Mark Trowbridge started his cow calf operation in high school as an FFA project. Since then, he has expanded it to 80 head of registered angus cattle, started raising chickens as well, and is selling the meat from his cattle and chickens.

While new to raising chickens, he realized quickly how crucial it is to know about food safety. “You need to understand the time and temperature. For example, how long you have after you harvest an animal to get it cooled down to temperature to reduce any chances of contamination or bacteria growth,” Mark shared.

He also recognized the limited number of poultry processors who are licensed and can make custom orders. This gave Mark an “I can do that” mindset.

During a Farm Bureau dinner event, an ad played about GreenStone sponsoring the meal, and it talked about the CultivateGrowth grant. As a beginning farmer, Mark saw an opportunity and applied right then and there! He knew he wanted to use the grant to attend Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) training.

HACCP training is a program that equips individuals in the food industry with the knowledge to identify and control food safety hazards throughout the production process. Mark thought it would be a good idea to take the training to get certified and become his own USDA meat processor.

He noted that the training was easy to learn from, and it was “nice to meet people from the Michigan State staff at the product center. They are very valuable people to know if you have questions about processing or anything farm value related.”

The knowledge Mark gained from the HACCP training gives him an extra leg up in the process of becoming his own USDA processing plant. He has recently added a large walk-in freezer on the farm and became licensed throughout the state to sell retail cuts directly to consumers. He is also hoping to be able to ship online orders through his website in the future.

Now that he is HACCP certified, Mark is applying for USDA grants to get certified and start processing at their farm and for other people too. With the CultivateGrowth grant, he is now able to give other people a place they can trust and have as a resource for safe meat products!

GreenStone aims to provide opportunities for all young, beginning, and small farmers and supports their educational and personal growth efforts with our CultivateGrowth grant. To learn more about GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth grant, click here.

Identifying the right time to sell assets is a question every farmer needs to consider. Some farmers may be considering selling non-productive assets, while others may be looking to sell the entire operation. It is critical to prepare and plan as far in advance as possible to develop a systematic approach to selling farm assets, so you don’t find yourself with an unexpected tax burden after the sale.

There are many criteria that affect individual situations including volume of assets, depreciation schedules, previous tax strategies, and debt structure which all need to be taken into consideration when determining the items to be sold and the timing of the sale. Given the complexity of most farm businesses, having a long-term plan in place ahead of the sale will provide the most benefit to the owner.

This list can help you begin the planning process; however, working with your tax and accounting specialist who is familiar with your farm assets and individual information is always the best place to start.

Communicate with Your Lender

If you are considering the sale of assets that are held in lien by a lender, it is important to communicate with them your plan to sell the asset and determine how the proceeds of the sale are to be applied to the debt.

Update the Balance Sheet and Appraisal

Knowing the true value of all your assets is the first step in deciding which assets to sell. Having a recent appraisal of your assets will help you when calculating current values for tax purposes and may be needed if called for an audit. Most appraisals are relevant for up to five years.

Clean up Depreciation Schedules

The first step many tax specialists take when working with a farmer looking to sell assets is making sure the depreciation schedule is current. The proceed, or gain, from any asset sold is taxed one of two ways depending on their depreciation status or how the asset was obtained:

• Long-Term Capital Gains are taxed at a rate of 0-20% percent dependent on the individual’s income level.
• Ordinary Gains (and Short-term Capital Gains) are taxed at a rate of 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35, and 37%, and are also dependent on the individual’s income level. You will note ordinary gains have a minimum rate of 10% and a much higher cap than capital gains.

In both cases, the gain is determined based on the asset basis and the selling price. The tax basis for land is the price paid for the land or its value when it was inherited. Any improvements added to the land, such as tiling, can be added provided they were not a deduction on previous tax returns.

Basis for facilities and machinery is their original cost minus any depreciation that was written off in prior years. Fully depreciated equipment (five or seven years) will have a zero basis.
Raised livestock two years or older generally have a tax basis of zero whereas the basis for purchased cattle is the cost minus any depreciation taken in previous years.

