Steve and Kris Van Haitsma are committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, which stems in part from
 Kris’ background in environmental chemistry.

“I graduated with a biology degree from Calvin University,” Kris said, “and I started working as a lab tech in an environmental testing lab. As a chemist for the next 18 years, I worked on quality control, testing for things like pesticides and herbicides.”

Steve was raised on an organic farm, so he was already familiar with the farming philosophy free of pesticides and herbicides. Also a Calvin graduate, he owned his own appraising business before transitioning full-time to the farm.

With those backgrounds, the couple began Mud Lake Farm by buying used greenhouses and moving them to their property. The Van Haitsmas have four greenhouses and 36 acres, plus they grow using hydroponics. The land where they farm was in Steve’s family for 117 years, and most of that time it was cattle pasture. When they were getting ready to move to it, they envisioned being able to have all the inputs to grow and produce.

“It’s a difficult thing to figure out how to do, and this was before the internet,” Kris said. “We were doing all the research with books, and we thought – let’s try hydroponics.”

They built ponds in the greenhouses that are insulated, and they use PEX tubing that runs from a geothermal system to heat the water, much like a floor heating system. Their ponds have foam floats that float on top of the water, and the roots grow into the water to draw the nutrients from it. No weeding is required, and they’re able to use all the growing area. As a result, they’re also not losing water to evaporation, because the surface is covered.

“We use about 10% of the water to grow hydroponically that we would use to grow traditionally,” Kris said.

Currently, they have between 6-10 hydroponic beds in each of their greenhouses, and they also build other beds outside in the summer. With this system, they’re able to harvest 600-800 pounds of lettuce a week in the summer.

Along with hydroponic lettuce, they use their greenhouses to grow microgreens, a variety of herbs, rosemary, pineapple sage, mint, ginger, and chamomile. Outside, they grow arctic kiwis, hazelnuts, elderflowers and berries, and much more.

“We’re always trying something new,” Kris said. “Last year we planted 100 yellow birch trees to use as a flavoring for our root beer.”

Cordials and Sodas

After making their mark in the produce arena, the couple decided to expand into a new venture.

“For our wedding anniversary we went to Wales,” Steve said. “We tried elderflower “pressé” (which is a fancy French word for soda), and we thought – we can make this!”

They went to their friends at Cascade Winery in Grand Rapids and used their canning equipment to make elderflower soda.

“We were told we were the first ones in the states to make elderflower soda,” Steve said. “It’s my favorite one. Not only do you get all the benefits of the elderflower, in that it’s good for cold and flu, but it’s also a fun beverage that you can use to make cocktails.”

They were already growing ginger for chefs and decided to try making ginger cordial with it instead. It went so well, they also made a ginger soda. Since then, they have added a root beer made with natural ingredients, including carrots, beets, and a chamomile soda from their fresh chamomile flowers.

They now produce beverages made with the fresh ingredients from their farm, and they sell under the name St. Steve’s Cordials & Sodas.

“The main thing is we’re using real ingredients to make it, and it comes from here,” Kris said. “We use our fresh elderberries, elderflowers, chamomile, ginger, birch bark.

We have a limited number of ingredients because we want just fresh, simple ingredients. Most ginger ales and ginger beers don’t even have real ginger in them, so we see this as an opportunity to give people an amazing soda that still provides the functional benefits of using the real plant.”

“We have lots of people who buy our products just for the health benefits,” Steve added. “People going through cancer treatments love the ginger. People who struggle with sleeping love the chamomile. It so neat to make something that people really appreciate. We get so much amazing feedback from our customers.”

Financing opportunity

They soon looked into purchasing a canner for their own business.

“We’ve always had conventional loans before, and other banks didn’t want to work with us because we were now a farm,” Steve said. “We talked to Matt Alt, and it really seemed to fit together with what we were trying to do and what GreenStone offered.”

Matt Alt is a financial services officer out of GreenStone’s Grand Rapids branch. When Kris and Steve contacted him, they asked about a house refinancing loan, but also additional funds for a canner.
“It was such a unique situation, as they are growing the throughput and then producing the craft soda with it,” Matt said. “It was n exciting loan to help with, because it was obvious the benefits the canner would bring to their business.”

Matt added that when he visited the farm, it happened to coincide with a day his branch was meeting up for a potluck, so he brought a case of craft soda.

“We tried a bunch of different flavors, and it was a hit,” Matt said. “I’m glad we were able to help with their soda creation.”

