
• A gold logo for the Bank for
Cooperatives
As one Farm Credit article put it,
“Farmers, seeing one emblem … clear
across the United States, will come to
realize that this is indeed a strong,
nationwide organization.”
By the mid-1980s, Farm Credit leaders
began to believe that the System needed
to create an even stronger, coordinated
identity. They hired a corporate design
firm, and in the spring of 1985, released
the BioStar – the logo that identifies the
national System today.
“We feel the BioStar will give Farm
Credit’s corporate identity a breath
of fresh air,” said one Farm Credit
official at the time. “It will represent the
System as a strong, unified, national credit
organization ready to meet the
challenges of a changing and
competitive financial industry.”
R
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 1
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
A 100 Year Foundation to Support Our
Customers and Communities into the Future
With 100 years of history, Farm
Credit has a rich story to tell. Learn more
through our interactive timeline that
encapsulates our century of service,
Farm Credit First Person videos that share
personal stories, and the History Archive
which includes more than 100 artifacts by
going to FarmCredit100.com. These are
some highlights you will find:
Interactive Timeline
Started in 1916 with 12 Federal Land
Banks, today Farm Credit provides
comprehensive services to farmers and
ranchers in every US county and Puerto
Rico. Check out key milestones of Farm
Credit’s 100-year journey of serving the
changing needs of agriculture.
Farm Credit First Person
Farm Credit has been proudly
supporting rural communities and
agriculture providers for 100 years. The
stories of our borrower-owners, directors
2 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
and employees are the Farm Credit story.
Farm Credit First Person videos feature
borrower-owners, directors, employees,
their families and others sharing their
personal experiences about Farm Credit,
its role and their broader perspectives on
agriculture.
History Archive
It has been Farm Credit’s privilege to
contribute to the strength of rural
America. Documenting that history of
helping the nation grow has revealed a
variety of archived materials that capture
our journey alongside rural communities.
The History Archive brings a selection of
these together to provide perspective
on eight distinctive eras of Farm Credit
history.
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 3
JAMISON RANCH
By Michelle Clogston
As Oklahoma AgCredit celebrates 100
years of serving agriculture, it is fitting
to celebrate members and employees
who share in that legacy.
B
ecause many people who work at
Farm Credit have an understanding
of and often personal involvement with
agriculture, a highlight of Farm Credit
history are the relationships formed
between
association
staff
and
members. A great example is that of John
Sutterfield, Broken Arrow admin
office, and the Jamison family from Beggs,
Okla.
John’s career with Farm Credit has
spanned more than 37 years. The Jamison
family has been customers for nearly 30
years, starting when Jack Jamison opened
an operating loan out of what was then
the Muskogee field office. At that time,
John was headquartered in Broken
Arrow and worked in the Muskogee office a
couple days a week. He became the
Jamisons’ loan officer in 1988.
4 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
Field report turned into
tradition
Conducting
the
Jamisons’
inspection turned into a tradition for
John and the Jamisons. It’s clear that
decades of working together has lead
to solid, sometimes candid, business
relationships with each member of the
Jamison family. Rusty enjoys showing
off the fruits of his Hereford and black
baldie breeding programs. Mary Lou likes
to visit about John’s family and hobbies.
Rusty’s wife Carolyn, has a quiet greeting
for John. She recently retired from OSU
Institute of Technology and now has more
time to help with ranch records.
An inspection at the Jamisons’ has gone
much the same for years. At 7:30 am, John
arrives for breakfast at the ranch before
visiting pastures to count cattle. As Rusty
and
John
drive
to
pastures,
conversation inevitably turns into
good-natured banter about John being
unwilling to open gates and being a poor
judge of calf weights – even though John
did guess weights of five different sets
within five pounds of their actual weight.
John’s denial and justification of his
evaluations come next, followed by
stories of more instances of John’s poor
knowledge of cattle, some of those
stories having took place decades ago
when Mary Lou’s husband, Jack, was still
alive.