If you plan to pay debt with the assets from the sale, it is important to know that the proceeds from the sale may still generate a gain. Likewise, if you let a lender take receivership of a piece of property, the amount of the debt eliminated is viewed as the sales price. Therefore, even if you do not receive any payment for the sale, you may incur a tax obligation.

Design a Plan

Having a systematic approach to the order in which assets are sold can reduce tax implications. The following begins with assets subject to the lowest tax burdens to more complicated and possibly higher taxed items.

• Livestock over two years of age: Cattle over two years of age receive preferential capital gains treatment. Purchased cattle are considered ordinary gains when sold.
• Young stock: Depending on market prices, cattle over two years of age may bring a higher return than young stock, so the owner needs to determine, based on input costs and project selling price, if it is more advantageous to raise the animals and capture more value in the market than selling as young stock.
• Machinery: Gains from selling fully depreciated machinery will be taxed in the same manner regardless of whether the machinery is sold at one time or in installments. The tax burden will be the same regardless of how the payment is structured, so those selling machinery in installments do not realize any tax savings.
• Facilities: Facilities that have been fully depreciated have a basis of zero. For facilities not fully depreciated, the basis is the purchase cost or value at the time of building plus any improvements, minus any depreciation.
• Land: Land is by far the most difficult sale for a farmer and generally one of the last assets to be sold. Gains from the sale of land will be taxed as capital gains. The gain is calculated based on the selling price minus the basis. For example, if land is sold for $100,000 and the adjusted basis is $20,000, the taxable gain is $80,000.
• Crops/Feed: Standing crops sold with the land are taxed as capital gains whereas harvested crops sold as inventory are taxed as ordinary gains. Therefore, if land is to be sold in the fall, it may be advantageous from a tax perspective to sell the crop in the field versus harvesting and selling the crop. Crops sold as feed need to have a bill of sale indicating the price paid for the crop.
• Personal property: Married couples who have lived in the same residence for more than two years can realize up to a $500,000 gain in the sale of their residence without generating a taxable gain. It is important to apply as accurate a value as possible on the value of the residence when selling a home attached to land.
• Personal investments (IRA’s, etc.): When looking to tap into investment portfolios, it is important to know the structure of the investment (Roth versus IRA, etc.) and the length of time you have had the portfolio. Roth IRAs held for more than five years, or the owner is older than 59 and one-half are not taxed. When determining other investments to sell, those with a higher basis and less appreciation will incur the less tax burdens. Investments held for longer than a year are subject to capital gains while those held for less than a year are taxed as ordinary gains.

Communicate with your Financial Advisor(s)

Throughout the process of selling any number of assets, it is helpful to keep an open line of communication with your trusted financial advisors. Your accountant, lender, or other farm consultant can help you make the best business decisions. Reach out to yourtax advisor as there may be additional tax strategies available to you, including asale approach made available by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

This article was originally published in Michigan Farm News.

We’re all familiar with the reasons why someone would want a recreational land loan…but what about the how behind acquiring the land of your dreams?

First, what qualifies land as eligible for a recreational land loan? With GreenStone, five acres or more land intended for recreational use can be qualified for a land loan. A recreational land loan typically requires a 20% down payment and offers 30-year amortization terms. Partnering with GreenStone also provides you with some unique opportunities if your plans change in the future, including the ability to build on your land with a do-it-yourself or contracted construction loan.

If you’re considering a recreational land loan, you may have a lot of questions about how it all works. Let’s really get into the details:

What does a 20% down payment really mean?

GreenStone will lend 80% loan-to-value of the lower of the purchase price vs. appraised value. Ideally the property will appraise for what the borrower is purchasing it for – or better. Borrowers who meet specific criteria and an acceptable minimum loan score may be eligible for a 15% down payment option. There are many loan approval standards to be met to qualify for this option, but if the land is vacant, it’s worth discussing with your loan officer.

There may be options to refinance other property to help mitigate the 15-20% down. In many cases we will appraise both properties, but any property with +20% equity or more that has been owned for one year can allow us to borrow more money. This may even eliminate the need for a down payment as both properties remain under one mortgage.

If the property pledged has a dwelling on it, GreenStone may be able to grant a lower interest rate as well. The property pledged as additional collateral could be a primary residence, secondary residence, or even recreational land with a dwelling on the property.

