First: Find the right lender
Finding the right lender can be challenging and can also require some legwork when considering what is important to you when seeking financing. While interest rates are often a driver of decision, there are other factors such as fees, location, willingness to work with non-traditional properties, what happens after the loan closes, and the people you will work with that can make the process easier. Local realtors and other recent homebuyers are often good sources of reference for lending options.
Second: Check your credit report and work to improve it or keep it stable
Knowing your credit rating is an important part of the financing process and can affect the type of rate you may be eligible for. It is important to know what things can impact your credit rating. Excessive credit card balances, late payments, credit history and collections are all areas in which your credit score could be negatively impacted. You can, however, do things to improve your score such as paying down credit card balances, taking care of collections and catching up on late payments.
Third: Know your down payment options
Be sure to check with your lender on what down payment options are available. Do you need to put 20% down? Can fees be financed? Is there an opportunity to put 5% down with private mortgage insurance? Are there short-term loan options to offset the down payment requirement? Most lenders have options for borrowers to help assist with down payment requirements.
Fourth: Determine your budget
Knowing how much you can afford in a house payment, is often times different than what you are preapproved for. Establish a household budget so you know the appropriate price range of your new home.
You may also want to consider bi-weekly payments as a way to lower the amount of overall interest you will pay over the life of the mortgage. By setting up bi-weekly payments, you can cut 6 years off a 30-year mortgage.
Five: Obtain Life Insurance
Some lenders may require you to have life insurance at a value sufficient to cover the mortgage. Regardless of the requirement, life insurance can be important in ensuring your family’s future in the event of a tragedy.
For more than a decade, my colleagues and I have written for GreenStone on environmental issues that affect agriculture. When driven by science, the awareness and appropriate response and management to these issues can help protect human health and the environment. Science-based management also provides appropriate regulation. However, as evidenced below, environmental issues are not just matters of science – they include legal, political, and emotional components as well.
Waters of the United States (WOTUS)
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a decision on the Sackett II case regarding the Waters of the United States or WOTUS. While many legal pundits were anticipating the ruling in favor of the Sacketts, few expected the unanimous decision that a wetland is not a jurisdictional water. Further, SCOTUS rejected the “significant” nexus definition as too vague. Note: For background see our April 2023 article in Partners.
With this SCOTUS ruling, the WOTUS rule issued on December 30, 2022, and published in January 2023 was now in need of revision. The Biden Administration set out to offer an updated WOTUS rule by September 1, 2023. Upon initial review, the newly-issued WOTUS rule (August 29, 2023), appears to be straightforward.
The new WOTUS rule revises the January 2023 text to remove all language pertaining to significant nexus. It deletes interstate wetlands from the category of interstate waters. It also amends the definition of “adjacent” to mean “having a continuous surface connection.”
At the time of writing this article, legal and technical reviews from those likely or potentially regulated under WOTUS seem to be generally pleased with the revised WOTUS rule.
A Note of Caution
One note of caution came from former Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the Environmental Protection Agency, Susan Bodine. Ms. Bodine, now a lawyer at B&W Law, notes: “Many concerns of the regulated community arise from interpretations found in the preamble to the January 2023 final rule. 88 Fed. Reg. 3004 (Jan. 18, 2023). The preamble instructs the agencies on how to identify a ‘tributary,’ a ‘relatively permanent’ water, and ‘a continuous surface connection,’ none of which is defined in rule language.”
PFAS
The potential presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment is a growing concern, not just for typical manufacturing companies, but for everyone – including agriculture. Their widespread use in a host of industrial and consumer products has resulted in their presence around the globe in humans, animals, water, and soil.
PFAS are a concern because some of the PFAS compounds (there are thousands of PFAS compounds) are suspected of causing adverse health effects at very low levels (parts per trillion). However, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding which compounds and at what concentrations the effects are manifested, as toxicological studies are still not complete. In fact, if you go to the EPA’s PFAS website (epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained), the agency states that one of the things they don’t understand concerning PFAS is, “How harmful PFAS are to people and the environment.”