Lengthy ranch history
Mary Lou is the keeper of family
history. She says the Thompsons and
Jamison’s have been ranching in Creek and
Okmulgee counties for nearly 120 years. W.M. Rusty
Thompson, Mary Lou’s grandfather established the
ranch after he moved from Missouri to start a ranch
in Oklahoma. He passed the ranch to Mary Lou’s
father Slue Thompson. Since the 1920s, the ranch
has grown in acres and number of cattle, but the
vision of the ranch has remained the same.
“Our ranch goal is and has always been to
produce and offer the best Hereford and beef
cattle genetics that are well-suited for
registered and commercial cattlemen alike. We
strongly believe in the Line One Hereford
genetics and their place in a crossbreeding
commercial program,” Rusty explained in
the 2015 Jamison fall bull and female sale
catalog.
Marketing Herefords
The Jamisons’ held annual production
sales at the ranch for a few years until
hitting a roadblock at the time of their
2001 sale. Uncertainty caused by the
attacks on the U.S. during 9-11 resulted in a
significant drop in attendance to their sale
compared to previous years. Until 2013,
they marketed cattle mostly private treaty.
Then they started hosting fall production
sales on the ranch again with Jamison
Herefords from Quinter, Kan., who
ironically are not relatives.
Since 2013, the fall production sale has continued to build
successfully, leading the Jamisons’ to plan a bull sale at the ranch
in the spring of 2016, which they anticipate turning into an
annual event. For more information on the Jamison Ranch, call
Rusty at 918-230-7707.
Read more about John Sutterfield on page 10.
Mary Lou Jamison &
John Sutterfield
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 5
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2015 Scholarship Recipients
The Association is pleased to provide
financial encouragement to these
students
through
a
scholarship.
Recipients are members’ children who
graduated in May 2015 and pursued
higher education in fall 2015. They are
enrolled in a variety of educational
institutions and degree programs.
Chisholm
Trail
Farm
Credit
scholarship recipients were recognized in
the association’s spring 2015 newsletter.
The
2016
Oklahoma
AgCredit
scholarship
application
will
be
available
on
OkAgCredit.com
in
February 2016 for members’ children who
will graduate high school in May 2016.
Applications are also available at each
branch office or by emailing a request to
[email protected].
Farm
Credit
Associations
of
Oklahoma offer five $1,000 scholarships
to OSU sophomores and older who are
enrolled in any major within the College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural
Resources.
Applications
will
be
available in February 2016 at the
Student Success Center in Ag Hall and on
OkFarmCredit.com.
Lauren Hoelscher, Bartlesville
Oklahoma State University
6 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
Annae Imhoff, Stroud
Oklahoma State University
Zane Blubaugh, Ponca City
Conners State College
Cheyanne White, Idabel
Oklahoma State University
Daisy Borders, Sulphur
Davidson College
Cooper Wood, Antlers
Murray State College
Nathan Meek, Ardmore
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Kaylie Mae Upton, Pauls Valley
Northern Oklahoma College
Amanda Upton, Pauls Valley
Oklahoma State University
Brooke Boeckman, Kingfisher
Oklahoma State University
Cody Steele, Ardmore
Oklahoma State University
Jessica Ridenour, Natural Dam, Ark.
University of Fort Smith
Leexeng Vang, Sallisaw
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Kyle Lane, Marland
Northern Oklahoma College
Morgan Tran, Delaware
University of Oklahoma
Ashley Kile, Wynnewood
Rose State College
Garrett Yost, Omega
Vanderbilt University
Jacob Spyres, Sallisaw
Redlands Community College
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 7
SCHENK FAMILY FARM
By Hailie Tennell
A Family Tradition
N
estled deep in the rich farm
history of Grady County, the Schenk
family has spent generations growing their
operation, all the while with Farm
Credit by their side. Ed and Rod Schenk,
father and son, currently operate just
southwest of the Chickasha city limits, but
the history of this operation dates back to
when Ed’s grandfather, H.P. Schenk, first
settled in Caddo County Oklahoma.