In January 2021, Steve and Kris used GreenStone to finance their canning line, and they now are able to can their sodas and sparkling waters on the farm on their own schedule, producing 24 cans a minute.

Sustainability

Steve and Kris have designed their farm around sustainability measures.

They use LED lighting to provide supplemental light in their greenhouses. They heat the water in the hydroponic beds with a geothermal system, and they also use a biomass furnace to heat the air over the cooler months. For a heat source, they burn cherry pits that they buy from a supplier in Shelby, Michigan.

“We tried different materials like corn, and wood pellets, but they had issues like leaving residue and attracting rodents,” Steve said. “We also had an issue that corn is a food source. With cherry pits, they’re a carbon neutral product, they’re produced every year, and they’re also a complete waste product. We buy 15 tons of them every winter.”

Steve and Kris have a strong online presence, have won many awards, and have built a successful business with their produce and beverages.

“We believe in sustainable agriculture, and we’re looking forward to exploring more ideas to make it even more sustainable,” Kris said.

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here.

Ben Kasik is using a variety of resources to continually educate himself about farming, including conferences, networking, and business planning.

He farms with his grandparents, Jerry and Carolyn, in Henderson, Michigan, where they grow corn, soybeans, and wheat. He began farming full-time in 2018.

“I didn’t know I wanted to farm full- time until I went away to college at Michigan State,” Ben said. “Being away that first month was so awful. I couldn’t wait to come home and help. All through the fall harvest I drove home almost every day after class to help – I couldn’t stand not being there.”

Ben graduated with his bachelor’s degree in crop and soil science and brought back his new knowledge to his home farm. His main mentor and teacher on the farm is also his coworker – his grandpa Jerry.

“My grandfather has a vast amount of knowledge and wisdom he acquired from farming his entire life,” Ben said. “He’s a well-rounded farmer, and he’s good at everything, like fixing machines, agronomy, working with people. I’m so thankful I can work and learn alongside him.”

Ben went to his financial services officer Nicole (Nikki) Burke in the spring of 2018 to obtain an operating loan, and she not only assisted him with financing, but also introduced him to other GreenStone services.

“Every time I have a financial question or a business idea, I know I can call Nikki anytime and get help,” Ben said. “She’s always willing to give me good financial advice, and if she doesn’t know something, she points me to resources to find the answer.”

Nikki works with a number of young, beginning, and small farmers out of the Corunna branch. In her 11-year career with GreenStone, she makes it a point to reach out to her customers to share about available programs.

“I care a lot about my customers, and I want to see their businesses succeed and grow,” Nikki said. “Putting the customer first is the most important thing to GreenStone, and everyone on the team truly cares about making the experience positive for our customers.”

Mentorship Program

One of the programs she suggested trying was the GreenStone mentorship program, which pairs new farmers with more experienced producers to share knowledge and help equip them for the future of the industry.

Ben was matched with mentor Eric Blaine of Blaine Farms in St Charles, who also is a cash crop farmer. Eric brings his 21 years of knowledge to the mentorship.

“He’s a really sharp young man,” said Eric Blaine. “I like working with him. He already has a great understanding of the industry, and he just wants to fine tune his skills, which is really admirable.”
Since Ben has the leadership of his grandpa, he already has a great mentor on the farm, but like most business owners, he enjoys talking with people who have the same job.

“It’s so interesting talking to Eric, because some of the things he’s doing are so different,” Ben said. “If you take three farms within ten minutes of each other, even if it’s the same crop, everyone is doing things a little bit differently. I like bouncing off ideas from him to get his completely different perspective.”

“That’s a big part of farming,” he added. “You can never know enough. I asked my friend Tony Motz, also a farmer, why he always talked to everyone, and he said – you can always learn something from everybody.”

Grant Program

The next program Ben has taken advantage of is the grants from GreenStone. Each year, GreenStone commits $40,000 to young, beginning, and small farmers for the grants, which they can use toward agricultural programs and events, GreenStone services like accounting and tax services, and resources like business and farm consultants.

Ben has made use of the grant multiple times. For example, he’s attended conferences like the Great Lakes Crop Summit, attended industry meetings, and had the GreenStone tax and accounting department prepare his tax return. GreenStone has a full array of tools and services to support farmers like Ben, including new tools as a part of GreenStone’s refreshed CultivateGrowth program (see page 25).

