During the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held April 16, 2013, board candidates were announced and floor nominations were accepted. Mail ballots and biographical information on the nominees were mailed following the annual meeting and results were tallied by Thomas & Thomas LLP, Certified Public Accountants. Results of the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services director elections are: Central Region Director Jerry Burkett and Northern Region Director Mike Burkett were reelected and Scott Young  was elected to the Southern Region. All will serve four-year terms.

Jerry Burkett of Stuttgart owns 1,685 acres where he farms corn, oats, rice, soybeans, wheat, and timber.

   Jerry was elected to the AgHeritage FCS Board in 2002 and has served as a member of the AgHeritage FCS Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Finance Committee.  He is an Arkansas County Farm Bureau Board Member– Past President and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences Alumni Board Member.

   Jerry is a member of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Stuttgart where he serves on the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the Yoder Ruritan.

   Jerry has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics and Business from the University of Arkansas.

Mike Burkett of McCrory farms corn, milo, rice and soybeans on 520 acres owned and 3,300 rented acres.

   Mike has served on the AgHeritage FCS Board since 2006.  He is a member of the AgHeritage FCS Executive Committee and Human Resources Committee and is a former AgHeritage FCS Nominating Committee Member.  Mike also serves on the Woodruff County Farm Bureau Board, is a former member of McCrory School Board and former member of Woodruff County ASCS Committee.

   Mike is a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in McCrory, is Sunday School Superintendent, Church Treasurer, Deacon, and Assistant Moderator.

   Graduating from Arkansas State University, Mike has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering.

Scott Young of Portland farms 1,282 acres owned and 1,030 acres rented.  He grows corn, soybeans and wheat.  Scott also manages 1,040 acres of plantation pines and 638 acres of WRP land.

   Scott is an Ashley County Farm Bureau Board Member, a former AgHeritage FCS Nominating Committee Member and former member of Arkansas Rice Council.

   Scott is a member of Portland Baptist Church where he serves on the Hospitality Committee.

   Scott was the 2001 Ashley County Farm Family of the Year and served on the Ashley County Quorum Court in 2007.

   Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Henderson State University.

Nominating Committee Elections

The following stockholders were also elected to serve for one-year on the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Nominating Committee.

Area                                                                 Name

Representing Batesville office                         Ronald Aaron of Mountain View

Representing Brinkley office                            Jeffrey Reidhar of Des Arc

Representing Dermott office                            Clay Poole of Eudora

Representing Lonoke office                             Brandon Parker of Carlisle

Representing Newport office                           Tommy Young of Tuckerman

Representing Pocahontas office                       Greg Baltz of Pocahontas

Representing Searcy office                              Nicky Hamilton of Searcy

Representing Star City office                           Matthew Tucker of Star City

Representing Stuttgart office                            Frank Prislovsky of Stuttgart

For official rules and entry form, see I'm Farm Credit Photo Contest.

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is a statewide, system-level entity that administers agricultural teaching, research and extension programs.

Crop production budgets for farm planning, interactive calculators, and publications can be found at: http://www.uaex.edu/depts/ag_economics/farm_management.htm.

The annual AgHeritage FCS Employee Reward and Recognition ceremony yearly recognizes employees and employee teams before their peers. This year the R&R luncheon was held at Heifer International on Monday, February 25. The following awards were presented:

· Top Sales Achievement Award Highest in Fees 2012— Dermott/Star City Branch

· Top Sales Achievement Award Greatest Increase in Average Daily Balance Percent 2012— Pocahontas Branch

· Top Sales Achievement Award Greatest Increase in Average Daily Balance Dollars 2012— Pocahontas Branch

· Top Sales Achievement Award New Money 2012—Dermott/Star City Branch

· Top Sales Achievement Award Highest in FRS Dollars 2012—Lonoke

AgHeritage FCS also annually recognizes 5-year milestones in employee service. 