PFAS in Groundwater
There are two main ways that farms may be at risk of being impacted by these chemicals. First, groundwater can be impacted by military bases (and commercial airports) that used certain fire suppressants known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). This was the case for a dairy Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in New Mexico. The farm, which used groundwater for crop irrigation and cow hydration resulted in the farm and the nearly 4,000 cows becoming an environmental liability, not an asset. The cows were subsequently euthanized.
Attorney David Crass (Michael Best) recently wrote, “Since 2021, the US Department of Defense (DOD) has notified nearly 4,000 agricultural operations of the potential for PFAS contamination in aquifers associated with military installations, adding nearly 400 new notifications in its most recent update.”
There has been some movement under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to allow for government funding to compensate farms impacted by environmental releases at military bases.
PFAS in Biosolids
Second, and the more common way farms have been affected is through land application of biosolids. Publically-owned treatment works (POTWs) that treated effluent from industrial dischargers that used PFAS (e.g., plating companies, paper companies, semiconductors, and more) may have PFAS in their biosolids. These biosolids in many cases have been land applied to farms – in many instances for decades. This was the case for several farms in Maine that unknowingly accepted PFAS-impacted biosolids. Because PFAS are extremely chemically stable compounds, they can persist for decades and even much longer. Thus, the nickname: forever chemicals.
In 2022, Maine became the first state to ban the land application of biosolids.
PFAS as Hazardous Substances
Finally, the pending federal legislation to make certain PFAS chemicals “hazardous substances” under the “Superfund” program could potentially have wide-reaching impacts. If finalized (it was delayed until February 2024), it may result in sites with the specific regulated PFAS above threshold quantities being labeled hazardous and would potentially establish liability and remediation obligations for current and former owners of these sites.
It appears that we are much closer to a final definition of a WOTUS but we will have to let some more dust settle before saying this with any certainty. The PFAS issue is more complicated and potentially more consequential. The regulated community needs a robust evaluation of the real human health and environmental risks associated with PFAS sooner than later.
These and other environmental regulations are becoming increasingly far-reaching and require close attention.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
In this behind the scenes, three GreenStone employees share how their role allows them to support rural communities and agriculture.
Anthony Pegley
6 years of service
Senior Financial Services Officer
Saginaw, MI
Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture.
We offer some unique products that other institutions don’t, such as DIY home construction financing, contractor construction loans, and vacant land financing for up to 30 years. I think there is a lot of demand for these types of financing and it’s great to work for a company that can fill these needs.
What do you enjoy about your role?
The most enjoyable part about my job at GreenStone is getting to interact with so many people with various backgrounds and goals. Everyone is different and it’s always fun and interesting to understand people’s personal goals and then to watch them accomplish them.
What changes have been incorporated in your role to meet evolving customer needs?
Since COVID, people seem to be more comfortable communicating and working electronically. Utilizing secure messaging and our online loan request system has allowed us to better fit customer schedules. They are able to use these features at their own convenience and has also has increased our turnaround time in some areas. I see this as being a big benefit for everyone going forward.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy hunting, fishing, and woodworking in my free time. My wife and I have 4 and 6 year old boys that keep us very busy as well!
Joel Arends
7 months of service
Financial Services Officer
Grand Rapids, MI
Describe how your role carries out the GreenStone mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture.
My role as a Traditional Financial Services Officer gives me the opportunity to form and build relationships directly with members. Our members are unique and deserve to have a tailored approach when analyzing their business and credit position. Everyday I strive to make GreenStone’s financial services available to all of rural West Michigan.
What do you enjoy about your role?
Agricultural businesses are extremely unique. From apples to zucchini our members have very different business plans that make their profession successful. Discovering the details behind what it takes to get products to market and all the service industries that support them, give me a lot of confidence in the American food system. I am truly grateful to all the hard-working men and women putting food on our tables.
What changes have been incorporated in your role to meet evolving customer needs?
