Rooted in Community

Written by: Katie Ward, MidAtlantic Farm Credit Public Relations & Communications Specialist

As a cooperative financial association, MidAtlantic Farm Credit values the seven cooperative principles, one of which being concern for community. Creating local partnerships and giving back to those who live and work where we serve is a crucial aspect in our mission and vison as an organization, and why we consider our Association to be ‘Rooted in Community’.

Serving members through farm loans, home loans and land loans, our community outreach efforts typically support the future of agriculture and organizations that promote ag education and career opportunities. We often volunteer our time and resources with 4-H chapters, local fairs, Farm Bureau chapters, and mobile ag labs.

“Shaking up Ag Day”

photos courtesy of MidAtlantic Farm Credit To celebrate National Agriculture Week this past March, we chose to give back to the five state FFA organizations in our territory; Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. MidAtlantic Farm Credit donated a total of $8,186 to those state FFA programs during our eight “Shaking up Ag Day” events. We gave out one free milkshake to each person who stopped by, and matched the cost of each as a donation to the FFA organization for that event.

Events were held at locations across our fivestate territory. Local creameries provided the milkshakes and Farm Credit staff delivered them to guests through their car windows. Members of each state FFA organization were also in attendance to help run the events and celebrate

National Ag Week with our members and the public.

More than 1,400 milkshakes were served to the community during the three days. There was an additional $924 in cash donations given by the public to the FFA associations during the events. The donations will be used to support many educational and leadership opportunities for FFA students in the future.

Whether it’s a grain cooperative in the Midwest, where producers band together for the best prices; a milk cooperative here in the Mid-Atlantic, where members cooperate to get marketing benefits; or a vegetable cooperative in the city, where neighbors come together for fresh produce, cooperatives are a vibrant example of various communities working together for everyone’s success.

“Our Shaking Up Ag Day events were another inspiring example of our care for community at work,” adds Matt Ritenour, MidAtlantic Farm Credit Regional Lending Manager. “The collaboration between Farm Credit, local creameries, FFA organizations, and members from the ag community illustrates the intertwined support we all show each other.”

Farming itself is a community; people helping people, all to feed and clothe millions of consumers across the country. The members of a cooperative know better than anyone what agriculture and their community needs to grow. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the nearly 11,000 members that make up MidAtlantic Farm Credit! For more information about the Shaking up Ag Day events, visit mafc.com/shake. To learn more about Farm Credit and our cooperative structure, visit mafc.com or call 888.339.3334.