The customer-owners of American AgCredit elected new board member Michael Stonebarger of Brentwood, California, to the cooperative’s board – and re-elected existing board members Jason Ochs of Syracuse, Kansas; Kristin McMenomey of Potter Valley, California; and Kansas farmer Berry Bortz. The board steers the association as a partner focused on serving farmers and ranchers across a seven-state territory.
“The board represents the voice of American AgCredit’s shareholders and Farm Credit’s mission to support rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow,” said Gary Harshberger, chair of the American AgCredit Board. “As a board, our role is to ensure the cooperative’s financial strength and future success – which is more important than ever as we consider significant trends and shifts in our industry, and the recently announced intent to merge with Farm Credit of New Mexico. I’m pleased that our newly elected, and re-elected, board members will share their considerable talents on our board to help successfully navigate our cooperative into the future.”
Elected board members serve five-year terms. They hold board positions assigned to the regions in which they reside or operate but all voting shareholders are entitled to vote for all positions regardless of location. Jason Ochs is from the Great Plains region; Berry Bortz is from the Heartland region; and Kristin McMenomey and Michael Stonebarger are from the Western region. After five years on the American AgCredit Board of Directors, Robert ‘Bob’ Boynton will be ending his term.
“Farmers today need support to adapt in this rapidly evolving industry. I see an opportunity for American AgCredit to project its credibility and extend its knowledge when responding to industry change,” said newly elected board member Michael Stonebarger, chief executive of Ghiggeri and Stonebarger Farms. “Most importantly, I believe it is vital that American AgCredit remain in touch with the effects those changes have on its members. Whether it’s labor laws, food safety and regulations, freight constraints, or technology advancements, a true partner brings solutions and support.”
American AgCredit, one of the largest Farm Credit associations, is governed by a board of both elected and appointed directors, that oversee the association’s strategic direction.
“The board nomination and election process is crucial to the success of our cooperative,” said Harshberger. “I’d like to thank our nominating committee for bringing forward talented candidates, and our stockholders for their engagement and consideration. I’m excited for American AgCredit’s future.”
American AgCredit also announced the election results of its board nominating committee. To learn more about the committee, board nomination process, election and full 2022 – 2023 board, visit agloan.com/about-us/board-of-directors/.
American AgCredit was chartered in 1916 as part of the nationwide Farm Credit System and is the nation’s fourth-largest Farm Credit association. American AgCredit specializes in providing financial services to agricultural and rural customers in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma, and serves capital market customers throughout the United States.
American AgCredit’s financial services include production and mortgage financing, equipment and vehicle leasing, crop and life insurance, lines of credit, and the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Program. American AgCredit also provides interest-free loans for qualifying 4-H and FFA AgYouth programs, and college scholarships to students interested in agriculture. Learn more at AgLoan.com.