In just the half year I’ve been with GreenStone I have noticed customers continuing to evolve and embrace technology. Using online or digital platforms for communication or electronic signature platforms are something we do more of every day. At the same time, face to face customer interaction is still second to none. Making farm visits is an important part of the job.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends. My wife Elena and three young children are a tremendous blessing to me. Experiencing the beautiful outdoors of Michigan through hiking, biking, kayaking and snowmobiling are some of my favorite past times.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
Most would argue that raising a ten-month-old baby is no walk in the park. Operating a cattle operation, on-site creamery and farm store is no easy feat, either.
Heidi Hendrickson, a young farmer in Coopersville, Michigan is doing all of those things — simultaneously. And she’s doing them well.
Heidi says the secret to juggling it all is having the drive and vision for what you do.
“I believe that whatever you’re passionate about, you can do,” Heidi explained. “If there’s something you want to do, it is possible to do it. The only thing that is holding you back is yourself.”
Nothing is certainly holding Heidi back. She bought Green Vale Farm just last year after leasing the farm from her father for five years prior. The farm is rooted in rich history – founded more than 100 years ago in the 1920’s as a hobby farm for a banker. Now, the barns are filled with 550 cows along with pigs and chickens.
Heidi has a rich history in agriculture, too. Since she can remember, she was helping out on her father’s dairy farm milking cows.
“I grew up on the farm riding shotgun in my dad’s pickup truck. From as young as I can remember, I was working on the farm,” said Heidi.
That experience on the farm, along with some other opportunities in her youth, prepared her to take on such a large operation at a young age.
Heidi utilized GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program, which is uniquely designed for young, beginning and small farmers, to take advantage of more flexible loan terms to help her get started. Her financial services officer, Joel Arends, noticed her devotion to success almost instantly when they met.
“She’s extremely hardworking,” said Joel. “If I have a question for her, she’s always willing to take time out of her busy schedule to talk about whatever is at hand. She has been very personable and easy to get acquainted with.”
“My dad raised all of us seven kids with a very strong work ethic. We learned you do the job right and you do it until it’s done. There was a bar, and we were expected to live up to those standards,” Heidi explained. “Between my five part time jobs in high school, I was in some different work scenarios. I always knew that I wanted to work with something that was agriculture-based, yet something I could organize, make things, build things, and market things.”
Now, she’s doing all those things, but even with agriculture in her blood, leasing, and later owning, the farm came with some learning curves.
“I knew how to raise cows and do that side of things, but I had no experience running a business and very little experience with customer service,” said Heidi. “Learning new things is one of my favorite parts.”
Since taking over the farm, she has had the barns updated, expanded the storefront’s product line and hours, and makes cheese on-site.
“The cheese plant existed from the previous owners, but it wasn’t up to code. My cousin decided he wanted to update the equipment and make cheese. That eventually fell through, but then my mother and I decided to get licensed and begin making cheese on our own and sell it at the storefront.”
After seeking advice from some other cheesemakers in the industry, that journey began. Now, the storefront offers an array of products – from blocks of cheese from her plant, to cheese curds, eggs, steak, beef sticks and sausage – all from the dairy and beef cattle on her farm.
The store also sells fresh ice cream from another local dairy farm, and during the autumn season, she raises turkeys to sell for Thanksgiving dinner.
The storefront and farm have been received positively throughout the community – which is important to Heidi, who takes her operation’s brand and image very seriously.
“Once I opened the store, I learned I loved customer service and marketing and presenting my products well,” said Heidi. “This is my image and my businesses’ image. I never want someone to see something and think poorly of me or my family.”
Heidi works extremely hard day in and day out, but she understands she cannot do it all without some help. Her three part-time employees, husband Tyler, parents, and even her retired neighbor all pitch in to help make Green Vale Farm a huge success.
“My neighbor became my adopted grandpa. He was across the street and knew I was working early in the morning and wanted to make sure I was safe being out there alone milking cows. He’s a retired cop and gave me his number and we hit it off from day one. He’s one of the best people in my life,” Heidi shared.