H.P. eventually moved just to the west
of Chickasha, where he planted roots and
began farming. His son, Roy, took over the
operation
and
became a Farm
8 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
Credit borrower through what was then
known as Chickasha PCA. In 1946 he
became a board member of the
PCA and remained a director for an
impressive
33
years.
At
that
time, the board of directors still
served as the loan committee
responsible for reviewing
loans, conducting field
reports and making
credit decisions. Roy’s
farming
operation
consisted of wheat,
alfalfa, cows and a
small dairy. Roy
was also known for having the first automatic tie John Deere bailer in the area.
Farming and Farm Credit were his lifeline,
one that he would soon pass on to his
son, Ed Schenk.
Ed was in high school when he took
out his first loan with Farm Credit. He
worked with Chickasha PCA to purchase
his first FFA steer in 1954 and has been a
member ever since. After attending OSU
to become a veterinarian, Ed held a vet
practice briefly in Chickasha and then in
Oklahoma City for several years. In 1977
he and his wife returned to Grady County
to build their home, raise their children
and farm the family land. Ed was elected
to the Chickasha PCA Board of Directors
in 1979 and served until 1994. At that
time he was elected to the Wichita Bank
Board of Directors and served there for
another 15 years, all while maintaining
the family farm.
Ed’s farming operation started
similar to that of his father’s, raising wheat,
alfalfa and a cow-calf herd. Later on, Ed
transitioned from a cow-calf herd to a
stocker operation. An operation that
would one day be passed down to his
son, Rod.
While Rod has been involved in
farming his entire life, he officially
became a Farm Credit customer in the mid
70’s when he purchased his first herd of
cattle. Still in middle school and with the
help of his father, Rod purchased 25 steers
to begin his farming career. After high
school, Rod spent some time away from
the family operation, managing a farm
in Kansas. He returned to the Chickasha
area in 2001, working first on the Braum’s
dairy farm and then at a local implement
dealer as he was getting back into the
family farming operation. In 2008, Ed
began transitioning the farm over to Rod,
who had made the decision to leave his
off-the-farm job to farm full-time.
Rod and his wife Stephanie now live
just down the road from Ed with their
two children, Tyler and Sage. Rod is
managing the farming operation,
although Ed still helps with record
keeping. Additionally, they have one
full-time farm hand plus
the help of Rod’s son,
Tyler, and an occasional
summer hand. They now run
stockers and a cow-calf herd,
in addition to raising wheat for
grazing and alfalfa. Rod is
active in the community,
serving on the Grady
County Fair board and
Cou
what was the Chisholm Trail Farm Credit
nominating committee.
The Schenk family has certainly seen
some changes throughout the years,
from farming techniques to technology
advances. They’ve even witnessed firsthand several changes in Farm Credit as
their Association has merged and grown
over the years. Yet through all these
changes, one thing has remained the same;
their partnership with Farm Credit and
their commitment to success.
Ed Sch
SSchenk
enkk iiss st
stand
standing
a ing
and
i
in fr
front
ont of a 196
1965
65 John
hn De
Dee
Deere,
ere
the first tractor he purchased when he began
farming. The other tractor is the last tractor Ed’s father purchased
before “getting out” of farming….he was still driving around
checking cattle two weeks before he passed away at the age of 93.
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 9
ROOTS
News from Oklahoma AgCredit
John Sutterfield
Pawhuska
office open
full-time
John is pictured with a visitor from Zambia and
Marion Schauffler, who retired from the Muskogee
office in 2012, in front of the Broken Arrow office
in 1986.
A career spanning more than 37
years came to an end with the close of
2015. John graduated from Oklahoma
State University in May 1978. Upon
graduation, he began his Farm Credit
career at the Stillwater office before
transferring to Broken Arrow. John held
several positions within the association
until becoming Senior Vice President in
1998. As Sr. VP, he supervised the Broken
Arrow, Durant, Idabel, McAlester, Poteau
and Vinita branch offices.
