Calendar of Events

WIN DOLLARS WITH YOUR DEER IN WISCONSIN AND MI U.P.

Get into the hunting season spirit and win dollars for your deer during GreenStone’s Annual Deer Challenge! For over ten years, and again this hunting season, GreenStone will be giving away a total of $1,000 in cash prizes during the Annual Deer Challenge. Hunters who reside in northeast Wisconsin are invited to participate for the chance to win big bucks now through Friday, December 4, 2022. The challenge features both adult and junior classes, with cash prizes awarded in each group: Adults (18 years and older) • First Place - $400 • Second Place - $200 • Third Place - $100 Junior Buck (17 years and younger) • First Place - $200 • Second Place - $100 Along with the prizes, all entrants who harvest a deer with any legal gun, bow, muzzleloader or crossbow will be entered into a drawing to win a game camera or a $25 gift card. Trophies will also be awarded to junior hunters who harvest their first deer. To qualify, deer must be harvested in northeastern Wisconsin or Michigan’s upper peninsula and the hunter must reside in GreenStone’s northeast Wisconsin territory. The completed form can be dropped off at one of our five Wisconsin branches in Clintonville, Coleman, Little Chute, Manitowoc or Sturgeon Bay, or online by visiting www.GreenStoneFCS.com/ DeerChallenge. Good luck to all hunters this season! ■

Mark Your Calendar...

NOVEMBER 24

GreenStone Offices Closed In honor of Thanksgiving (24-25)

29

Michigan Farm Bureau

Annual Meeting (11/29-11/30) Amway/DeVos, Grand Rapids with virtual options

DECEMBER

2

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and

Agriculturist Conference (2-5) Wisconsin Dells, WI

6

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo/Michigan

Greenhouse Growers Expo (6-8) Devos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI

23

GreenStone Offices Closed In

honor of Christmas (23-26)

JANUARY

2

GreenStone Offices Closed In Honor of the New Year

6

Michigan Sheep Breeders

Association Shepherd’s (6-8) Lansing, MI

19

Dairy Strong Conference

Monona Terrace, Madison, WI and virtual

26

Great Lakes Crop Summit (26-27) Soaring Eagle Resort, Mt. Pleasant, MI

2022 INTERNSHIP WRAP UP

As the weather chills and leaves fall, students have packed their bags and are back to the bustling college campus. The hands-on work and crucial skills they gained this summer will follow them back to campus and to any other adventure they take on.

Before the interns made the journey back, they finished their time at GreenStone with a cumulative presentation in front of the whole company. These 29 interns highlighted their challenges and rewards, their biggest learning moments, and their favorite memories from the summer for everyone to hear.

The best part - each intern came to the same conclusion: they have grown tremendously through their projects and will cherish the knowledge they gained and the people they worked with. They will be leaving with a new friends, a network of supporters, and real examples of their abilities in the workforce. Intern positions varied, as they all worked in a variety of departments and on projects ranging from analyzing financial statements and credit narratives, to counting cows for farm appraisals, to recruiting GreenStone's new hires, and so much more. Since the beginning of May, interns worked virtually, in person, or both! They thrived in a flexible environment that mirrored the common shift in today’s workforce. Learning how to work efficiently in both environments prepares them for any future career environment they may encounter. Along with completing real world projects that are important to the success of GreenStone, interns were able to attend multiple intern events. These experiences ranged from completing an escape room, attending lunch-and-learns, and touring Moo-Ville, a local robotic dairy farm. Events focused on networking, professional development, and fun! Lunch-and-learns explored topics such as resume building, the hiring process, and personality tests to provide a strong foundation for the next steps in the interns’ careers. Congratulations to all of the 2022 interns! We can’t thank this team enough and we wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors! ■

GREENSTONE IS TRANSITIONING HER DECADES OF EXPERIENCE TO THE CFO ROLE: KIMBERLY BRUNNER

GreenStone is pleased to announce the promotion of Kimberly Brunner as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Kim assumed the new role on August 1, 2022, in sync with Travis Jones transitioning to the chief executive officer leadership position for the association. “Kim’s focus on both the details and the impact they have on others sets her apart. Having seen her knowledge and approach while she supported the association through her role at AgriBank, we knew we were fortunate to gain her experience when she joined GreenStone,” said President and CEO Travis Jones. “On top of that, having worked directly with her over the last several years, I am confident she’ll provide strong leadership and financial discipline to help assure the ongoing financial strength of our cooperative.” Kim began her career in the accounting and financial space over 30 years ago, earning a bachelor’s degree from University of Northern Iowa and becoming a CPA. She gained excellence in her skillset throughout her career in business financial analysis, auditing, internal controls, and financial reporting. Kim has served in several financial roles over the years, having spent the last decade working within the Farm Credit System, first at AgriBank prior to joining GreenStone in 2019. She most recently served as the senior vice president of finance and operations for GreenStone where she was responsible for financial reporting of internal controls, management of external financial audits, leadership of GreenStone’s operational team throughout its 35 locations, and overseeing various risk control measures for the association.

As the CFO, Kim will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to issues affecting GreenStone’s long range financial viability, as well as day-to-day financial activities. She will be focused on the association’s finance and accounting activity, as well as the operations and facilities management teams. “I am honored with the opportunity to continue providing leadership to the GreenStone team and its members,” Kim affirmed. “I’ve admired the focus on delivering quality and superior services to our members, and I’m committed to ensuring those values come with a sustained strong financial base to continue our mission long into the future.”. ■