Back to Our Roots

BACK ROOTS to our

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FARM CREDIT EAST

Farm Credit East’s strategic priorities drive our sustainability — from the sustainable efforts of our customers and our support of the industry’s next generation to employee engagement and safeguards to ensure Farm Credit East remains a reliable source of credit and financial services into the future.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Provide educational resources, credit and financial services to assist members in their sustainability efforts.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

Enable an inclusive employee culture to provide an outstanding experience for our team.

QUALITY GROWTH

Expand into new markets, finance customer sustainability efforts and amplify their stories.

STEWARDSHIP

Remain committed to supporting local communities.

DATA SECURITY

Safeguard customer information.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Position Farm Credit East for the future.

BACK ROOTS to our

At Farm Credit East, sustainability is rooted in the same principles that have guided our cooperative for more than a century: deep relationships, responsible stewardship and a long-term commitment to the Northeast agricultural community. This year’s report shares how we’re putting those principles into action — supporting the evolving needs of agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products, while remaining focused on what matters most to our customer-owners.

In this year’s report, we take it Back to our Roots to reflect on how we’re sustaining the cooperative for the long term. We continue to invest in ways where we can deliver the greatest impact. This includes:

• Helping customers build sustainable operations;

• Developing the next generation of producers and industry leaders;

• Fostering an engaged employee culture; and

• Safeguarding our cooperative so we remain a reliable source of credit and financial services.

We’re rooted in relationships. This means we show up with expertise, consistency and a team approach — whether that’s working alongside multi-generational businesses as they modernize or helping new entrants take their first steps. In 2025, our FarmStart program surpassed $20 million in total investments. We continue to expand development opportunities through initiatives like GenerationNext and new Young, Beginning, Small and Veteran (YBSV) board advisors who bring emerging perspectives into cooperative governance.

Our team remains connected through our culture. 2025 marked the launch of The Farm Credit East Way to clearly articulate the fundamentals that shape how we work, collaborate and serve customers. We strengthened connection and belonging through employee-led efforts and brought colleagues together at Connections’25 — reinforcing that investing in our team is inseparable from delivering an outstanding customer experience.

Our cooperative is intertwined throughout local communities. In 2025, Farm Credit East directed $2.6 million in stewardship contributions, expanded local, customer-directed giving through the Regional Advisory Committee Impact Fund, and continued programs that strengthen rural vitality and food access. We also launched Farm Credit East Cares Community Days, which brought our team together to support local communities.

Finally, we are anchored in returning value to customer-owners. This requires us to modernize how we deliver services, while staying focused on relationships. As digital tools expand, protecting customer information remains a core priority, and technology will never outpace trust.

As we continue to evolve our business, we remain rooted in what matters most: Northeast agriculture, our commitment to customers, and our focus on long-term strength. Thank you for placing your trust in Farm Credit East.

John Knopf Mike Reynolds Board Chair Chief Executive Officer

ROOTED IN RELATIONSHIPS

Farm Credit East is built on strong relationships. Beyond providing credit and financial services, we understand customer businesses and work with them to evolve for the future. Many of the operations we serve span multiple generations, and we’re proud to be part of their continued success. This relationship driven approach has been the foundation of our cooperative for more than 100 years.

A TEAM APPROACH

Crist Bros. Orchards was established in 1883 in Walden, N.Y. Now operated by the fourth and fifth generations, the farm has undergone many changes over the years implementing new science and technologies. With every key decision, Farm Credit East is there alongside the Crist family as they grow and adapt their business.

“Farm Credit has been such an invaluable partner to our farm,” said Jeff Crist, former president of Crist Bros. Orchards. “Our loan officer Anna lives in Western New York, but with today’s communication, and she travels here a couple times a year, we get the best talent helping us from a strategic standpoint.”

“Farm Credit has been such an invaluable partner to our farm... we get the best talent helping us from a strategic standpoint.”

–Jeff Crist, former president of Crist Bros. Orchards

With evolving technologies, Farm Credit East teammates are able to collaborate with each other and deliver value to customers in new ways. Our customers continue to receive exceptional credit and financial services from a team committed to their success.

Scan to learn more about the Crist family’s story.

“Farm Credit has put great attention to what their customers need,” continued Jeff. “Having the focus on agriculture, understanding life and caring about the people across the Northeast, whether it’s down the road or across the state.”