John could often be relied on to narrate
association history. With a fantastic recall
for specific details, names and dates, he
helped numerous times with information
gathering for this magazine. He could
explain the origins of association policies
to newer staff. His recollections of issues
from the 80s were used a number of times
to school younger employees.
As he parted, John kept the best
interest of the association in mind with
a parting message, “I want to thank
everyone for their support over the years
and I truly appreciate your efforts to make
Farm Credit a great organization. I would
like to encourage you to keep up the
good work.”
10 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
John is on the left, behind the massive amount of
items it took to run a projector. Note the tie and
vest. The dress code has relaxed since 1979!
Matt Kane is the loan officer at the Pawhuska office,
now open Mon-Fri from 8-4:30.
In 1984, John left Farm Credit to work at a bank in
downtown Tulsa for a couple years before returning
to Farm Credit.
John (r) was recognized by board member Roger
Moore for completing 35 years of service at the
2014 Employee Banquet.
Matt Kane, a Pawhuska native, was
hired in October 2015 to serve Osage
County as a loan officer at the new
Pawhuska location. The office is now
located in what was the Lowry building at
127 W Main St, Ste A.
For several months, Matt will
often be training at the Broken Arrow
office, but will otherwise keep normal
business hours of 8am-4:30pm. For the
near future, call Matt at 918-978-6658 to
set an appointment.
Matt graduated from Oklahoma
State University in May 2013 with a
degree in Agribusiness. His strong ties to
agriculture will help him better
understand what customers need.
“My family has been ranching in Osage
County for close to 100 years. As a kid, I
helped on our ranch and neighboring
ranches. I now operate my own small
herd of commercial cows,” Matt said.
ROOTS
History in the Making
In
1983,
the
Federal
Intermediate Credit Bank of Wichita was
preparing to celebrate 50 years of service to
agriculture by recognizing employees
who had demonstrated distinguished
service. The Farm Credit System now has
13,000 employees; Oklahoma AgCredit
employees 90 of those. Because of the
dedication of those employees to rural
communities, the Farm Credit legacy
continues today.
America’s Farmers: Providers of
Plenty was the theme of the Federal
Land Bank Association as it joined in
commemorating the Federal Land Bank
Systems golden anniversary in 1967.
This newsletter was mailed to customers
in Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Oklmulgee,
Sequoyah, Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee,
and Creek counties.
The new centennial mark gives a nod to our
past 100 years of service combined with a
fresh, new contemporary typeface.
I
n its 100 years, Farm Credit has
marked many anniversaries – each
commemorated in its own, unique
way. During Farm Credit’s early years,
most anniversary observances were
held on a district level. While some
individual banks and associations held
small-scale, local events for the 25th
anniversary, the 12 Federal Land Banks,
which provided long-term real estate loans
to farmers and ranchers, held no national
commemoration because of the country’s
focus on World War II.
In 1962, the Federal Land Bank
presidents saw an unprecedented
opportunity. In anticipation of the Land
Banks’ golden anniversary, they began
planning for a national observance - the
first coordinated effort of its kind in Farm
Credit history.
The presidents hoped to use the
anniversary to generate a better
public understanding of American
agriculture, rural America and the Federal
Land Bank system. To help them do this, a
steering committee led a campaign
featuring history, motion pictures,
public relations and advertising to share the
value and background of American
agriculture and the banks’ role
in its success. On July 17, 1966,
Farm Credit celebrated “Land Bank
Day,” honoring a half-century of
continuous, reliable credit for agriculture
in America.
But the celebrations didn’t stop there.
With spring 1967 marking the 50th
anniversary of the 12 Land Banks’
charters, the observances continued
for months. On March 27 of that year,
more than 10,000 people gathered in
Larned, Kan., where Farm Credit’s first
National Farm Loan Association was
founded in 1917. In addition to a daylong
commemoration that included a
parade, luncheon, art show and a
series of speeches, bank officials
buried a time capsule that contained
the Federal Land Bank presidents’
predictions
for
the
state
of
agriculture in 2017. Eleven-yearold Danny Stockwell,great-grandson
of Farm Credit’s first borrower A. L.