Honored this year were:

· 5 Years of Service—Jake Minton, Lonoke Branch

· 10 Years of Service—Mark Dutton, Dermott/Star City Branch; Jason Hayes, Brinkley Branch; Sherrie McArthur, Newport Branch; Charles

· Nicholson, Lonoke Branch; Anna Rankin and Blake Swindle, Central Office

· 15 Years of Service—Todd Hulett, Newport Branch; Bert Leder, Searcy Branch

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services is accepting director nominations from November 1 – December 3.

If you or someone you know, who is a stockholder of the Association, is interested in being considered as a director nominee, contact a member of the Nominating Committee click here for listing or your local branch office click here for listing. 

To be considered as a nominee, please complete the director nominee application  click here and submit it to your local branch office.  As a nominee, you must also meet the following requirements:

• Be a voting stockholder and a bona fide farmer (bona fide means a person owning agricultural land or engaged in the production of agricultural products, including aquatic products under controlled conditions),
• Must reside or farm in the Association’s territory,
• And, have an active loan balance and an acceptable credit classification rating.

For more information on director qualifications click here.

Board of Director Positions up for Election

• Central Region position currently held by Jerry Burkett - 4 year term
• Southern Region position currently held by Thomas “Ken” Shea – 4 year term
• Northern Region position currently held by Mike Burkett – 4 year term

Central Region consists of the following counties: Arkansas, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie, Pulaski and Woodruff counties.

Northern Region consists of the following counties: Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp, Stone and White counties.

Southern Region consists of the following counties: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson and Lincoln counties.

During the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held April 17, 2012, board candidates were announced and floor nominations were accepted. Mail ballots and biographical information on the nominees were mailed following the annual meeting and results were tallied by Thomas & Thomas LLP, Certified Public Accountants. Results of the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services director elections are: Central Region Director Keith Watkins and Northern Region Director Michael Taylor were reelected and Tracy Borgognoni was elected to the Southern Region. All will serve four-year terms.

Keith Watkins of Griffithville farms 1,650 acres owned and 2,000 acres rented. He grows rice, soybeans and wheat. He also has 150 head cow/calf operation.

   Keith has been a member of the AgHeritge FCS Board since 2008 and serves as member of the Finance Committee. He is also a former Nominating Committee Member. Keith serves on the Riceland Foods Board, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, White County Farm Bureau Board and Little Red River Irrigation District Board.

   Keith is a member of First Baptist Church of Griffithville.

   Keith is a graduate of Griffithville High School.

Michael Taylor of Bald Knob farms 631 acres owned and 1,361 acres rented as a partner of Taylor Brothers Farms. In addition to growing rice and soybeans, Michael has 139 acres of CRP grass and hardwood trees.

   Michael has been an AgHeritage FCS Board Member since 2001 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. Michael is a member of the AgHeritage FCS Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee and Member Relations Committee. He is also a former AgHeritage FCS Nominating Committee Member. Michael is a member of the White County Farm Bureau Board where he currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer and Soybean Committee Chairman.

   Michael is a member of Russell Missionary Baptist Church.

   Michael has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Agronomy from the University of Arkansas.

Tracy Borgognoni of Lake Village farms 965 acres owned and 2,000 acres rented where he grows cotton and soybeans.

   Tracy is a former AgHeritage FCS Nominating Committee Member. He is a member of the Beouff Tensas Eco-Restoration & Irrigation Project Board and Crooked Bayou Watershed Board.

   Tracy is a member and President of the Parish Council of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Lake Village.

   Tracy has a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Arkansas.

Nominating Committee Elections

The following stockholders were also elected to serve for one-year on the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Nominating Committee.

