| This weekend concluded my Fresh Food Challenge. Overall, it was a great learning experience, but it was also (as described) very challenging! It took a lot of time and planning to prepare all of my meals from fresh foods! Being forced to monitor everything I ate allowed me notice some of my old eating habits. I had to stop myself from popping in a piece of gum or candy, drinking a can of pop, or swinging by the sub shop. On the other hand, I was able to see and feel the benefits of eating fresh foods and will incorporate more of them into my daily diet.
To wrap up, here are a few of the situations I faced this weekend:
- Lunch at a restaurant: I ended up getting a grilled chicken salad, seasoned only with pepper, with all fresh vegetables, and boiled egg. Luckily the restaurant we went to made their vinaigrette from scratch, or I would have gone with a simple oil and vinegar. (Mitchell’s Fish Market)
- Social outing with friends: This meant no alcohol (this had not been a problem until Friday night!) I may have bent the guidelines just a touch and had a hard cider made from just fresh apple juice and yeast, no sulfides or preservatives added.
- Family gathering: There was a spread of delicious appetizers, cake and cookies, however I stuck to strictly fruit. This was hard, especially because I love dessert!
- Lack of structure: During the week my life is very planned, so I would pack my lunch/dinner and since that was all I had to eat, I never thought twice about alternative options. The weekend, however, allowed for more idle time to think about what I could be eating instead. I stood in front of the pantry several times staring at the foods I could not eat.
Today was my first day off of the challenge, and I still brought watermelon, a pear, and tomatoes and cucumbers mixed with vinegar, basil, and oregano to work…but I may have also brought some dessert too. :)
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| Earlier this week GreenStone’s board of directors met at the cooperative’s home office in East Lansing, Michigan. Although a board of directors meeting may not sound like the most exciting thing, it is a vital part of GreenStone’s business. The board meets quarterly to assess the performance of the cooperative and address any issues that need attention. In addition to these face-to-face meetings, the board of directors utilizes technology to stay current on the latest happenings at GreenStone between meetings. GreenStone’s President and CEO, Dave Armstrong, recently took the time to tell me a little bit more about the board of directors and its function within the cooperative.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp8x8WBvjAU[/youtube]
The GreenStone board is made up of 16 members. Fourteen of those members are elected by you – our customers – and two members who are appointed. Each of these members brings a unique perspective to the boardroom and provides thoughtful insight to help govern the cooperative. In addition to overseeing the cooperative’s policy and rules, the board also serves as Dave’s “boss.” Even though he jokes about having 16 bosses, Dave recognizes that the board and executive management team at GreenStone really function as a team.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RpQSCTomXE[/youtube]
I will be sitting down with Dave again soon! If you have topics you would like to hear from Dave on, leave comments in the section below or connect with us on our Facebook page!
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| I’ve made it to day four of my Fresh Food Challenge! For those of you who missed my first post, I’ve challenged myself to eat all fresh or natural foods for one week to see if the “juice is worth the squeeze.” To read more about the guideline’s I’m following and the motivation behind my challenge, click here.
So far, I’ve really enjoyed the challenge! I’ve gotten creative with making meals-to-go that will keep body energized and my stomach satisfied. Here are the trends I’ve noticed in my eating habits to incorporate freshness:
- I’ve selected a variety of produce with both sweet and spicy flavors to keep my taste buds happy. Salads and fruit medleys have been staples in my routine.
- I’ve upped my protein intake to keep from getting hungry. I have consumed more chicken, pork, and eggs in the last four days than I’ve eaten in the last month!
- I’ve been eating gluten free – mainly because I haven’t been ambitious enough to prepare raw wheat, barely, or rye into something I’d like to eat.
- I haven’t consumed diary, since most foods are processed for in store preservation, and the truth is: ice cream is the food item I miss eating the MOST.
I have to admit though, I feel great! Cutting sodium out of my diet has kept me from feeling thirsty or bloated, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake has actually helped me maintain hydration. Also, I don’t get hungry as easily because I’m eating foods with more protein and fiber and no processed sugar.
The downside, however, is that it’s TIME CONSUMING. Especially to a person who usually does not cook and works a second job some evenings. Planning and prep work have been key!
I’ll report back on Monday to let you know how the rest of the week goes. I have yet to conquer ordering from a menu at a restaurant, and choosing what to eat at social gatherings, two challenges I will face this weekend!
Here are a few of "fresh" items on my menu!
Spinach, tomato, and green onion omelet.
Cilantro lime chicken breast.
Fruit salad and boiled eggs.
Pork kabobs with pineapple, green pepper, onion and mushrooms.
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| What a concept, doing less…better!?! Why didn’t I think of that?
Last week I attended the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) conference in Kansas City. It’s an event that brings together some of the best agricultural marketers in the nation to meet, mingle, and learn. In fact, the conference was themed “Acres of Innovation,” so there was no surprise that the general session speaker focused on simple ways to, well, be innovative. The concepts aren’t new, but actually applying them in a fast paced marketing world sure makes them seem novel!