“Being a young farmer, it’s nice to have someone help,” Ben said. “I like that GreenStone takes a chance on young farmers, so then we can turn around and show we’re doing our part, learning and using the resources they’re giving you.”

Future Opportunities

Ben doesn’t live far from his parents, Jerry and Ellen Kasik, and joked with them that he was going to be a bachelor farmer his whole life. Instead, when he matched with his now-wife Megan on the Farmers Only dating site, he called his mom after their first date to tell her he met the woman he was going to marry. They married in the summer of 2021.

“Our wedding happened right during wheat harvest, and I was so glad it rained, so I wasn’t thinking I could be combining wheat,” he said.

“Megan isn’t from a farm, but now she wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
“I think a farm is the best place to raise a family. There are so many opportunities for responsibility, even at a young age, and it gives you a connection to nature. Not every kid gets the chance to smell a rain coming or feel a frost melting in the spring.”

He looks forward to the future of farming with his grandpa and living with his family on the farm. As he plans for his farming future, he knows he’ll continue to use the resources available to him, as well as let other people know about them.

“I would encourage any other farmers to take advantage of these opportunities,” Ben said. “Go for it. I plan on using every resource I can, from financing, programs, grants, meetings, anything like that – where I have the chance. Without GreenStone’s assistance with getting started, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here.

More and more of Santa’s elves transitioned to online shopping this past year instead of going into their local Santa workshop. According to a recent survey, between 2019 and 2020 there was a 20% increase in online shopping revenue in the United States. It is estimated that by 2025 that figure revenue figure will reach an astonishing $563 million per year. With the increased number of consumers choosing to shop online we need to be extra vigilant to protect ourselves from the cybercriminals regardless of the holiday or reason you’re shopping online!

Here are four tips to make sure your online shopping trips are safe and secure!

• Keep your devices up to date and clean: Make sure all of your internet- connected devices (PCs, smartphones, and tablets) are current on all operating system and application software updates, including antivirus and antimalware software. In my house, it is my second job making sure that these updates have been applied to all my families’ devices. These updates typically contain security fixes to make it harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to the device or application.
  • Update Android and iOS (Smartphones or Tablets)
    • Open your phone’s “Settings” app.
      – Android – Click on “System” > “System Update”
      – iPhone – Click on “General” > “Software Update”
  • Update Windows Operating System (Personal Computers)
    • Click on “Start” button > type “Update” > Click “Check for updates” • After you review the updates – Click OK > Click “Install updates”

• Watch out for spam and phishing emails: The more we shop online, the more
 receive email messages from
 highlighting upcoming sales or promotions. This is always a great time for cybercriminals to send their phishing emails to your inbox. To help you identify when things just aren’t quite right, here are just two of the of the more common phishing emails you might receive.
  • Fake shipping notification emails – these emails appear to be coming from USPS or FedEx and contain shipping numbers, barcodes, and other items to make them appear legit and cause you to click to see the status.
  • Fake retail store/product emails – these messages appear to be coming from retail stores offering great deals on hard-to-find items they contain deals that would be hard to pass up to entice you to click the link.

Whether you are shopping with the gift card you received over the holidays, or just waiting for a normal delivery, always go directly to the company’s website using your preferred internet browser and check the status or inventory there. Do not click on links or open attachments from unknown senders.

• Protect yourself from suspicious purchases: Checking your financial account statements is not only a great way to keep track of spending but also a great security measure to make sure that the cybercriminals are not making purchases for themselves this holiday.
  • Limit the number of accounts you use to make holiday purchases and if possible, do not use a debit card linked to your bank account; instead use a single credit card.
    Most banks will attempt to help you recover funds if your account is compromised, but it can be a lot easier to get charges reversed when a credit card number is stolen.
  • Enable any notification services offered by your bank to alert you of suspicious purchases.

Early detection is a great way to limit the headache that a compromised account can cause during this holiday.

• Another online site, another login – Keeping track of your usernames and passwords for all the sites that we use day- to-day requires a lot of effort. Protecting your logins with a password manager is a great step.
  • Creating unique strong passwords for all your sites is the best way to protect your online identity. A password manager like LastPass or 1Password helps you manage all these passwords. My family’s password manager contains over 500 passwords for different online sites that we have registered for over the years.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication on sites that support that feature. Amazon and Google both support multi-factor authentication, by using MFA you are making it harder for cybercriminals to gain access to those online accounts.

Hopefully, with the help of these tips, you will be ready to put coal in the stockings of the cybercriminals next year and you will be able to enjoy the season knowing that you are secure!

