In GreenStone’s 2022 annual report released earlier this year, we explored the ways our customers and co-op alike are moving forward to meet the needs of our farms, families and customers.
Here, three GreenStone directors take a minute to reflect on where they see the focus of GreenStone moving forward, and how they themselves are embracing the future on their own farms. Together, we are moving forward for a strong future!
Bruce Lewis
As we think about the future of GreenStone, there are many things that come to mind. We need to continue to build relationships between GreenStone and our membership, and between GreenStone and other Farm Credit associations. The personal engagement between GreenStone’s staff and the customer is what I value most in working with GreenStone. They know me and my farm, my priorities and future goals, and they are always ready to stop by and help me explore options. That’s something GreenStone will continue to provide as we move forward. That same relationship is just as important when we think of our peers across the Farm Credit System. Being able to brainstorm and collaborate together creates even better results. And having those existing relationships makes future transitions of associations even stronger.
We need to continue to be advancing the ease of use for members, from DocuSign for electronic document sending and signatures to online banking for customers to have instant access any time, and securely doing business digitally. As we leverage technology, we must be mindful of the efficiencies we can create.
When we look to the future, GreenStone must remain a reliable and consistent source of credit for our customers now and in the future.
Ed Reed
GreenStone is moving forward with a new CEO! Travis Jones has been leading the management team for almost a year now; it feels and looks like the same team with a few new teammates. Our goal was a seamless transition and I am confident we are accomplishing just that.
Farmers are a tough bunch, I can say that now that I’ve just turned 60. I am optimistic about the future of agriculture, and the next generation of farmers who have grown up using technology. We are retrofitting hog buildings with a distributed control system and internet connection allowing us to control all facets of the barn in real time. Irrigations have electronic valves and can be changed and started all from your phone. With advanced vision technology, it has been demonstrated with AI the ability to score the health of animals. Michael Bloomberg couldn’t be more wrong with his take on how a modern farm works.
This technology comes with a cost and GreenStone is here to assist with all your capital needs. I see a much different agricultural industry; we are doing more with less. Human capital is a limiting factor on most operations, we must embrace technology to maximize returns on our operation’s assets. I can’t wait to see what AI programs like ChatGPT and Watson will provide agriculture.
Let’s move forward!
Scott Roggenbuck
In this fast paced ever changing world we live in, few things change as fast as agriculture. And GreenStone is "moving forward" to meet the needs of our members. GreenStone's hardworking and talented information services team has recently launched Journey+, a cloud based loan origination system; your board and management team just entered into a capital markets collaboration with three other Farm Credit associations - AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of Mandan, and Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. These are only two examples, as our team works hard to stay ahead of change and continue to move forward.
Your board is always working diligently with management to monitor credit quality, loan growth, hold positions and adjusting to the ever changing regulatory environment.
We are moving forward on our own farm also. We, like many of you, have enjoyed several years of good commodity prices and low interest rates. We have put some of this away having learned some hard lessons back in the 80s.
Yes, I have learned some lessons over the last 40 years in this business we love. Good times don't last for ever, neither do bad times. Get strong when you can, to weather the storms ahead. Keep good books - you don't want to be the last one to find out the money's gone. Never stop building relationships, you never know when you will need them, and people that trust you will have your back. And finally, don't let pride get in the way of making the right decision, that's why football teams have punters.
To view the article in the online 2023 Summer Partners Magazine, click here.