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION

Equally significant as fostering established multigenerational businesses is supporting new entrants into the industry. Recognizing their importance to the future of Northeast agriculture, Farm Credit East has developed innovative financing and development programs designed to support beginning producers as they establish and grow their businesses.

YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL, VETERAN (YBSV) INCENTIVES

Farm Credit East offers incentives to those who qualify as young (35 or younger), as well as producers who are beginning (10 years or less experience), small (less than $350k in annual gross sales), or veteran (post-Gulf War-era II). In 2025, incentives in excess of $485,500 were provided toward discounts on Farm Credit East’s financial services and training programs, FSA guaranteed loan fees, farm accounting and management software fees, and interest rate assistance.

working capital investments up to $75,000. In 2025, FarmStart surpassed $20 million in total investments. Since inception, FarmStart has made 415 investments totaling $20.4 million.

LAUNCHING ENTREPRENEURS TOWARD SUCCESS

Fishing has always been a part of Hudson Frye’s life. Growing up in Bedford, Mass., he was out on boats at a young age, learning the trade long before owning a boat of his own. After high school, Hudson was ready to pursue his dream but at 18, with little credit, his options were limited. With the help of Farm Credit East’s FarmStart program, Hudson was able to buy his first boat.

Established in 2005, this first-of-its-kind initiative in the United States assists entrepreneurs and new cooperatives just getting started in agriculture, commercial fishing or forest products by providing

As with many in agriculture, fishing isn’t simply Hudson’s job, it’s his way of life. Having a partner like Farm Credit East supported him to start his own business and provides him with the confidence to keep doing what he loves. “It feels good knowing that they have my back no matter what. They work with you to get through it all,” said Hudson.

“We try to be forward thinking for our customers. We want to build the relationship for years to come.”

–Katelyn Landers, Loan Officer

For Farm Credit East, helping young entrepreneurs like Hudson isn’t just about financing; it’s about setting them up to thrive. FarmStart advisors help participants create and execute a business plan for long-term success. “We try to be forward thinking for our customers,” said Katelyn Landers, Farm Credit East Loan Officer. “We want to build the relationship for years to come.”

Years after graduating from FarmStart, Hudson now owns and operates several boats. “My relationship with Farm Credit East is more than just a bank. They understand that you have changes and that some years are bad, some years are good,” said Hudson. “They understand fishing.”

GenerationNext is a series of annual seminars that focus on developing the skill sets of next generation managers. 94 individuals participated in both in-person and virtual seminars that took place over the winter of 2025-2026.

“I’m always seeking to grow and improve our business, so when our loan officer recommended this program, it seemed like an excellent opportunity,” said GenerationNext participant, Sandra Habe of Good Pickin’ Farm located in Westford, Mass. “GenerationNext allowed us to step away from our farm and look at the critical areas we needed to focus on, such as our financial statements and budgeting.”

RETAINING A STRONG GRASSROOTS NETWORK

A resilient financial cooperative depends on a vibrant grassroots network. Farm Credit East works to incorporate voices of its customer-owners in various ways and values the feedback provided to strengthen and move the cooperative forward.

YBSV BOARD ADVISORS

In 2025, Farm Credit East introduced a YBSV Board Advisor role. This new role gives YBSV customers a unique professional development opportunity, while providing the Farm Credit East Board of Directors insights into YBSV customer perspectives. Two YBSV board advisors were appointed by the board of directors, John Kelder and Cathryn Kennedy.

This YBSV Board Advisor role is an opportunity for YBSV customers to gain valuable experience and contribute to the continuous improvement of Farm Credit East’s cooperative governance.

REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Another important part of Farm Credit East’s strategic vision of retaining a strong grassroots network is the feedback gained from Regional Advisory Committees. Formally called Customer Service Councils, in 2025 these local customer committees were realigned with Farm Credit East’s seven management regions and renamed Regional Advisory Committees.

These committees are composed of a cross section of stockholders and other members of the agricultural community who meet two times annually with local Farm Credit East leadership. They provide advice and invaluable feedback on a wide variety of topics.

Additionally, the Regional Advisory Committee Impact Fund was introduced in 2025, providing committee members with the opportunity to select local organizations to receive Farm Credit East donations. In 2025, $95,000 in contributions were directed to organizations selected by customer-owners throughout the Northeast. Organizations included several food banks along with youth development and health initiatives.

