6 minute read
Training Up Leaders
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Our cooperative structure and specialization in agriculture mean
the association only thrives if its members thrive. That’s why we’re investing in the education and financial strength of young, beginning and small farmers. Because a stronger farmer today makes a stronger association tomorrow.”
Brian Talley, Director, Farm Credit West
In late February last year, as they’ve done each year for two decades, dozens of young farmers in California and Arizona left their operations and traveled to remote Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County, where, for the next three days, Farm Credit West executives and industry experts would take them on a deep dive into their family businesses.
The Young Farmer/Rancher Executive Institute, hosted and run by Farm Credit West since 2000, offers young producers an in-depth look at their operations, with particular focus on budgeting, finances, and credit preparedness. Designed to build up younger farmers’ knowledge and skills as they prepare to take on more responsibility, the conference brings in local attorneys and university professors who share expertise in estate and succession planning and best practices for labor management, marketing, and water resources, among other topics.
As an added bonus, seasoned FCW board members share with those newer to the profession challenges and opportunities they’ve navigated over the course of their careers.
“We teach them what any good bank, and what Farm Credit West in particular, is looking for in a good credit package: being well planned-out, including budgets and accurate financial information, so the best decision can be made to get the credit and financing they need,” said Tom Gulliver, FCW Sr. Vice President, Credit, and the program’s primary instructor.
In 2019, 28 young farmers attended, and in total more than 270 young farmers, ranchers and agriculture professionals have completed the program. In post-conference survey responses,
Farm Credit West prioritizes continued learning for agricultural professionals. Our Association supports learning at all levels, partnering with universities and colleges throughout our chartered service area. participants report feeling motivated, empowered, and prepared to head back to their operations, particularly after sessions featuring questions and answers with an expert panel.
“When we do this in a collective group, young farmers often hear opportunities or threats that others are experiencing that they can relate to,” Tom said. “That kind of first-hand knowledge can be hard to come by for farmers who are each busy running their own operation. It’s one of the main reasons we hold the event.”
The Young Farmer/Rancher Executive Institute is Farm Credit West’s flagship event for educating young farmers, but the association’s dedication to bolstering young and would-be producers can be seen year-round, in myriad ways. FCW is active at the university level, directing funding to agricultural conferences, programs and foundations in line with its values at Fresno State, Cal Poly, The University of Arizona and Arizona State University.
The association also takes great care to keep its members informed on industry trends and issues by preparing and distributing regular reports on water risk and market land value trends. Staff lend their expertise to the industry as well, speaking at conferences and local advisory committee meetings and, in one case, teaching a university course in agricultural finance.
“At Farm Credit West, we are committed to ensuring that agricultural producers remain strong,” Tom said. “We actively work to preserve the future of agriculture, and providing young farmers and ranchers the tools they need to succeed is one of the most important ways we do that.”
Tempe branch Senior Vice President Doug Norton accepts an award on behalf of FCW from outgoing Board Chair Cheryl Goar.
Promoting Leadership Development Among Agriculture Professionals
Farm Credit West is an active sponsor of two premier agriculture and rural community leadership development programs in California and Arizona. In Arizona, the Center for Rural Leadership (Project CENTRL) is the state’s premier leadership program with the mission to cultivate passionate and educated leaders who provide a voice for and serve rural communities. In California, Farm Credit West sponsors the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, a two-year program committed to leadership training and transformational learning experiences in partnership with four California universities. As testament to the value of these programs, several Farm Credit West staff and customers are alumni of these courses.
Supporting AgOne at Fresno State In the south San Joaquin Valley, Farm Credit West enjoys a close relationship with the Fresno State Jordan School of Agriculture Science. Throughout the year, our association participates in a variety of programs coordinated by the Jordan School of Agriculture’s Ag One Foundation. Furthermore, we are active with the school’s veterans club, identifying and encouraging these young people to explore careers in agriculture.
Former Farm Credit West employee of 35 years David Hill donated a handmade birdhouse for auction at the Ag One Foundation Fundraiser in 2019. Farm Credit West matched the sale price of $6,000 to benefit students and programs of Fresno State’s College of Agriculture. Sadly, David passed away last July and will be missed and remembered fondly by all who knew him. Pictured above are David's family and friends
Farm Credit West staff speak with students interested in careers in agriculture at the Cal Poly Ag Showcase career fair. Partnering with Cal Poly, SLO Farm Credit West has a long-standing relationship with agriculture colleges and universities throughout our territory. On California’s Central Coast, Farm Credit West staff regularly interact with students and professors at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Farm Credit West has contributed financially to support the university, specifically agribusiness courses, special projects, and athletic events, and FCW staff even teach courses at the university. Several Cal Poly professors also present annually at Farm Credit West’s Young Farmer/Rancher Executive Institute. Through these partnerships, Farm Credit West benefits from a wide range of knowledge exchange.
Woodland branch staff participate in a veterans career fair, educating attendees on potential job opportunities in the agriculture sector.
Connecting High School Students with Colleges While we focus on programs such as the FFA and California’s Ag in the Classroom to reach high schoolers, Farm Credit West also supported two unique programs focusing on college-bound students through partnerships with local universities last year. In Arizona, students from across the state, California’s Imperial Valley, and the Navajo Nation gained hands-on experience in food safety by participating in the SaferFoodCats summer program at the University of Arizona. In Tulare, California, FCW provided financial support to Bridge2College, a program dedicated to preparing students for college readiness through campus tours and counseling targeting under-served regions.
The University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ SaferFoodCats summer program introduced high school students to career pathways in food safety.
Drawing New Talent to the Agriculture Industry
Part of our educational outreach program is to reach college graduates and inform them of opportunities for careers in agriculture, including employment with Farm Credit West. Each year, Farm Credit West staff participates in a variety of career fairs at multiple universities including California State Universities in Fresno, Chico, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and the University of Arizona campuses.
Farm Credit West sponsors the Hancock Junior College Young Farmer and Rancher Club trip to Sacramento to meet with top agriculture politicians such as Karen Ross, California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
Supporting Young Farmers and Rancher Clubs
Farm Credit West supports agriculture education at every level. In 2019, sixteen student members of Santa Maria’s Hancock Junior College Young Farmer and Rancher Club traveled to Sacramento to participate in Ag Day at the State Capitol. Farm Credit West sponsored the trip, which included meeting with representatives such as Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture. This club brings together aspiring young farmers and ranchers to develop leadership skills and build connections for their future in agriculture.