As I thought about what he said, I realized that his points for successful execution are exactly the unwritten guidelines a farmer follows. Their world is certainly ran at a full pace sprint, much faster than most of us serving them, but they are successful, in part, because they focus. They concentrate on the necessities and they do it extremely well…they do “less” better.
To be clear, “less” doesn’t mean less time, less attention, less efficiency, less nurturing, less care, etc. It simply means they focus on the plant, the animal, the agricultural sector that they are good at, and spend more time, effort and research doing just that. They don’t dabble in this, fiddle in that, or putter at the other, they focus and they are incredibly good at it!
And you know what else, they aren’t afraid to take risks in those areas. Not just any risk, but a calculated and researched risk. A farmer in fear is a farmer left standing in an empty field. Farmers are some of the strongest willed and forward focused individuals I know. They don’t sit idle worried about what could go wrong, they surge ahead by being prepared to address adverse situations when, if, they show their face.
Every day I realize there is more and more we can be taught by farmers. I learned something at this conference, but I guess I could have just opened my eyes and saw it first hand from my Dad, my brothers, or one of the nearly one million farmers out there. Now that I know it, it’s time to see if I can effectively incorporate it.
What could have you learned from a farmer today? |
| The benefits of eating fresh foods are obvious. They are more nutrient rich, free of preservatives and additives, and they taste great. So why not eat completely fresh? Well it’s expensive, time consuming, and just not as convenient as grabbing packaged or prepared food components. But are the time and money worth the health benefits?
As a very busy, and sometimes lazy, individual, I am a shameless consumer of packaged, processed, and convenient foods. I order to live a healthier lifestyle – and to embark on a personal challenge – I’ve decided to eat fresh for one week. I’m anxious to see if I notice a difference in how I feel, and if I can implement some of these efforts into my daily routine. For one week I will eat only:
- Fresh produce
- One-ingredient products (olive oil, honey, vinegar)
- Foods prepared for consumption not preservation (raw chicken, raw pork, and raw eggs)
- Homemade food with any combination of these wholesome products (time to get cookin!)
Read the next blog in my series to see how I'm doing! Click here to view.
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| March has been a very busy month for GreenStone! Cooperative President and CEO, Dave Armstorng recently spent some time in Washington D.C. with the Michigan Agri-Business Association and Agriculture Leaders of Michigan to host the second annual Ag Club Breakfast for legislators. Armstrong spoke about the event and the purpose behind it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaWyFAK8yoo[/youtube]
Following his trip to our nation’s capital, Dave attended the AgriBank annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. AgriBank is the wholesale bank that provides GreenStone with the money that we lend to customers. Dave talked about his experience at the meeting as well as the meeting’s purpose.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6WpQCtbdZg[/youtube]
March was also full of agriculture focused events that GreenStone was involved in. Things got started with National Ag Day on March 8. Dave talked about the origin of Ag Day and why it should be important to everyone involved in the agricultural industry.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLJzo1EOiTU[/youtube]
The 2012 Michigan FFA Convention was also held in early March. GreenStone is a large supporter of the FFA and made a donation of $25,000 to the Michigan FFA Foundation during the convention. Dave talked about why he feels GreenStone should be such an involved partner with the FFA.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Th0FwYXOIA[/youtube]
Of course talking about March wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Patronage Day. This year GreenStone gave back more than $23 million in patronage funds bringing the total amount of patronage paid since 2006 to more than $108 million. Dave took some time to explain why the cooperative provides a patronage payment and also talks about giving back more than $108 million to GreenStone’s customers.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf4oks8jTpQ[/youtube]
I will be sitting down with Dave again soon to talk about the busy planting season ahead. If you have topics you would like to hear from Dave on, leave comments in the section below or connect with us on our Facebook page! |
| Spring is one of my favorite seasons; it’s naturally a time of growth and renewal and for GreenStone it is also a time of giving back to our community! For the last five years GreenStone has been actively involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement. I believe breast cancer impacts everyone so in 2008 I introduced the Mid-Michigan Komen Race for the Cure® to our corporate staff and I started recruiting activists, survivors, and general participants to participate in the race and/or support our team. To no surprise many of our staff have been directly or indirectly impacted by breast cancer and they were ready to get involved. Since then our race participation and fundraising for the cure has spread companywide. Our staff have touched and amazed me with their generosity and compassion. Staff have taken a stand by racing, fundraising, and donating thousands of their own dollars to the fight against breast cancer.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Komen Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure® and our company started gearing up in mid- February by beginning the recruitment of race participants. In addition, we have put together a gift basket silent auction. The baskets for the auction are themed and each item in the baskets were donated by employees. Basket themes include Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville, ultimate tailgate, dog lovers, picnic, family game night, and more. Silent bidding runs for four days and the winner of each auction will pay for their bid by making a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. On the last day of the auction we host a “Think Pink” day. Activities vary by location however, at the corporate office this year we will celebrate by hosting a bingo luncheon for a donation to the cause.
Last year’s auction and other events raised over $4,500 and this year we’re hoping to raise even more! The cool thing about donating to this cause is that up to 75 percent of the net income from the Race stays right here in our community to fund vital breast cancer health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. And the remaining 25 percent supports the Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research. I invite you to learn more about Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® by visiting our team page at http://midmichigan.info-komen.org/goto/GreenStone. And we hope to see you at the race too!