Does GreenStone require perk tests on recreational land?

Although it’s a good idea to do a perk test for the property on the front end, if you ever plan to build the property in the future, GreenStone does not require perk tests. Many borrowers will complete one in the future once they have decided where they want to potentially build on the property in the future.

Does GreenStone require a new survey for a land purchase?

Some borrowers will order a new land survey during a purchase for their own records. GreenStone does not require a new survey be completed on recreational land unless there is a legal description issue in accordance with the title work, or the land is being split at the time of the purchase. If there are no legal description issues or a split taking place, this can save you some time and money when buying property.

What about using online GIS mapping, OnXmaps, GAIA GPS, or other tools to make sure property has road frontage/access?

As a lender, we do our best to make sure properties have legal road access from the start of the loan, because there can be adjusted value issues with landlocked property. This is a great detail to know when borrowers are looking for the right area or location to buy new recreational property. If the property doesn’t have road access, there are options that can be discussed with the seller that should be discussed at the beginning of the financing process. There are more and more improved resources to research parcel information and high-definition satellite images when searching for property.

What about large acreage purchases vs. appraisals?

If an existing parcel is 30 acres or more, there is potential we can use the State Equalized Value (SEV) instead of appraising the property. (The SEV is the assessed value multiplied by two.) If the SEV supports the purchase price, and the loan amount is less than $250,000, we may not need to appraise the parcel. This is a great way to save the borrower money and speed up the loan process. The SEV doesn’t accurately reflect current market value but still is a valuable tool when we can apply it.

Equity loan opportunities

Borrowers may find themselves looking for opportunities to make improvements to their vacant land whether that is building a pole barn, improving access roads, installing utilities, or pouring a cement pad to park a camper. Enhancing the land’s usability and appeal can benefit the consumer’s needs and boost its market value. There are unique loan opportunities at GreenStone to leverage the vacant land equity instead of liquidating other investments.

What do I need to know about property taxes on agricultural or recreational land?

Unfortunately, we have no way to predict what may happen to the taxes on a property after a new transaction. As a new landowner, this is something you consider seeing if you qualify for a different or same property class to save some money on taxes. A great resource would be the local township in which the new land falls under. If the property qualifies, you will either sign an affidavit at closing or work it out with the township after you own the property.

If you have further questions on recreational land loans, reach out to your local GreenStone branch.

I hope you had a great spring and successful planting season. Overall, our fields look good. With the recent moisture and heat, our crops are really taking off. Daily prayers for a cooperative growing season and strong yields.

I have been lucky enough to visit a couple customers recently. Two very different operations, but I was struck by a couple of similarities. After thinking about these, I have noticed this has been true of almost all of my member visits during my 18 years at GreenStone.

The two core similarities are pride in the operation and family involvement. This isn’t new. My grandfather proudly displayed a sign on his barn in Chapin, Mich., that read, “P.E. Jones and Sons.” When my dad bought the farm and needed to replace the barn after a fire, the sign changed to “L.D. Jones and Family.”

My grandparents and dad were very proud of their small farm. My grandparents were also proud of their livestock hauling business and partial ownership in the Owosso Livestock Sales. Every one of our customers is proud of their farm and business. And if multiple members of the family are involved in the operation, then that pride is just multiplied.

During one of the visits, I sat at a table in the member’s very nice farm office and shop listening to him describe how he grew the farm while in partnership with his best friend. I believe the quote was, “We might as well be brothers.” (The member’s son was also at the table with us and is already a GreenStone member.) The member described with pride how they slowly acquired their land and built relationships with their neighbors. Before I left, he was proud to show off a new piece of equipment that was essentially built by hand by the father and son.

During the other visit, I learned of the five generations that have been the owner/operators of the still growing business in rural Michigan. I saw pictures of the great-great grandfather in the 1920s and the great grandfather in the 1940s. The percentages are high that the sixth generation will eventually take over the business as I already met the 11-year-old son pushing a broom starting his summer job. Once again, the pride that this very hard-working family has in their business can’t be missed.

I see this at every customer visit – regardless if it’s a farm business or a new family home. It is, however, always impressive and I never take it for granted. Our member-owners put everything they have emotionally, physically and financially into their operations and families. You deserve to be proud.