Area  Name

Representing Batesville office-Ronald Aaron of Mountain View

Representing Brinkley office-Jeffrey Reidhar of Des Arc

Representing Dermott office-Scott Young of Portland

Representing Lonoke office-Brandon Parker of Carlisle

Representing Newport office-Tommy Young of Tuckerman

Representing Pocahontas office-Greg Baltz of Pocahontas

Representing Searcy office-Nicky Hamilton of Searcy

Representing Star City office-Donald Branson of Dumas

Representing Stuttgart office-Frank Prislovsky of Stuttgart

News Release

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Announces 2011 Earnings of $18.6 Million

“AgHeritage Farm Credit Services continued to experience strong performance resulting in some of the best financial ratios in the company’s history,” reported Greg Cole, President and CEO, AgHeritage FCS. “With a net income of $18.6 million, AgHeritage FCS returned $3.1 million of 2011 profits to our customer-owners through our Patronage Program.  As a lender, it is exciting to share the success of the Association with our customer-owners.”

“Many of Arkansas’ farmers faced difficult situations in 2011 from weather to the effects of economic turbulence.  AgHeritage FCS is deeply committed to the success of farmers, ranchers and rural Arkansas,” commented Cole.  “Credit quality is good and capital levels are high allowing us a strong position to meet the financial capital needs of Arkansas agriculture and our rural communities.”

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services reported net income of $18.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to net income of $19.7 million for the prior year.  Average earning assets on an owned basis grew to $763.9 million as of December 31, 2011, as compared to $738.9 million as of December 31, 2010.  Average earning assets on an owned and managed basis grew to $838.8 million as of December 31, 2011, as compared to $830.7 million as of December 31, 2010. These represent increases of 3.4% and 1.0%, respectively. 

As part of the AgHeritage FCS Board’s commitment to customer-owners, $3.1 million was paid as patronage refunds to eligible shareholders during February 2012.  The $3.1 million patronage refund represents approximately 16.7% of net earnings.  A total of $15.35 million in patronage has been returned to our customer-owners during the past six years.

“Farm Credit is proud of its 95-year cooperative heritage of serving agricultural producers and rural America and AgHeritage FCS is proud of the role it plays in that heritage in Arkansas,” said Cole.

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services is a financial cooperative with owned and managed assets in excess of $850 million as of December 31, 2011, that provides credit and related services to more than 2,900 farmers and ranchers in 24 Arkansas counties.  Branch offices are located in Batesville, Brinkley, Dermott, Lonoke, Newport, Pocahontas, Searcy, Star City and Stuttgart.

Contact: 

Amy Lyman

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services

Marketing Manager

501-519-2065

State FFA Officers visited AgHeritage Farm Credit Services on Tuesday, March 21, during their Goodwill Tour.

From left: Clayton Harlan, Searcy, Eastern District VP; John Coffey, Prairie Grove, Northwest District VP; Ethan Thomas, Centerpoint, State Secretary; Amy Lyman, Marketing Manager, AgHeritage FCS; Victoria Maloch, Emerson, State President; Emily Hawkins, Star City, Southern District VP; Brittany Richert, Lincoln, State Reporter.

Customers gathered in Gillett for a Customer Appreciation Luncheon on Monday, March 12.

	Kevin Wingfield (standing), AgFinancial Services Officer, visits with customers.
Attendees enjoyed good food and conversation.

AgHeritage Farm Credit Services annually recognizes 5-year milestones in employee service. This year Service Awards ranged from 5 to 35 years.

Honored this year were:          

• 35 Years of Service—Darlene Crawford, Searcy Office
• 15 Years of Service—Cyndi Hamric, Central Office; Chris Hanner, Central Office; and Stan Manning, Central Office
• 10 Years of Service—Deana Griffin, Central Office; and Lil Hart, Central Office
• 5 Years of Service—Jason Hill, Central Office; Leah Johnson, Lonoke Office; and Kevin Simpson, Brinkley Office

	From left: Nathan Wagner, Senior Vice President Branch Operations, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Darlene Crawford; and Greg Cole, President and CEO, AgHeritage FCS.
	From left: Greg Cole, President and CEO, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services; Chris Hanner; Kevin Simpson; Jason Hill; Leah Johnson; Cyndi Hamric; Deana Griffin; Stan Manning; and Lil Hart.