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here. 

Tom and Robbin DeMeester had been actively looking for land to purchase for some time. Even before they sold their family home in Ada, they’d been searching for a large place that wasn’t clear-cut farmland. They wanted something with some character, trees, and maybe even water.

While driving around the area, Tom spotted a wooden sign.

“I think the only reason this parcel was available is because it was for sale by owner, and the wooden sign had fallen down,” Tom said. “I saw it amidst the roadside trees and thought – I wonder if it’s still for sale? I made the call, and odd as it was, the seller was a guy that I went to high school with.”

Tom, a manager at Greenleaf Trust, and Robbin, a Forest Hills Central High School teacher, planned on downsizing their living space and upsizing the property around them. The almost-25 acre plot seemed just right. Now, they had to start the process to finance vacant land.

“I had seen the billboards for GreenStone that referenced land loans, and I knew conventional lenders didn’t focus on that,” Tom said. “It’s a specialty service to provide financing expertise tied to vacant land. I reached out to GreenStone in December 2017, Devon Feldpausch was the individual that followed up, and that started our journey.”

Devon Feldpausch, a financial services officer who also started his career with GreenStone in 2017, dug in and worked through all the details with the DeMeesters.

“Tom and Robbin were some of my first customers,” Devon said. “I’m blessed to have worked with them. The first closing
 was getting married. The second closing my wife was pregnant. We’ve been through a lot of life stages together, and at this point they feel more like family. Honestly, you’re not just a number here…I don’t remember the last time I haven’t chatted on the phone with him without the call ending in a smile.”

Starting out

The property in Ada, Michigan was a split off of a larger parcel, and as a result, it needed a lot of work to make it buildable. First, there was the clearing.

“There were quite a few trees on it, so the next step was we had to cut in a roadway,” Tom said.

“It was quite the endeavor,” Tom said. “My son-in-law, my son and I forested the property, which included taking down 125 trees, and cut the drive in. We used a road builder to install what the civil engineers developed.”

As with most building projects, it became more involved along the way. The road had to be 18 feet wide, have culverts, correct drainage, grading, and they also encountered unstable soil.

Building the Better Life

In February of 2020, Tom and Robbin began the construction of their home.

“With the road being more involved than we had anticipated, we pivoted and decided to build our home as a barndominium,” Tom said. “Again, that was something that was a little unique, and GreenStone had more of an appetite for that than another lender would have.”

Working with J. Visser Design out of Grand Rapids, the DeMeesters built a timber frame barndominium. They also designed the home to be energy efficient. They used structurally insulated panels (SIP) which have a foam core that creates a tight envelope for the building.

“We were very conscious as we built this to preserve the exterior envelope of the home,” Tom said. “We didn’t even run electrical through the outside walls – we ran it in the interior.”

The home also has radiant floor heat, and everything is tied to a radiant hydronic system, which means there isn’t any duct work or forced air. They have supplemented the radiant system with mini-split systems, so each room has its own ability to run air conditioning or a heat pump. This has allowed them to keep the perimeter of the home very efficient, as well as preserve a great view.

“Because of the timber frame and SIPs, we’ve been afforded the freedom to have open, expansive views. It’s a unique building,” Tom said. “Ninety percent of the time, it’s just the two of us, but we built large common areas that allow space for our expanding family.”

Tom said he and his family enjoy visiting around their 750-lb, 12-seat table made of reclaimed beams from a company in England.

“It’s the centerpiece of our home, and it’s the central gathering place for our family,” Robbin said.

Ada journey

The property has beautiful, rolling hills, lots of trees, and is surrounded by a stream at the bottom of a ravine. They overlook the Grand River. The DeMeesters have developed trails on the property, and they’re landscaping their yard over time. Robbin started a small garden, and next season they’re building a raised bed garden.

Their daughter, Emily, son-in-law Spencer, and grandsons Grayson and Hudson are planning on building on one of the other spots on the property. Their son Jared and daughter-in-law Jessica currently enjoy living in Chicago, and everyone knows they have a spot if they move back, too.

Tom has enjoyed his years working with GreenStone.

“I say it’s a journey with Devon, because we really started this in December of 2017 and took occupancy of our home in June of 2021. Over that timeframe, we got to know quite
a bit about each other. We’ve met in person several times, Devon started a family, I had a grandchild, and we shared many life events.”