Another big part of her network are other young farmers. Heidi is part of a Farm Credit peer-to-peer group made up of young, beginning and small farmers in the Midwest financed through Farm Credit institutions. It’s those connections that help answer questions, share ideas and push through challenges.
“When you have something in common with somebody, and you are passionate about the exact same things, it makes everything one hundred times more enjoyable,” said Heidi. “I love meeting people and hearing about their businesses and learning new ideas.”
We can’t forget another extremely important part of her farm team – her and Tyler’s ten-month-old daughter, Sage, who tags along during the day-to-day operations of the farm and is a welcoming face in the storefront.
“My farm and my business were my first baby, but my actual child is now my number one priority,” said Heidi. “If I can’t farm with my kid, I’m not going to farm, but I can’t ever stop farming, so I take my kid.”
GreenStone is proud to be a part of this important team, too.
“It really just comes down to relationships and getting to know the individuals,” said Joel. “It’s not just part of what my job is, it’s part of who I am. I like to get to know people and their successes and hardships to be a partner of their business and help them achieve their goals and ambitions.”
We know Heidi has many more goals and ambitions to achieve in the years to come, and GreenStone will be there every step of the way.
“I think she is the type of person that will always continue to be moving forward and growing over the course of her business life,” said Joel. “She does a really good job and is very personable when working with other people.”
“If I look back to where I started, I have a lot to be thankful for,” Heidi reflected.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
One mission, two associations, endless value. In August, GreenStone’s board of directors and executive team held a joint board meeting with neighboring association Farm Credit Illinois. The goal – collaboration, networking and learning. The result…read on to hear about the value of the experience from four of your board members.
Collaboration = “the act of working together.” This is the reason that the board and management of GreenStone and Farm Credit Illinois held a joint session in August as a part of our 2024 planning process. It was an opportunity to share our business model, including the unique technology tools that are available to our customers. Farm Credit Illinois informed us on how they operate in their marketplace. An outside speaker also gave a thought-provoking presentation on the future state of lending.
GreenStone exists to be America’s first choice for financial services. Farm Credit Illinois also does an excellent job of meeting their customer’s needs. Even though there are some differences in commodity concentrations, business practices, etc., it was very clear that both organizations are committed to being the very best in their individual marketplaces.
These types of joint sessions are very valuable. We can learn from others which may ultimately benefit our customers and, likewise, can offer some of our insights to other organizations. The opportunity of getting to know other association board members was also great. Each farm operation has its own challenges and opportunities and I gained beneficial information from such conversations. Hopefully, we can have additional joint sessions with other associations in the future.
We are all working diligently for a common cause!
When this joint meeting was first announced, I honestly wasn’t certain if we’d get value out of it. After we did meet, it was very enlightening! We have a lot in common and yet different in many ways. GreenStone is more diverse in our customer’s commodities and farming practices. We both put a lot of effort in supporting young, beginning, and small farmers. Also, both associations prioritize giving back a portion of our earnings to our members through Patronage dividends annually. And opportunities were identified to possibly collaborate on technology or other areas down the road. Overall it was a good meeting get to know the other directors who hold the same goals in mind as we do – to do the best we can for our fellow borrowers.
It was an excellent joint board meeting between Farm Credit Illinois and GreenStone. The opportunity to share common issues and solutions to those issues doesn’t happen as often as we would all like, and focusing on just two organizations over the two days allowed extra scrutiny on certain commonalities.
Although my interest was piqued due to Illinois board members being from towns near my hometown, drawing on their strength and common experiences with our board members enhanced the two days. I feel even more confidence in the Farm Credit System and in GreenStone.
