Incoming President’s Message

Incoing President’s Message

Back to an Unrestricted Life

By Chris O’Brien, MCH

It is spring and therefore time for MNLA’s annual meeting where the industry takes stock of the last year and the organization plans for the new growing season. 2021 was the second year of limitations on many familiar routines and activities imposed as a result of the COVID pandemic, although the restrictions were generally less severe than those we began with in 2020. The economic losses and gains were felt unevenly throughout the economy, but nearly everyone seems to have experienced a sense of increased isolation during the pandemic — family visits not made, friends not contacted, events not attended. Identifying someone as an “old friend” now may mean someone we seem to have lost touch with. Those losses loom large.

As the CDC eases its COVID-related guidance, we can begin to resume some of the familiar routines that bring us into increasing contact with one another. MNLA is planning now for the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show on Thursday, July 14, 2022, as an in-person event at Weston Nurseries — our first live summer conference in three years! We are also on schedule for additional live events to get us back to one of MNLA’s key purposes: networking! Be sure to mark your calendars for Plant Geek Day on Wednesday, August 24th and MNLA Live on Wednesday, September 28th.

Peter Mezitt, who is hosting the upcoming summer conference, has stepped down from the president’s position after leading MNLA through the years of COVID. We, the members, are fortunate that under Peter’s leadership, the association remains strong financially and organizationally despite the challenges of the last two years. As the next president, I hope that the Board of Directors can maintain the association’s vigor with the participation of our committed members in the coming year.

I am looking forward to renewing those old friendships and making new acquaintances in the upcoming year.

Hope to see you at the summer conference.

Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Garden Designs MNLA President

IT PAYS TO BE A CUSTOMEROWNER.

This year we paid $91 million in patronage dividends.

Farm Credit East is customer-owned, which means customers share in the association’s financial success. This year, qualifying borrowers received $91 million from our 2021 earnings. That’s equivalent to 1.25% of average eligible loan volume and adds up to $1 billion since our patronage program began.

Discover the difference. No other lender works like Farm Credit East.

Loans & Leases Financial Record-Keeping Payroll Services Profitability Consulting Tax Preparation & Planning Appraisals Estate Planning Beginning Farmer Programs Crop Insurance