The DeMeesters look forward to many happy years enjoying their home and property.

“Working with Devon and the rest of the GreenStone staff exceeded our expectations, and we love the end result,” Tom said. “We’ve built homes before … but being part of this specific process, having the right setting, and working with the right people, has been a very good experience.”

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here. 

Service Agency (FSA) programs, allows us to better understand the business cycles and details of each operation as we provide specialized loans for young, beginning or small farmers.

An exciting part of CultivateGrowth is a new emerging farmer loan program, specifically designed for beginning farmers, since many may have low or no credit, or don’t have a lot of collateral. This financing program has even more flexible standards, allowing GreenStone to provide the financial support to customers who may not have previously been able to qualify. That means more aspiring farmers will be able to obtain the financing for their dreams.

Education

Knowing agriculture is a rapidly changing, and challenging, industry, GreenStone has prioritized its support by providing our customers with learning opportunities and resources. Yet, no two farms, nor farmers, are the same. Which is why we’ve developed diverse educational program opportunities that offer a customized approach to each member’s needs.

Beyond the opportunities, those members in the emerging farmer loan program also have the opportunity to earn a reduced interest rate after completing a slate of educational activities.
All emerging loan customers can take advantage of:

• Financial training

• Educational conferences

• Instructor-led workshops

• Industry consultation

• Tax and accounting services
• Mentorship program

• Business plan creation

• Financial checklist assistance

Funding

To help provide producers with many
 the educational opportunities and support necessary for success, GreenStone once again is committing up to $40,000 annually to young, beginning, and small farmers through the CultivateGrowth Grant program. Grants are available or customers ($1000/year) and non- customers ($500/year) for reimbursement of activities and resources that will help them learn and grow their business – including the educational opportunities outlined above. This money can be used for educational programs and events , business related GreenStone services like accounting and tax services, and resources such as business and farm consultants.

Networking

In reaching the goal to prepare the next generation of industry leaders for success, GreenStone is working to connect producers through the CultivateGrowth Mentorship program. Through this partnership, new and experienced farmers are connected to help share industry knowledge, pass along on-farm lessons, and help equip them for the challenges of the agricultural industry. The next class of mentee/mentor pairs will kick off this fall. Watch for applications to open in the summer!

As a mission driven cooperative, focused on the success of our members – which excitedly includes the diverse future of farmers, markets and production practices – the refreshed and expanded approach to serve our members through the CultivateGrowth program is one way we’re continually working to provide the solid foundation to grow together!

Get all the details and resources on our website: greenstonefcs.com/cultivategrowth.

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here. 

The hardest time of year to stay active is definitely during the winter. It is cold and it’s easy to want to just stay in and bundled up! But we found some fun ways for you to get outside of your comfort zone and try some new ideas.

One of those is winter rafting. It may be something you have never heard of before, but it is becoming more popular
- especially in Michigan! Bundling up and floating down a river to see ice formations, beautiful snowy trees and bushes, and maybe even some wildlife could be the best workout you have done in a long time.

Winter usually brings lots of snow and cold temperatures, so there are several places for you to check out and do winter rafting!

Michigan

In Gaylord, the Sturgeon River allows for you to capture all the glorious nature experiences while floating with a guide. This scenic river allows for a memorable trip with family members, and it is something different to do during the winter!

Jordan Valley Outfitters is packed with fun adventures for the wintertime. They are best known for their winter rafting services! Your guide will help you steer the raft, so you are able to take pictures of this wonderful experience.

For more information on fun activities to do during a Michigan winter, please visit the State of Michigan’s Tourism website: Pure Michigan | Official Travel & Tourism Website for Michigan.

Wisconsin

Granite Peak is Wisconsin’s biggest ski resort and has the highest vertical drop for those more advanced! This is a resort for all sorts of enthusiasts, with 75 trails and slopes for beginners. There is lots of room for a great family trip as it is one of the largest resorts in the Midwest!

After a huge renovation project a couple of years ago, the Edgewater Hotel added a new ice skating rink with views of the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison! This new rink is 4,000 square feet, with plenty of room for your family and friends!

For more information about winter fun and exercising in Wisconsin, visit Winter Activities in Wisconsin | Things to Do & Attractions (travelwisconsin.com).

There are several fun winter activities that can keep you moving and in shape. These may include cross country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and shoveling snow!
Don’t make this winter gloomy and sad – get out to experience some fun while making good memories with those you love!

 

To view the article in the online 2022 Winter Partners Magazine, click here. 