I imagine we have all had a person in our lives who we would like to learn from or find out what makes them successful; Farm Credit associations are no different. GreenStone does look at how other associations meet the needs of their customers while fulfilling the Farm Credit mission. We recently met with Farm Credit Illinois for that purpose. Our board of directors and executive teams had an opportunity to meet and discuss the challenges each association faces, share ideas, and see how each of us returns value to our members. Both associations have strong financial positions, high customer satisfaction scores, and work hard to help young, beginning, and small farmers. Farm Credit Illinois had some particularly innovative ideas for helping the young and beginning farmers they serve.
Similarities aside, the associations achieve this success while maintaining quite different loan portfolios. One of GreenStone’s strengths is the diversity of our loan portfolio. While meeting the financial needs of a diverse customer base is challenging, it provides stability to the association by limiting the fiscal impact of cycles in any one industry. Developing new software and integrating it into the workforce to improve efficiency is a challenge that both associations face. GreenStone has been a leader in this area. Our information technology department has been working to develop software that will improve the efficiency of GreenStone and to keep the costs down has partnered with several associations to share the cost of these software enhancements.
At the close of our meeting time together we all agreed it was beneficial and would look for opportunities to meet again. . . there is more to learn.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
GreenStone is proud to be a national leader in providing customers a risk management option through Micro Farm Crop Insurance. This policy provides specialized small farmers and specialty crop producers a safety net.
Recently, a group of GreenStone employees hosted representatives from the USDA Risk Management Agency, Congressman John Moolenaar, and the Farm Credit Council on two farm visits. Both farms utilize Micro Farm Crop Insurance through GreenStone and were able to share the success of their business, value of the new coverage option for their unique farm, as well as outline ways to better the policy.
The group started their day at Rasch Cherry and Apple Market in Conklin, Michigan. This farm offers customers a full-scale farm experience with you-pick cherry and apple options. Their farm store is stocked with baked goods, doughnuts, cider, and more much – all insured through this policy.
In the afternoon, the group was able to meet at Organic Blueberries LLC, a fourth-generation family farm in West Olive, Michigan. With almost 20 acres of blueberries, the farm allows customers to pick their own or choose from a selection of pre-packaged berries.
The USDA Risk Management Agency makes decisions about the guidelines for crop insurance in the United States. GreenStone understands the importance of getting them in the same room as producers, members of Farm Credit, and lawmakers to have a productive conversation about important changes to benefit you, the customer. We are proud to lead the charge with Micro Farm Crop Insurance, and we are committed to pushing for crop insurance standards to meet your needs.
Fast Facts about Micro Farm:
- Micro Farm Crop Insurance covers both revenue from commodities and revenue from some value-added products like lotions from lavender or wine from grapes.
- GreenStone wrote 45% of the total Micro Farm policies in the United States, and 89% of policies in Michigan.
If you think your operation could benefit from a Micro Farm policy, contact your GreenStone crop insurance specialist today!
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
GreenStone operates on a set of four core values – one of which is “Deliver Quality.” By putting an emphasis on engaging and developing our employees, we are able to be the best team possible for our member-owners and do just that – quality work.
Having a Pulse on our People
Like our customers, it’s difficult to know how your employees are doing without listening to them and gathering their feedback. One major way GreenStone is able to do this is through our employee engagement survey.
The survey measures how satisfied our employees are with the direction of the organization. Although many companies do similar surveys every two to five years, GreenStone finds importance in utilizing this survey annually to track any changes timely to ensure the consistent satisfaction of our employees.
This survey has allowed us to make adjustments to best suit our workplace. Recently, when the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way we worked, our leaders were equipment with real time employee information to be able to make changes on the fly that they knew would best suit our employees based on feedback from the survey.
In our recent employee engagement survey, 92% of respondents indicated that GreenStone’s culture and values are favorable.
When asked in the survey if GreenStone is a great place to work, our employees’ responses have always kept us in the 99-percentile compared to other organizations – and that’s something we’re deeply proud of.
Everyone’s a Leader
At GreenStone, we believe everybody, regardless of their job title, has the capacity to be a leader and an expert in their field. We offer an array of professional development opportunities internally to help our team become equipped to be the best they can.