I don’t own GreenStone. You do as members. But I can tell you I am very proud to be a part of and lead this organization. I have 650 teammates that are also very proud to be a part of GreenStone and we try to meet our mission every day: “To promote the business success of our customers and the rural community by being the best at providing credit and financial services.” Hopefully, you feel we are meeting our mission for you.

We will receive our “report card” from our members this summer when we see the results of our customer satisfaction survey. For those of you that received the survey, thank you for taking the time to complete it.

I can also tell you, your organization continues to perform well financially. Numbers through the first half of the year look very solid.

This quarter I also wanted to recognize the service and contributions of one of our long-time appointed directors, Gene College. Gene has served on GreenStone’s board of directors since 2009 and serves as the board’s financial expert and audit committee chair. He will be retiring from the board effective December 31, 2025. I can’t thank Gene enough for the leadership and guidance he has provided GreenStone and me personally. I know we have Gene’s expertise to lean on for another six months or so, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to recognize all of his contributions to our organization.

You will hear more about our two new appointed directors later in this issue, but I first wanted to welcome to GreenStone Paul Lindow and Rick Snyder. Paul will replace Gene as the board’s financial expert and audit committee chair, while Rick will serve as the board’s technology and cybersecurity expert and chair the newly formed technology committee. Both of these individuals bring extensive experience to GreenStone and our board of directors.

As always, thank you for feeding me, my family, our country and the world; and thank you for your membership and commitment to GreenStone!

Please reach out to me any time I can be of assistance.

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

As a fourth-generation farmer, Nick Oomen of West Michigan Produce is no stranger to both the challenges and rewards that come with his job. For Nick, farming is not just his profession – it’s a lifestyle and a legacy.

“For me, there’s a sense of pride in growing something from scratch. You have to really love what you do, because there are going to be harder days you just have to work through,” he said. “I think farming is one of the only jobs where people will do it until they physically can’t anymore. That says a lot about how much we care about our farms and the quality of what we’re producing.”

Nick grew up farming beside his parents Ken and Sandy Oomen in Hart, Mich. He started getting involved in the business aspects of the farm when he was 14, a true testament to his interest and passion for agriculture. The family farm now spans four generations and began with Nick’s great-grandfather who started the farm as a dairy operation. Once Ken and his brother took over the farm in the 1980s, they began growing asparagus and slowly transitioned into vegetable farming.

Located in Oceana County, the sandy, well-draining soil and milder lake-effect weather offers the perfect growing conditions for asparagus as well as a multitude of other vegetables. Michigan itself is the second largest producer of asparagus in the country, with 80% of the state’s crop coming from Oceana County. The county is considered the “Asparagus Capital of the World” and is even home to the National Asparagus Festival!

Ideal Conditions for Growth

These ideal growing conditions are one of the reasons the farm has experienced so much success, adding more than twenty varieties of crops to the list of produce they grow, package, and ship to several national retailers. The farm produces everything from asparagus, broccoli, peas, carrots, pumpkins, squash, snap beans, cherries, and beets to cash crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans.

During peak asparagus harvesting season in the spring, the farm employs between 100-120 people at a time, then drops back down to around 45 after June. West Michigan Produce also picks all of its asparagus by hand using a five-person asparagus cart that combs the fields sometimes from sunrise to sundown. Hand harvesting asparagus protects the quality of the crop and prevents any damage that would otherwise occur with mechanical harvesting methods. It also allows for the spears to be kept longer for the fresh market or cut shorter later during processing for those that will be frozen.

The farm also raises several organic products which require different growing methods and regulations. “As the demand for organic produce continues to increase, I want to diversify our products as much as possible to spread out risk across multiple crops,” explained Nick.

“There are many challenges of vegetable farming not a lot of people know about. When it comes to raising organic, there are different regulations such as disease control practices, and organic inspections and certifications you may have to go through,” says Nick.

“Besides the labor required for hand picking asparagus, another thing vegetable farmers have to consider is how we harvest our produce, such as squash, so it doesn’t get rejected by retailers if it has any blemishes or bruises on it. This adds another layer of complexity to how we harvest our vegetables and pack our products. In this industry you have to be flexible and be able to adapt to the changing demands.”