When you’re considering your financing options, you need to take the time to evaluate your business decisions.  When you’re just getting started, having an experienced financial partner can ease the load. At GreenStone, we specialize in working with beginning farmers. In 2020, young, beginning, and small farmers totaled more than 22,000 of our Farm Credit Services customers across the nation. We are committed to helping the next generation launch and successfully run their farms, and we can provide the financing to help make that happen.   

Let’s look at the top five questions to ask before securing financing:  

1. How much should I borrow?

This is a great discussion to have with your business partners, family, financial advisor, and lender. There are also a variety of online loan payment calculators you can use. Of course, being able to easily make the payments is the main consideration. However, even if you have the ability, you don’t want to borrow more than you need, because that makes the loan more costly over the life of the loan. Take the time to go over all your financial records, income statements, add up your debts and anticipated expenses, and figure an ideal loan amount that works best for you and your business. Our loan officers will go through the figures with you to come up with the perfect number – one that allows you to do what you want, without causing too much financial stress. 

“It’s essential to start a lending relationship with your financial services officer,” said Ann Allen, GreenStone regional VP of sales & customer relations. “Even if you don’t have a loan request today, and maybe your financial documents are not completely organized, it is vital that you start communicating with your lender. This relationship will ensure you provide all the information needed to make the loan decision in a timely manner.” 

2. What’s the interest rate?

Your interest rate is the cost of borrowing money, so you of course want to seek the best one you can. The lower the interest rate, the less you’ll be paying. You will want to take loan length into account as well, since the length of the loan will affect the interest rate. The rates fluctuate depending on many economic factors, so be sure to take advantage of them when they’re low. You’ll also want to know if your loan has any pre-payment penalties, so know if you can pay it off early if you get the opportunity.  

3. What are the fees?

Fees that may be charged included appraisal, title, closing, flood, credit, report, recording, survey, and inspection. There are both fixed and variable fees associated with borrowing money. The fees will be explained and disclosed ahead of time by your financial services officer so there will be no surprises at the closing. 

4. How long will the loan process take?

The more prepared you are, the less time it takes. Make sure you have your financial documents in order, so you can have an informed discussion with your lender. Your loan officer will ask for tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, credit history, identification, and other documents as needed. You will work closely with your lender to make the process as smooth as possible.  

5. How do I choose a lender?

Our customers choose to work with GreenStone for many reasons. Here are a few. For over 100 years, GreenStone has partnered with farmers to provide the capital to help support and grow businesses. We have the expertise to help customers achieve their farming goals. We’re also a member-owned cooperative, which means that we’re able to share our profit through our patronage program; we’ve returned $605 million to our members since 2005! GreenStone provides financial services to the agricultural industry – including short, intermediate and long-term loans, equipment and building leases, life insurance, crop insurance, accounting and tax services. We have great rates available today.

 

In this behind the scenes, two GreenStone employees from the appraisal team speak about how their daily work supports customers and improves the overall customer experience. 

Shane Kenner

23 years of service
Senior Appraiser
Adrian, MI

What advancements has GreenStone made to better serve their customers? 

The appraisal is an important part of the loan process and GreenStone has implemented some significant advances regarding how appraisals are ordered and submitted. This process change was one of the most significant I have seen during my tenure. It has streamlined the appraisal process by providing an easy user interface for the staff ordering the appraisal and the appraiser, making the process faster and providing the convenience for the appraiser to access to all information online. Additionally, this allows for easier appraisal tracking and overall data analysis. 

What was the significance of the land value benchmark project?

The land value benchmark process was implemented to track market trends of farmland prices. Early in the annual process, appraisal staff would appraise an actual farm each year to see what value change had occurred. Today we appraise a “virtual farm” as well as transitional land, or land in areas of non-farm influence. The process has become more important in the past fifteen years as we have seen more significant land value changes. Benchmarking allows GreenStone to effectively track land values by region, aiding in customer buying decisions and general lending evaluation. The benchmark process allows GreenStone to rely upon appraisal values for a longer period, saving the customer money in the long run as a new appraisal does not to be ordered and paid for every time a loan is requested.

What do you enjoy about your role? 