Employees are invited and encouraged to participate in different development pathways throughout their time at GreenStone to hone in on skills like business writing, public speaking, teamwork, leadership and business etiquette. Some pathways are geared to prepare employees for a managerial position in their future, and others work to provide the skills to be an empowering teammate in their current position.
GreenStone employees are also supported in their desire for promotions. In fact, a majority of GreenStone’s leadership team started in other positions and made their way to the managerial positions they hold today. GreenStone’s robust internship program also helps us find skilled and talented teammates that stay on full-time after their schooling has ended. In fact, GreenStone’s recently retired CEO, Dave Armstrong, began at the cooperative as an intern!
Engaging Our Team
Keeping a team satisfied starts with engagement. GreenStone has a volunteer committee, the Employee Engagement Work Group, made up of employees in almost every single department. Their goal – to be a sounding board for what works best for the people of GreenStone.
The team helps organize mentorship opportunities for newer employees, coordinates the employee engagement survey, manages GreenStone’s employee recognition program and records a monthly internal podcast giving the spotlight to our staff to share their vast knowledge.
The committee also meets and brings ideas to our leadership team about techniques to make the workplace even better – everything from dress code recommendations to alternative work arrangements.
Nobody on this committee has to do this work. They do it voluntarily to help make GreenStone the best workplace it can be – a testament to the culture of the co-op.
Investing in You
Earlier we stated that one of GreenStone’s core four values is “Deliver Quality.” Another one of those values is “Customer First.”
We believe when our employees are engaged and consistently bettering themselves, they are able to put you, the customer, before anything else. You are the reason we put an emphasis on investing in our employees.
By being experts in our field, we can help provide you with professional service and solutions to your unique needs.
When our people are happy, we can do everything in our power to make you happy, too.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
Every new job comes with some learning curves, and GreenStone’s President and CEO, Travis Jones, has taken the challenge head-on. Jones was appointed CEO last summer and took the reins of GreenStone in August after serving as Chief Financial Officer for 15 years. Now, one year into the top job, Jones is reflecting on all that he has learned and is looking forward to in the future.
Q: What has been your favorite memory so far as President and CEO?
The last year has gone very fast and I can’t think of just a single favorite memory. GreenStone is doing very well, and I get to brag about our successes which makes my job easy. I have been lucky enough to visit a large number of customers on their farms and at their businesses, which I really enjoy. Very few CEOs get to visit such a diverse range of customers. I have visited cash grain farmers, apple growers, pork producers, dairy farmers, and sugar beet, blueberry and potato growers to name a few. Everyone’s operations are different, yet everyone is working hard not only to support their families but to also provide food, fuel and fiber to the world.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge as CEO?
Probably the biggest challenge we face is trying to always do the right thing for our members and our employees. With 28,000 customers and more than 600 employees, we don’t “bat a thousand” every time, but we never stop trying. We strive to have very satisfied, engaged employees and hope that turns into very satisfied customers. We have been pretty good at striking the right balance in the past, and it’s imperative that GreenStone continues to strike the right balance in the future.
Q: Do you still turn to former CEO Dave Armstrong for advice?
Dave and I have breakfast once a month. My wife Sue and I have probably had dinner with Dave and his wife Debbie three times in the last year. I can ask Dave anything. He was the best boss in the world and now he is the best unpaid consultant in the world. Actually, I cover breakfast, so his advice isn’t totally free, but close! When he was at GreenStone or just during breakfast this past year, I have always tried to soak up his knowledge and advice. I listen to everything he has to say except for when he starts talking about Spartan football or basketball. When a game against Michigan is coming up for instance, he will always say he doesn’t expect much from Michigan State. However, if the Spartans win, it’s very hard to put up with the gloating.
Q: You said last year that GreenStone is where you want to spend the remainder of your career. Does that still ring true?