$95k REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IMPACT FUND

ROOTED IN CULTURE

Farm Credit East remains committed to cultivating an employee experience rooted in shared values and connection. As we continue to strengthen and articulate our culture, we encourage effective collaboration, informed decision-making and long-term resilience to benefit employees and customers alike.

LAUNCHING THE FARM CREDIT EAST WAY

In 2025, Farm Credit East officially launched The Farm Credit East Way, which defines the core values that make up Farm Credit East’s culture. While these values were nothing new, it was important to define them as we move the cooperative forward because they help shape how people work, communicate and make decisions.

Fundamentals like Invest in Relationships supports connection and communication across our team and with customers. Make a Difference, another fundamental, encourages our employee team to volunteer their time and give back to the communities we serve. Together, these fundamentals create a shared purpose and guide our team to successfully implement new tools and technologies, while staying connected and empowering each other to be accountable.

“Defining our culture has strengthened how we work together through communicating candidly, supporting each other and staying committed to doing what’s right for the cooperative,” said Sarah Galbraith, Farm Credit East Credit Analyst Associate. “When we show up this way as a team, our customers feel the difference through a smoother, more responsive and more meaningful experience.”

While defining culture takes time and leadership commitment, the payoff appears in strong recruitment and retention, effective coaching, and a workplace where people feel valued. Investing in culture is investing in people.

FOSTERING BELONGING AT FARM CREDIT EAST

As Farm Credit East develops its team, it embraces the different skills, talents and experiences each employee brings to the table. To further shed light into these various cultures and experiences, Farm Credit East established Leading Diversity in 2020, an employee-led group aimed to raise consciousness on diversity and inclusion, while increasing equity and employee engagement. In 2025, the group broadened its focus to connect all employees across Farm Credit East by evolving into Together East

Together East fosters belonging, connection and inclusivity with employees across all disciplines and locations. “With speaker and dialogue sessions, we want to engage teammates and ensure their

voice is heard,” said Cassie Wood-Triplett, Together East Chair. “Wherever you are in your career at Farm Credit East, it provides an opportunity to build your community across teams.”

Through personal and professional development opportunities, the group aims to drive meaningful conversations to strengthen the Farm Credit East team. “We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their whole self to work and be empowered to do their best, helping us build the best team possible for our customers,” said Together East Co-Chair Devin Kuhn.

STAYING CONNECTED

In an increasingly virtual work environment, staying connected remains essential. In 2025, Farm Credit East hosted Connections’25, a biennial all-employee event, designed to bring colleagues together and provide career development opportunities. The event also included participation from Farm Credit East’s technology partner, Financial Partners Inc., fostering collaboration and engagement across multiple disciplines.

“There is so much conversation that naturally rolls into topics that you’d never get to in another environment. This is where all those relationships really grow and bloom into the next level.”

–Brian Rideout, State Certified General Appraiser

ROOTED IN COMMUNITY

At the heart of Farm Credit East’s mission are local communities. From volunteering at county fairs to holding leadership roles in community and industry organizations, we are rooted in the places where our employees and customers live and work.

Farm Credit East is also a significant monetary supporter of various agricultural organizations and community events, including many of our own programs focused on revitalizing rural areas and expanding food access. By investing in our communities, we strengthen the bonds that support our customers and ensure a thriving Northeast agricultural sector.

$2.6m

$486k / Young, Beginning, Small and Veteran Farmer Incentives

$361k / Industry Events & Sponsorships

$324k / Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement

$600k / Community & Ag Organization Support

$200k / Food Access Infrastructure Initiatives

$128k / Scholarships (Higher Ed & Ag Educator)

$76k / Farmers Market Grants

$121k / Youth Programs & Sponsorships

$87k / Farm Credit East Cares

$105k / Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award

$35k / Charitable Donations

$95k / Regional Advisory Committee Impact Fund

In partnership with CoBank, Farm Credit East’s funding bank, Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement has contributed $3.7 million since its inception in 1996. AgEnhancement grants support projects that promote and support Northeast agriculture industries, youth and leadership development, and diversity and inclusion outreach.

$3.7m

IMPROVING ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD

Farm Credit East’s Food Access Infrastructure Initiative financially supports organizations with grants of up to $50,000 as they work to improve food security in the Northeast. This initiative provides funding for infrastructure improvement, allowing organizations to increase access to fresh produce while building stronger partnerships with local farmers and producers.