A Vision for Expansion

Nick graduated from Michigan State University in 2012 after studying agricultural industries. He returned home to the family farm with new ideas on how to expand the operation, including adding a processing and packing facility to the farm. To keep up with the rapidly changing landscape of the industry, being able to process and package its own produce would allow the farm to be more self-sufficient and work directly with the retailers buying its products.

The Oomen family began packing vegetables in 2014 and has since continued to expand its processing and packing operations for both fresh and frozen products. After attending a young farmer’s event through Michigan Farm Bureau, Nick learned more about GreenStone and the CultivateGrowth resources available to young, beginning, and small farmers. He was able to secure a loan through the CultivateGrowth program that would support the expansion of the farm’s packing facility, and in 2021 completed construction of its new facility complete with a refrigerated storage area. The facility is used to pack asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, and more.

“The addition of our new facility allowed us to continue to grow our packing operations and work with larger retailers that ship our products all over the country,” says Nick. “It’s also opened up opportunities for us to pack asparagus for other farmers in the area as well because we have the equipment and the storage capable of doing it.”

Kimberly (Kim) Sadler, Senior Financial Services Officer, has been with GreenStone for over 17 years and has worked with Nick since 2018 when he began to take on more and more operational responsibilities on the farm. She helped him secure financing for the addition of their new packing facility and all its machinery and equipment.

Advocating for Family Farms

“Nick is very hands on when it comes to running the business,” Kim explained. “He has been great to work with, and it’s exciting to see a young farmer be successful and continue to grow their family farm.”

Nick is also engaged in advocating for labor policy reform and has spoken with lawmakers surrounding the challenges farmers are facing when it comes to rising labor costs. “He is a great example of a young farmer that is raising awareness of the importance of his generation and the next generation of farmers after him to be able to continue producing the food that feeds our country,” added Kim.

“We know Kim is looking out for us and our best interest,” Nick commented. “She makes regular visits to the farm for check-ins, and for us that’s really important because working with a lender who truly understands who you are and what your business does is always easier to work with. What I appreciate about Kim is the personal interaction we get with her, whether that’s her stopping by the farm or just picking up the phone to call her whenever. You don’t always get that with other traditional lenders you work with.”

For Nick, maintaining the involvement of his family in the farm’s operations is important as West Michigan Produce continues to grow and expand. “He’s always looking to add something else new and figuring out what else we can grow. I always say, ‘don’t you think we have enough going on already’,” laughs Nick’s dad, Ken.

“Just because we’re running a larger size operation now doesn’t mean we aren’t still family owned and operated,” says Nick. “For us that will never change. People think just because you’ve grown it’s turned into corporate farming, but our family has been able to grow this ourselves. If it wasn’t for the involvement of my family, I don’t think I would be doing this. This is our family legacy, and we’re proud to continue growing it.”

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Get to know GreenStone’s team of dedicated livestock crop insurance specialists!

Cameron Victor

Crop Insurance Specialist, 3 years of service

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day-to-day entails working with farmers across the eastern half of Michigan teaching them how they can mitigate risk for their operation. This includes protection against downward market movement in the cattle, swine, and dairy industries.

What is your favorite part about your job?

One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to meet producers and hear their stories. I enjoy finding ways we can help them to continue to successfully run their operation into the next generation!

What is the value of having livestock insurance?

Livestock insurance protects against the risks of declining market values. Since the market can be very unpredictable, livestock insurance is valuable risk management tool that helps to protect the livelihoods of our producers.

Katelin Buckham

Crop Insurance Specialist, 2 years of service 

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day on the job for me includes traveling throughout the western half of Michigan to meet with producers and educate them on the different types of livestock insurance products we offer at GreenStone, and which would be best for them.

What is your favorite part about your job?

As a farmer myself, I find it very rewarding when I can help a producer enhance their risk management strategy through livestock insurance. I love being able to educate and help other farmers.

What is the value of having livestock insurance?

The right kind of livestock insurance can protect your farm from unforeseen circumstances that could otherwise be detrimental to your operation. Working with a livestock crop insurance specialist will help you determine what type of policy would benefit your farm the most.

