All in the Family

president’s message

All in the family

I always enjoy talking to farmers who run generational operations. Listening to their stories of acreage being passed down from great-greatgrandparents, improvements made to remain innovative, challenges they’ve faced head-on, and their plans as the next generation moves up the ranks, leaves me feeling a little nostalgic and, as always, inspired.

We have many members who share similar stories—owning and operating farms that have been passed down for decades, sometimes even centuries. Each of the families in this issue have (at one point or another) been faced with making decisions about what the future may hold for their farm. No matter what the circumstances, they have worked together to ensure their legacy lives on.

Amos and Ann Marie Stoltzfus of Gap, Pennsylvania, handed over the day-to-day operations of their family’s dairy farm five years ago to their son, Duane - making him the third generation to farm on their land. Duane learned everything he knows from Amos, and still appreciates his input on many of the business decisions.

The Thomas family of Boonsboro, Maryland has been farming on the same land since 1949. The operation is a true family affair, with almost everyone being involved in some aspect. Now in the third generation, the Thomas’ are making plans for the future, with the youngest family members already showing an interest in the business.

Paul Bounds and his son, Coard, are the twelfth and thirteenth generations of Bounds family members on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Talk about heritage! The father-son duo work together to run the family’s corn and soybean operation, which is on land purchased by Paul’s grandfather in 1918.

The Rhoderick family has been running a dairy operation in Mount Airy, Maryland since 1937. Today, the family not only continues that tradition with plans to grow, but they have become deeply rooted in their community and are always there to help their neighbors, regardless of the project.

Like these families, and many others we are fortunate to work with, Farm Credit has been supporting America’s agriculture industry for generations. We’ve seen a lot of change over the years, but one thing that has remained constant is our dedication to our members and local communities. This past October, we moved into our new building in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, signifying our continued commitment to supporting Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. We celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, an open house, milkshakes, and a $5,000 donation to the Fill a Glass with Hope campaign—check out page 15 for more details.

We may not all work with family, but as another year comes to a close, I hope you’re able to spend a little time with those you love, making memories and planning for a great year to come.

On behalf of the entire MidAtlantic Farm Credit family, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.