I really love getting out and meeting our borrowers in person. The southeast appraisal team covers 13 different counties, and I am often called to work in any of them. This has led me to several small rural communities throughout the region. I’m convinced that we have the best borrowers of any lending institution, as I’ve met an unbelievable number of enjoyable people though this job. I’ve appreciated how down to earth and genuinely nice everyone has been and have had some wonderful conversations over the years meeting farmers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives alike. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I enjoy most spending time with my 2-year-old son and my wife. My wife and I also enjoy visiting wineries around Michigan when we have time, especially one of the local borrower–owned establishments. I’m also quite a “car guy” – I’m one of the few appraisers in the department you’ll see driving a sporty sedan instead of a pickup truck. A good amount of my time, however, has been spent improving our 150-year-old farmhouse. 

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Lyndsy Bock

15 years of service
Senior Appraiser
Mount Pleasant, MI

What advancements has GreenStone made to better serve their customers?

We have implemented different projects to shorten the time it takes to complete appraisals. In addition, we have added programs that have led to faster writing and streamlined our report requirements. Our department has doubled in size in the last decade, allowing us to focus on quality appraisals with less wait for the reports to be delivered to the credit staff, ultimately benefiting our customers and their timeline. 

GreenStone is committed to evolving technology. Our department has access to new technology that enables us to be more efficient, from office equipment to tools for use on inspection sites. When I started, we were still using digital cameras. Now we do it all from our smart phones, which also provides us access to anything we might need on our computer in the office from our phones.  It’s nice to look up information onsite when meeting with customers.

What was the significance of the land value benchmark?

The benchmark is a type of valuation that is based on the appraisal department’s study of annual market changes. The study applies year over year benchmark changes to an appraisal of properties. Using the benchmark study for valuations allows for appraisals to have a longer shelf life for credit decisions. Ultimately, it helps shorted the time from application to closing the loan. If a loan meets the criteria using the benchmark study, it eliminates the need to have another appraisal completed, and saves the customer money on an appraisal and quickens the closing process!

What do you enjoy about your role?

Every day is a new project! The appraisal requests I complete can be anywhere from a vacant 40-acre recreational tract to a 3,500-cow dairy facility. I have met some incredibly smart and interesting people over the years doing inspections. We have the most incredible customers that are always happy to answer the “whys” and “what do you thinks” I typically ask. These are their family farms, or their startups, or their dream retirement properties that they have poured their lives into. Our customers have been more than generous with their life lessons, advice, and knowledge over the years. There is always something to be learned.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?  

My husband and I also have a small cash crop operation outside of our day jobs, and two boys. Between them, their sports, and our farm, I am not sure about too much free time. However, when we do have free time, we are camping in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter, or just enjoying a quiet night at home.

 

To view the article in the online 2021 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.

Jeremiah Mostrom lived in Richmond, Texas when he found a job in West Michigan with the human resource services firm Axios HR. Originally from Minnesota, he was attracted to the idea of the opportunity to buy land, have space, and form a family connection to a piece of the country.

Jeremiah, his wife Carrie, and their daughter Sadie closed on a house on five aces in Alto, Michigan. There were 30 acres adjacent to the land, but the owners weren’t quite ready to sell. 

However, the day the Mostroms closed on the house, the owners put it up for sale. It was a chaotic time for them; they were in the middle of a move, still owned a house in Texas, and weren’t expecting the opportunity.

“Our realtor said – get ahold of Cameron Bongard right now. I did, and we closed the loan in 19 days. It was seamless,” Jeremiah said. ”Cameron was fast, easy to work with, and just like that – we had the land we had dreamed of owning.”

Jeremiah enjoyed dealing with Cameron, who is a financial services officer for GreenStone, in part because of his communication skills.

“He did a great job of understanding what we needed,” Jeremiah said. “His communication was great, and I was never left wondering what was going on. No hidden fees, very straightforward process, and with the co-op you even get money back from the Patronage Program.”

Not only did they have a good working relationship, but they also had a good personal one.

“Cameron knew it was a super cool opportunity for us to purchase this land, and he really, truly wanted to see it happen, and he made it happen,” Jeremiah said. “He also is a hunter, and he lives in my area, and all of it made it easy to work with him.”

Cameron also enjoyed the process with the Mostrom family.

“Jeremiah was so great to work with, because whenever I needed anything, he had it within the hour… and he was still in Texas,” said Cameron. “We also connected on a personal note, because recreational or vacant land loans are my favorite things to do as a lender. It’s the perfect scenario to walk out your door and have your own acres, and I’m happy we could help make that happen.”

Increasing the beauty

The Mostroms immediately began beautifying their recently-purchased land.