Robert Netrefa

Crop Insurance Specialist, 14 years of service

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day for me! Every day is different, and I enjoy being able to help farmers in northeastern Wisconsin protect their farms from the risk of declining market values.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I enjoy that I get to be a trusted advisor to my customers and help them determine which livestock insurance product is the best fit for them and their operation.

What is the value of having livestock insurance?

Livestock insurance protects against financial loss due to changes in market prices for your livestock, milk, or a decrease in your profit margin. With uncertain market conditions, having livestock insurance can provide peace of mind that your operation will be covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

As a member of GreenStone, you play a crucial role in determining the governance and leadership of our association! Make your voice heard by participating in elections and consider getting involved by submitting your interest in a nominating committee or director role.

Call for Nominations

Members from GreenStone’s voting regions 4 and 5 will gather in August to find candidates for open director and nominating committee positions for 2026’s elections. The remaining regions will meet in December to choose candidates for their nominating committee positions. This is your opportunity to take an active role in your cooperative’s future. We encourage you to consider participating in the governance process and submit your interest today!

The Importance of the Nominating Committee

Before a member can be elected to the board, our nominating committee identifies, evaluates, and nominates a qualified slate of candidates for stockholder election. The nominating committee holds a pivotal role in determining who provides leadership to our association.

If you’re interested in furthering GreenStone’s role as an industry leader for agriculture and our rural communities, serving on the nominating committee might be a great opportunity for you!

Get Involved Today!

To learn more about the nominating and director roles, visit https://greenstonefcs.com/about-us/board-of-directors/governance-overview/. Complete a profile to express your interest or contact our corporate governance coordinator, Cheryl Motz at [email protected] or 517-332-9557, for more information.

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Did you know 2025 is the International Year of Cooperatives? The United Nations of General Assembly has declared this year the Year of Cooperatives, underscoring the vital role cooperatives play in sustainable development.

As one of those cooperatives, our business model puts our member-owners at the center of our association. Along with our commitment to our members through our vision, mission and values, GreenStone embraces the seven principles of a cooperative:

1. Open and voluntary membership

2. Democratic control

3. Economic participation

4. Autonomy and independence

5. Education, training, and information

6. Cooperation among cooperatives

7. Concern for community

To highlight a few:

Your membership in your GreenStone cooperative makes you an owner through your purchase of stock. The sale of stock provides capital back to GreenStone, which is used to help maintain a strong financial foundation and secure funding for the Farm Credit bonds which provide the funding for the loans we provide.

GreenStone members also have the power of your voice in our annual member elections. It’s up to you to appoint the leadership of our association: the governing board of directors and nominating committee. This is an important responsibility that ensures GreenStone continues to achieve our mission of serving our agricultural and rural communities.

Another significant value of your cooperative is the return of a portion of GreenStone’s annual earnings each year to our members in the form of Patronage. When our members are successful, so is your cooperative, and that puts money right back in the pockets of our members. The return of over $1 billion back to our members is a direct result of the success of our members, the relationships we’ve built with you, and your trust in GreenStone.

Beyond the financial benefits, support through education, resources and partnership with other organizations – including other agricultural cooperatives – are key to our mission and to the cooperative spirit. Helping members sharpen their skills and broaden their thinking keeps our customers on the leading edge. From conferences and seminars to mentorships and online resources, GreenStone remains committed in our pledge to cultivate a robust, thriving community and empowering our members.

For GreenStone, making the choice to strengthen communities through compassion and generosity is simple. Supporting youth by investing in education and empowering future generations with the tools to be successful, advocating for agriculture by connecting the value of farming and our customers to non-farm publics and key stakeholders, supporting causes that further develop our members and benefit their operations, helping to remove financial barriers and provide educational opportunities for those developing a career in the industry, and enhancing the quality of life in the rural communities we serve are all pillars of our outreach and community focus.

Each decision GreenStone makes as a leader in the agriculture industry, as a fellow rural community neighbor and as a member-owned cooperative, are all made with the future in mind.