In 2025, four recipients each received a $50,000 grant to make infrastructure improvements. Comfort Food Community, located in Greenwich, N.Y., will use the grant to replace the roof on their Food and Farm Hub. Fulfill, The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, located in Neptune, N.J., will use the funds to expand their warehouse and cold storage space. Boston Area Gleaners, located in Acton, Mass., plans to construct a new distribution center with the grant. FeedMore WNY, located in Buffalo, N.Y., will use the funds to build new loading docks at their new campus.

“As both an employee of Farm Credit East and a board member of Comfort Food Community, I’m incredibly proud to see Farm Credit East supporting the organizations that strengthen and nourish our rural communities.”

–Cristi Flanigan, Credit Administrator

LEAVING A LEGACY

2025 was the fifth and final year of the Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award, created by Farm Credit East’s Board of Directors to recognize former Farm Credit East CEO Bill Lipinski. After five years, the award has recognized a dozen innovative and transformational efforts across the Northeast working to revitalize rural communities.

In 2025, the Northern Maine Development Commission and the New England Rural Health Association each received $25,000 to support their innovative approaches for investing in rural business and economic development. Additionally, The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and Coastal Enterprises Inc., both received $40,000 as the final recipients of the Lipinski Rural Initiatives award.

Initiated by Farm Credit East employees in 2011, Farm Credit East Cares aims to give back to the farmers and rural communities we serve. Each year, funds are raised through the contributions of Farm Credit East employees and distributed to farm families and organizations impacted by disasters; to various Northeast charitable organizations; and to local, regional or state not-for-profit charitable organizations focused on youth involvement in agriculture or local agricultural promotion. In 2025, Farm Credit East Cares donated a total of $100,000 to 30 organizations. Since the program’s inception, it has contributed more than $1.5 million to Northeast charitable organizations and farm families.

FARM CREDIT EAST CARES COMMUNITY DAYS

Supporting rural communities through volunteer work is an important value for our employee team. To further extend employee community service, we launched Farm Credit East Cares Community Days in 2025, a coordinated volunteer effort to give back to local communities.

As part of this initiative, Farm Credit East provided a dollar match for each volunteer hour. These earned dollars, totaling $22,500, were donated to various charitable causes across the Northeast, further amplifying our team’s impact. We’re proud of our employees’ commitment to making a difference and look forward to continuing these volunteer efforts.

“Even though we are a financial institution, we are relationship based. We want to be out in the community and show that we care. This is where I live, and I love that Farm Credit East cares about that.”

–Daquan Holmes, Director of Internal Audit

“I believe it is important to show we are involved in the communities we serve. We are a grassroots organization that actively supports local businesses and our local farming community.”

–Kristen Kochetta, Loan Officer

ROOTED IN VALUE

EVOLVING TO PROVIDE MORE VALUE TO CUSTOMERS

As Farm Credit East moves forward, we’re evolving in ways that provide the most value to our customer-owners. This includes modernizing our credit delivery to create a more consistent lending experience. We are investing in our team and technology to stay competitive, meet regulatory expectations and better serve customer needs. As we evolve our credit and financial services delivery, technology will never outpace trust.

COMMITMENT TO INFORMATION SECURITY

As technology continues to reshape how we work, communicate and handle our finances, scammers are just as quick to use these advancements to craft more sophisticated and urgent scams. That’s why staying innovative also means staying ahead of fraud and security risks.

By pairing robust security measures with simple daily precautions, customers can confidently use digital tools while protecting both their personal and professional information.

As we encourage the use of online banking within Farm Credit Connect and work to develop new tools to support customer businesses, safeguarding customer information remains a core priority for Farm Credit East. Ongoing information security training and phishing simulations continue to be part of our strategy to keep employees informed about evolving threats.

A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

From financial records and personal details to operational data, information has never been more valuable. Even as organizations like Farm Credit East continue to invest in secure systems and tools, the strongest defense still comes from staying alert to current scams and practicing smart security habits.

In 2025, we introduced CyberSense, a recurring column in our Financial Partner Magazine authored by Farm Credit East’s knowledgeable Information Security team. The column provides relevant insights and smart habits for customers to keep their most sensitive information secure.

By pairing robust security measures with simple daily precautions, customers can confidently use digital tools while protecting both their personal and professional information. While Farm Credit East may implement additional steps and evolve our processes, the goal is always to protect our team, our customers and our cooperative.

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