Summer 2014 News and notes on living the good life...
COUNTRYMINUTE
PASSION FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS– Working with Michigan Out of Doors TV has been a dream of mine for a long time. My dad recalls me sitting at his knee years ago saying how much I wanted to be like Mort Neff, the founder of Michigan Outdoors in the early ‘50s. Having a love for the outdoors is a common thing in the great state of Michigan, but what really makes a job like this possible is a love for video production and telling a story. For me, the journey to outdoor television started at Michigan State University, by receiving a degree in audio and video production. I
worked in video production for a few years at Spring Hill Camps, a large Christian camp in Evart, Michigan. Spring Hill was a great training ground for me and was a perfect step toward outdoor TV. I found out about the job with Michigan Out of Doors TV through my elementary school gym teacher, who happened to be the head honcho of Ducks Unlimited at the time Michigan Out of Doors was looking to hire someone. After a few phone calls, I was on my way to the meeting that would start my career at Michigan Out of Doors.
Tips for the perfect sandcastle
One thing most people do not realize is just how many people it takes to make a show like this possible. Yes, we need experts in the field with a camera in hand; but there are a lot of people behind the scene. One important group is our sponsors who believe in what we are doing and support us financially to help make this show a success. GreenStone Farm Credit Services has been a supporter of Michigan Out of Continued on page 2...
This Country Minute is brought to you by your local country living lender:
1. Build a Strong Foundation: To establish a strong foundation, the placement of the sandcastle needs to be just out of reach from the waves, but close enough to where the sand is still wet. For a sturdy base, tightly pack sand and water together and raise it off the ground. Continued on page 3...
Serving Michigan and Northeast Wisconsin with 36 locations NMLS #440787
A Pledge of Support with Hantz Farms GreenStone and AgriBank recently announced a unique and exciting partnership with Hantz Farms in Detroit, Michigan. The partnership is a natural fit; as members of the Farm Credit System, GreenStone is dedicated to a mission of providing sound and dependable credit to farmers, regardless of size or location. Through this newly forged relationship, GreenStone and AgriBank have an opportunity to educate the next generation of urban residents about the importance of agriculture, the vast career opportunities within the industry, and the mission of the Farm Credit System. Volunteering to Make an Impact On Saturday, May 17, more than 130 GreenStone volunteers joined over 1,000 others for a day of community development coordinated by Hantz Farms. Together, 15,000 mixed-hardwood trees were planted on Hantz Farms in Detroit, transforming the area into woodland.
A group of the 130 GreenStone volunteers gather before departing East Lansing for the planting in Detroit.
“I am very proud of the commitment of GreenStone employees to get involved and make an impact through
outreach and community service,” said GreenStone President and CEO, Dave Armstrong. “Our involvement with Hantz Farms specifically allows staff to bring together rural and urban life, and work hand-in-hand with the neighbors and surrounding communities to positively impact this beautification transformation.”
RECIPE CORNER
Tuscan Potato Skillet Provided by Michigan Potato Industry Commission
SERVING SIZE: 4 Cut each potato into 4 wedges. Place in a microwave-safe bowl with salt and pepper. Microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes, stir, and microwave for an additional 4 minutes. Cut each tenderloin into 4 equal pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet, add chicken, and cook and stir for 5 minutes until browned. Add remaining oil and potatoes; cook and stir for 5 minutes to brown potatoes and fully cook chicken. Stir in rosemary, garlic, green beans, lemon zest and juice. Cook for a few minutes more to heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
READY TIME: 40 minutes INGREDIENTS 1 pound petite red potatoes ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 pound chicken tenderloins 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 (12 oz.) bag frozen green beans, thawed 1 lemon, zested and juiced
..Great outdoors continued
Doors for over a decade and it is a great relationship. The outdoors, much like the real estate business, is all about location! Having access to land and water is crucial for those of us who love to hunt and fish. By having financial resources for recreational land ownership, GreenStone has been a great partner. We focus on sportsmen around the state using and developing this recreational land for today, and for generations to come. Having partnerships like this will help ensure the outdoor lifestyle remains alive and well! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jimmy Gretzinger is the executive producer and host of Michigan Out of Doors TV and a Michigan native. You can learn more about Jimmy by visiting: www.michiganoutofdoorstv.com
My Access: Revealed My Access is an online portal GreenStone is launching on Sept. 15 that will enable you to more easily manage multiple aspects of your relationship with GreenStone through a single-login, secure, password-protected website. This means you will now be able to:
TECHTIP Smartphone Security
• manage your funds online (Online Banking) • send and receive documents with GreenStone electronically (File Exchange) • view your files GreenStone has stored (My Documents) • establish custom alerts based on your needs (My Alerts) With My Access, you can do it all in one spot, with only one set of login information to remember; and it comes with the confidence knowing it is secure and protected. Current Online Banking Customers: Starting on Sept. 15, all customers must login to GreenStone’s online banking system through My Access. A specific communication will be sent to current online banking users detailing the simple steps necessary. Remember, the only thing changing is the way you get into online banking; your current online banking settings will not change. Watch for more information in the coming months; and take a minute to visit with your local branch staff to learn how this innovative technology solution can best meet your needs!