Komen Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure® - Michigan State Capitol; April 29th, 2012 @ 2 PM |
|   A builder, architect, realtor, customer and banker are sitting in a room talking about the construction of a new house. Unfortunately there is no punch line, but this is not exactly common in the industry. Most of the time there is a lack of communication and what’s left is a bunch of people that may not know how the other parts of the puzzle work or don’t even bother to ask and find out. I’ve mentioned this in previous blogs I’ve written, but I really need to be direct in this point…communication is everything in a construction project. And although it was a little unorthodox, I really appreciated the customer allowing me to sit in with his team that would be involved in the construction of his house.
It’s just as important to be able to learn from each other. I can go over the questions that I see from week-to-week that change depending on the type of construction, but that will only get you so far. You need to be comfortable with your builder, your realtor, and your banker. What I can honestly say is that I have more face-to-face meetings now than I have ever seen in the past. They want to know how long I’ve been working with GreenStone, how long I’ve been working with construction loans and more or less if they feel they can trust me. Yes we are selling a product at GreenStone, but we are also selling how we want to be represented. We go out and inspect the houses ourselves and review each draw to make sure that you are satisfied with the construction progress before we proceed with any further draws. We are trying to build that communication so that we can have a smooth construction project.
Here are a couple of quick notes that will separate GreenStone when you are comparing us to the competition.
- We NEVER stopped doing construction loans. When we were thought of as conservative five years ago is probably looking more like a standard today. We are not changing our programs on a moment’s notice based on the market conditions. We are steady in our underwriting approach and consistent in our lending programs. A reliable lender in a volatile market.
- We offer owner-builder along with fully-contracted construction. So act as your own builder or get a general contractor. Either way we will help finance your house.
- One of the lowest interest rates during construction in the industry.
As a final thought, as I was sitting with a highly respected builder he mentioned that I needed to look at a website called www.houzz.com. If you are looking for ideas for your new house or just looking for ideas for the next remodeling project (which we would also be able to finance), take a minute and browse this fascinating website. I have found it very helpful for my customers and myself. |
| 145 miles of driving...three GreenStone offices…and a lot of happy customers. I visited three of our offices today during Patronage Day, and what an exciting day it was to talk with these people. During my travels to Ann Arbor, Howell and back to Mason, the message was consistent…people love getting a check from their lender! Some thoughts from the day…
1. The first customer I saw this morning in Ann Arbor simply said as she received her check… “You guys are awesome!” As another started to walk out the door with a smile on his face, he turned around, walked up to me and said “You’re the best bank I’ve ever dealt with.” Most customers spoke highly of the service they receive from our loan officers and customer service representatives. It’s a great feeling to hear so many positive comments about the organization you work for!
2. Most of the farmers I spoke with today wanted to talk about land…specifically about buying more of it and how values are increasing. They all seemed to know of a parcel for sale that they wouldn’t mind getting their hands on.
3. Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s certainly help put a smile on people’s faces! So when you hand them a check as well, it makes for a fun day.
4. And finally, after having a cookie at each of my three stops, I think I need to watch my calories for the next few days!
It’s been a really fun day at GreenStone…all made possible because of the loyal and dedicated customers that we serve. Thank you!
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Winter is almost over! Of course, when did winter ever begin? The snowboarding, skiing, ice fishing and almost every other winter recreational activity were put on hold because of our mild winter. On the bright side, many of us are thrilled to forgo the below freezing conditions, icy roads, and hours of snow shoveling that winter usually brings.
As we prepare for the new growth spring brings, I think many people are happy to see the economy finally showing signs of new growth as well. Home site, vacant land and construction requests are stronger than ever. It is truly a time to be optimistic when home sites are consistently selling again for the first time since early 2008. In addition, since so many people have put their plans on hold for the last three years we are getting a renewed interest in construction and vacant land financing. Our office has recently received many inquiries and questions regarding construction and vacant land financing. What I would like to do over the course of the next couple of blogs is to share with you some of those questions, in the hope that the responses help you to deepen your understanding about our programs and GreenStone Farm Credit Services as a company. What I first want to stress is that our lending programs have NOT changed much over the last 5 years. Unlike some other financial institutions, we never discontinued our vacant land or construction programs. That knowledge should give you reassurance about the strength of our company and the relations we have with our customers.
Just the other day, I heard the following from a potential customer, “My wife and I are looking to purchase 20-40 acres, eventually building a home on the site. We would like to buy the land now and pay it off with the intent on building within the next 10 years. Is that something GreenStone is able to offer?”
(A.) This is exactly the type of financing we are able to offer. GreenStone offers financing for unlimited amounts of acres and unlike other banks, has no set timetable for when building must begin. We will never sell off your loan to another lender without your consent and we allow our customers to serve as their own contractors. In addition, there are no balloons or prepayment penalties on our loans.
Please look for more answers to your construction and vacant land financing questions going forward. As we get closer and closer to spring, I will continue to give you updates on our programs. If you are interested in learning more about our construction program or talking with a local financial services officer please visit our newly redesigned website at www.greenstonefcs.com.
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