Their road is part of the State of Michigan’s Natural Beauty Roads program, which preserves roads in an undisturbed condition. As part of their plan, Carrie enrolled in MSU Extension master gardener class, they planted a few gardens on their property, and Jeremiah bought a tractor. 

“I was riding along in my tractor, and I was pinching myself, like – am I alive?” Jeremiah said. “This has been our dream, and here I am brush cutting trails on my land. This is exactly what I wanted.”

The property has grapevines and apple trees, as well as an 1850 barn they’re restoring. For this big project, they’re currently working with the Michigan Barn Preservation Network. 

“Our intention is to keep the land how it is, and pass it down,” he said.

Sadie’s Sunset Farm

One of the most exciting opportunities for the Mostroms was the chance for their daughter, Sadie, to start her own business. Out of her own garden, she grows fresh produce, like sweet corn, carrots, zucchini, beans, tomatoes, chili peppers, and herbs, and then she sells them from a roadside stand on their property. She plans on expanding her offerings to pastured meats and more products, and her parents are helping her along the way.

“We love that our daughter is learning to be an entrepreneur, the importance of agriculture in our communities, and that we’re able to do that here,” Jeremiah said.  

Enjoying the land

Not only do they have a small business, but they also love having the land for recreational purposes. Jeremiah particularly enjoys hunting on his land, as he’s been a hunter his whole life. 

“There are really a lot of beautiful deer out here, and I’ve planted a whitetail habitat with food plots and bedding areas to help supplement the already-healthy herd,” he said. “It’s such a big blessing to be able to walk outside your door to go hunt, instead of driving six hours to get to land you lease in Texas…and worry about poisonous snakes and spiders.”  

Not only has he hunted with his family members, but he also likes the camaraderie of hunting with friends.

“My neighbors and I are planning on getting the kids together, setting up some old campers away from the houses, and having a deer camp during the youth hunt,” he said. “We just want to do something special in honor of that time of year.”

The Mostroms definitely feel they have the connection to the land they were originally seeking. 

“We want to keep the land beautiful the way it already is, hike, hunt, grow food, and just enjoy West Michigan,” he said. “We’re so excited to have this place for all of us to connect with the land.”

 

To view the article in the online 2021 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.

This past spring, GreenStone members elected Michael Feight to the cooperative’s Board of Directors. With decades of a diverse farming background, a father’s footsteps to follow, and the experience of financing in the 80s all a part of his foundation, Michael shares a bit more about his farm and perspective of being the newest member on GreenStone’s Board of Directors. Be sure to watch his video bio for an inside view!

Michael’s Perspective

When I received the call from the nominating committee representative to consider running for a GreenStone board position, I can say the I was completely surprised and honored to be considered. We all have times and occurrences in our lives that seem to happen when you are not looking in that direction at all, but after many trips across the field in auto mode, you realize that those occurrences can be unforeseen opportunities. For me, it was one on of those times when I realized it was a good fit for where I am in life. So, with the support of the voters of Region Three, I was elected to the board of directors for GreenStone this past spring.

I farm with my father Fred and brother Doug in Tecumseh, Michigan, located in Lenawee County. In 2018 we sold our dairy herd and now focus on cash crops. We have 2,500 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat. In addition, we’ve also diversified and grow 60 acres of carrots for Campbell’s Soup.

The farm was started by my great grandfather and his brothers who came over from Ireland and began farming in 1870. The farm was unable to survive the Depression of the 1930’s, but my father was gradually able to reacquire the land to continue farming.

It is hard to describe all the uniqueness that being involved in the business of agriculture has to offer. Dealing with land and nature touches one in a way that few occupations have to offer. At the same time, we must be well aware of the business aspect of farming because in the end, in order to keep doing what we love, it has to be a viable way of making a living. This is where having the understanding and integrity of GreenStone gives those in the production of food and grain the financial stability that is needed.

In my first few months of getting oriented onto the board and becoming even more acquainted with GreenStone, there were two things in particular that surprised me about the organization. One being the scope of lending that the cooperative handles – from the family farm operation like mine to the large food and timber companies. The second thing was the outside regulatory process and guidelines that GreenStone has to abide by. Like any business, there’s much more behind the scenes than anyone realizes; the awareness I have gained recently gives me even more appreciation for the organization I now serve.

I would like to thank all the board members and staff of GreenStone for making me feel welcome as the newest board member. I look forward to working with everyone!

 

To view the article in the online 2021 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.