• Treat your smartphone like it is your purse or wallet by keeping it organized and being mindful of what you store in it. • Always use a passcode to secure your phone; this will keep unwanted hands from gaining access to your personal information. • Turn on the “Find My Phone” feature for Apple devices or download a similar application for Android devices. These applications allow you to track your device and wipe its content if it is permanently lost or stolen, preventing anyone else from accessing any private information stored on your phone. Using strong passwords for your Apple or Google accounts will help secure this feature. • If you misplace your smartphone, treat the search process with the same urgency as you would your purse or wallet. Also consider what credit card numbers or other information might be cached on your lost smartphone and take appropriate action such as calling your bank to have new cards issued.
...Perfect sandcastle continued
2. The Sand Equation: 1 part sand, 1 part water
there is no such thing as too much water for this project.
In order to have a durable sandcastle, wet sand is the key ingredient. A trick to verify it is the right kind of sand is to make a “sand ball” and throw it up in the air and catch it. If the ball does not break apart, you have the perfect building sand. It is also a good idea to dig a watering hole next to the work area for an unlimited supply, because
3. Use Common Household Items for Tools The best part about building a sandcastle is the process is very inexpensive. You can collect basic tools from around the house, such as plastic silverware and measuring spoons to add curves or dig out windows and doors. Use an egg carton, plastic buckets or even empty yogurt
cartons to build towers or the base. Also, an oil funnel can be used to make a roof for a castle. 4. Use Nature’s Inspiration for Decoration Usually you can find items on the beach to help with your decoration inspiration. The most commonly used decorations for sandcastles are seashells, feathers, bark, sticks and seaweed. It is best to work from top to bottom and it is easier to take sand
away then to add more on. 5. Have Fun in the Sun! Building a sandcastle should be an enjoyable experience to increase creativity levels for all ages. Parents should encourage children to find creative ways to build and/or fix the sandcastle. As always, have fun and cherish the time spent with family and friends. Your sandcastle will not stay forever, but the memory of building one will!
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COUNTRYMINUTE Inside this issue: - Great Outdoors - Sandcastle Perfection - Support of Hantz Farms
- My Access - Tech Tip - Member Notes
GREENSTONE MEMBER NOTES Customers who receive the Country Minute do not receive GreenStone’s agricultural member publication, Partners. Therefore, the following is a snippet of news and feature stories found in the most recent issue of Partners. More information and complete articles can be viewed at www. GreenStoneFCS.com by selecting “Publications” found under the “News and Media” drop down.
Election Results GreenStone’s board of directors and nominating committee have been elected by the members. The four board members elected are Wm. “Hank” Choate of Jackson County, Bruce Lewis of Hillsdale County, Darl Evers of Allegan County and Ed Reed of Cass County. Summer Interns Our staff welcomes seven interns this summer at the corporate office in East Lansing. We are excited to provide these students with real world experience to help prepare them for future careers and gain in-depth knowledge about the ag industry. Look for our #InternAnswers on social
media to follow along with their experience! GreenStone Story Delivering a superior customer experience is why we have thousands of relationships spanning into and beyond their silver anniversary. Find out how with more than 98 years of experience, GreenStone is committed to you and dedicated to stand by our word and will not walk away when the trend winds change direction. GreenStone PAC Efforts As we work to strengthen the voice of agriculture and advocate in support of our members, PAC contributions take on a new and higher demand. During
www.greenstonefcs.com
the recent efforts to create awareness among our members for voluntary participation in the MI GreenStone PAC, we were pleased to receive support in the amount of more than $18,000 from over 340 members. Director’s Perspective Bill Stutzman, current AgriBank director and former GreenStone director, explains his role and outlines how AgriBank and GreenStone work together to benefit our members. Something to Share Have something on your mind or kudos to give? Take a minute and send your “Candid Comment’ or “Pause for Applause” to marketing@greenstonefcs.com.