Stockwell, helped seal the capsule before
it was lowered into the ground.
The following week, on April 3, 1967,
the Federal Land Bank presidents
gathered in Washington, D.C., to
present President Lyndon B. Johnson with a
commemorative medal stamped by the
U.S. Mint marking 50 years since the
charter of the 12th and last Land Bank.
April was designated as “Land Bank
Month” in 41 states.
The Farm Credit Centennial created
the opportunity to raise awareness of
the Farm Credit mission once more,
while also demonstrating its innovative,
forward-thinking spirit. A brand is a
reputation built over many years through
the work of and values conveyed by
members, employees and stakeholders day in and day out. The logo is a key
piece of the brand – it’s how the public
recognizes it. Farm Credit’s brand
representation has changed over the
decades, as has Farm Credit adapted to
meet the needs of U.S. agriculture and
rural America.
Farm Credit continues to focus not only
on its many years of dedicated service,
but also on furthering the understanding
and appreciation for agriculture and rural
America today.
It has been the privilege of Farm
Credit of East Central Oklahoma
and Chisholm Trail Farm Credit to
contribute
to
the
strength
of
rural Oklahoma by financing hardworking farmers and ranchers. It is
because of our cooperative owners
that we have reached this significant
milestone, and we are proud to mark this
milestone together.
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA 11
ROOTS
Oklahoma AgCredit invests $20,000 into
Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom program
On Nov. 20, 2015, Oklahoma AgCredit and CoBank contributed $20,000 to
Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom. Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese (far right),
OSU’s Dr. James Trapp, coordinators of OAITC, and Oklahoma AgCredit staff
joined outside the Department of Agriculture to celebrate the investment in
Oklahoma youth and agriculture.
Just over a month before the merger between Chisholm
Trail Farm Credit and Farm Credit of East Central Oklahoma
became effective, the two joined forces to invest in the
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s
(ODAFF) Ag in the Classroom program.
Financially, Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom received gifts
from the Associations and CoBank totaling $20,000. The
presentation of the financial gifts was held at the ODAFF
building in Oklahoma City. Chisholm Trail Farm Credit gave
$5,000 to Ag in the Classroom, Farm Credit of East Central
Oklahoma provided $5,000 and CoBank matched those gifts,
with a $10,000 gift.
Butch McComas, Chief Executive Officer of Oklahoma
AgCredit, and representatives of ODAFF participated in the
presentation. After the check presentation, McComas talked with
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about the
investment into the program that is designed to raise ag literacy
among school age children across the state.
“Ag in the Classroom teaches kids where their
food and fiber comes from, how it’s produced, who
produces it and what goes into the production of their food and
fiber. They will in turn be leaders down the road and they need
to know the source of their food and fiber,” McComas said.
“We are planning to use part of the funds to develop
financial literacy cards for middle school and high school,”
12 OKLAHOMA AG CREDIT
said Dana L. Bessinger, Ag in the Classroom State Coordinator.
“We are starting to expand our curriculum into high school.
We are also going to use some of it to be able to take a few more
teachers than we have in the past to our national conference.”
Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is a joint project of Oklahoma
Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H Youth Development,
ODAFF, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The
purpose of Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is to help
familiarize Oklahoma school children with Oklahoma’s food and
fiber industry by providing resources for Oklahoma teachers.
Funding for
Oklahoma Ag in
the Classroom comes
es
from private and public
ublic
support. To contribute
ute to
Oklahoma Ag in the
e
Classroom, or to
learn more about
the program, call
the 4-H Programs
office at
405-744-8889
or go to
www.clover.okstate.edu.
e.edu.
FINANCING RURAL OKLAHOMA IBC
OKL AHOM A
®
AgCredit
601 E. Kenosha
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
1-866-245-3633 • www.OKAGCREDIT.com
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OKLA.CITY, OK