Absolutely! This is just a really special place; I knew it when I interviewed here 16 years ago for the Chief Financial Officer position and I still believe it today. You can’t find another organization like Farm Credit. GreenStone is a $14 billion financial institution, yet we are a cooperative. We are owned by our members. Fourteen of our 16 board members are members. Our employees understand why we are here. Our mission is to “Promote the business success of our customers and the rural community by being the best at providing credit and financial services.” My teammates follow our mission every day, and we have the greatest member base in the country. Why would I want to work anywhere else?
Q: What are you looking forward to most in the future at GreenStone?
GreenStone has such a strong staff. I am spoiled as a CEO to have such great teammates. Some have a ton of experience, and some are strong, young leaders. GreenStone will be very successful in the future because of the bench strength of our staff, at every level.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
During the holidays, it is easy to get wrapped up in the ribbons and bows and forget the importance of giving back. Here are five easy ways that you and your family can give back to your community during the holiday season:
- Donate unwanted items: During your fall cleaning, clean out your closet of those unwanted coats, jackets and donate them to your local community closet! Do you have extra canned goods and non-perishables sitting in your cupboards? Donate them to your local food bank! It is an easy way to turn your extra or no longer useful items to value for those in need.
- Give back to the service providers: Don’t forget to give back to those who are working hard to make sure your grocery orders or holiday presents get delivered on time! Create a little thank you basket for your local delivery workers this season. This can be just as simple as a granola bar or a bottle of water to help them get through their deliveries!
- Visit a local retirement home: Not everyone has a family to visit them around the holidays. Take the time to visit someone in a retirement home by playing games, creating a craft, or simply just hanging out with them. If you are not able to visit a home, think about sending some homemade cards. It is a simple way to make someone’s holiday season a little brighter!
- Send a care package to someone in the military: There are several organizations all across the country that will send your care package to those overseas. Spend time with your family to make homemade food or create a handmade card for someone that may not be able to come home for the holidays. This is just a special way to say thank you for your service!
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen: Give back to your community by handing out food to those in need. Volunteer time at your local soup kitchen or food pantry to help out. The best holiday gift you could give yourself is the satisfaction in helping someone else!.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
Last year, my wife and I were able to purchase our dream property, thanks to a very generous land owner and the folks at GreenStone Farm Credit Services.
It was a realization of a lifelong dream of mine and something I’m thankful for every single day. In southern Michigan, purchasing land can be difficult, especially hunting land. There’s not much for sale and plenty of potential buyers. So, to end up owning a chunk of premium hunting ground seemed like a dream for most of my life, and still does to some extent. I’m not sure if I realized it when we signed the papers, but this was the beginning of new adventure for our family.
This particular piece of property is one that I’ve hunted for nearly 15 years and have enjoyed countless experiences on. In recent years my wife and I, along with our two children, have enjoyed spending time there throughout the year doing a wide variety of outdoor activities. That being said, the deer hunter in me is always thinking about fall. I find myself constantly wondering what the next deer season will bring or reflecting on previous seasons. Heading into this year my mind was racing with anticipation of what was to come. For the first time in my life, my primary hunting spot would be my own.
Once the snow was off, I found myself wandering around the property thinking about what improvements I could make to the current habitat to enhance it for wildlife. It was a strange sensation to realize that I no longer needed to dream about what I wanted to do, instead, I could actually do it. In a way, it was also somewhat daunting. The possibilities seem endless when it comes to property enhancements.
As spring progressed into early summer, I started to cross off some of the things I had planned out early in the year. I added a few new blinds, hung a few new tree stands, and planted three new food plots. It seemed like I spent pretty much all of my free time doing something around the property. Although it was a lot work, it hardly felt that way. The more work I did, the more I thought about the future. I would think about things like planting trees and what they might look like down the road, what they might look like when my kids were older. With or without any changes I might make, the property is beautiful and I find myself constantly in awe of what we own.
Here today, I’m anxious to see what this deer season holds. After a lifetime of dreaming of what could be, it’s time to enjoy what is. More than anything, I’m thankful to have a piece of property to call my own and I can’t wait to enjoy it with friends and family this fall!
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.