As we celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives, we reflect on all the benefits of being a part of our cooperative, and the most important part of it is you, our member-owners! It is your partnership, insight, passion, commitment, and leadership that help us fulfill our mission of providing reliable financial services and rural expertise to continue strengthening our rural communities.

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

The budgeting process for the MI GreenStone PAC has been completed with the conclusion of the 2025 MI GreenStone PAC contribution campaign. Elected government officials were identified on a bipartisan basis by the board of directors to be recipients of MI GreenStone PAC funds with input from Kelley Cawthorne, GreenStone’s lobbying consultant in Michigan.

Meetings and delivery of the funds has started and the steady communication updates on our rural communities and agricultural industry continue. The beneficiaries are made aware the funds came from farmer cooperative members who appreciate the work being done to address challenges and create further opportunities for Michigan agriculture.

In Wisconsin, since the conclusion of the 2025 WI Farm Credit PAC contribution campaign, a disbursement has been made through The Welch Group, the lobbying consultant in Wisconsin. Further opportunities to connect legislators to GreenStone members and staff are being identified. Then when legislators can accept contributions to their campaigns the WI Farm Credit PAC will make disbursements.

The national Farm Credit PAC also continues to disburse funds within GreenStone’s territory. Meetings with members of Congress, farmer members and directors, and GreenStone staff have been mutually beneficial as the Farm Credit story is shared and the happenings and impacts of DC activities are relayed. These introductions and the financial support have resulted in meaningful connections that provide follow-up efforts to educate and advocate for policy with members of Congress and their staff.

In this season, follow-up legislative meetings are taking place to focus on Farm Credit’s priorities for the Farm Bill. The urgency of getting a Farm Bill done is communicated alongside Farm Credit efforts to build on our mission to support rural communities and agriculture.

This work is not possible without your support! Members of the legislature at all levels commended you for your work and participation in the legislative process as it establishes a positive engagement. PACs are just one part of the process for ensuring elected officials recognize agriculture as an essential component to a thriving economy and food system. Stay engaged as champions of our rural communities and agriculture through our PACs drives and branch legislative visits. We all must continue to work closely to raise awareness and gather support for the future of rural communities and agriculture in Michigan and Wisconsin!

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

The world we live in is complex and agriculture is no different.

The Great Lakes region of the United States presents an abundance of opportunities amidst the complexity. Despite the many blessings, unity of agricultural interests is a challenge to achieve. Squabbles over priorities and the way forward can create divisions that at first blush may seem insurmountable. Facts and figures twist and one set of details can bury another reasonable position. Commitment to focus on the big picture can help draw us together for one beautiful agricultural industry for all.

Often, we see what is important to one may not be perceived as important or consequential to the many. Yet when evaluating the policy impact or application of the rules, we must recognize the diversity and variety of impacts. Balancing divergent interests and bringing people together may be one of the most challenging aspects of any duty.

It may seem impossible to keep up with the details of changes in policy and rules, yet we are accountable for them in our agricultural businesses. This can paralyze an agricultural operation to the point of compromising a business or even taking away what has been built. It is time to step into a new reality demanding early engagement to get the details and understand the impact on the bigger picture.

Currently the collective U.S. government budget sees no ending to growth, and we are dependent on leaders to problem solve the growing dilemma. Our independent speculation we each carry seems to assist in creating conflict with one another. Details matter in sorting out these conflicts.

Details for reforming SNAP to put the program on a more sustainable path to help low-income households, lowering tax burdens and stimulating economic growth, market access program funding to address the surging agricultural trade deficit, and using left over Inflation Reduction Act dollars to the advantage of voluntary, producer-led conservation programs are front and center in agriculture policy development. These policies and programs should not conflict with each other; hence legislative cooperation should be a reasonable expectation.

Consider engaging and encouraging our leaders to seek the big picture as the need to collaborate increases. Early collective engagement may help them help us toward the goal of keeping our agricultural businesses for the next generation. We collectively need to get in front of the issues in a unified approach.

Contemplate the perspective of President Theodore Roosevelt on resolution of difficult challenges: “the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great dedications; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph and the highest achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, and whose place shall never be among those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

The job is to be fully engaged in the battle for agricultural prosperity together – one, beautiful agriculture for all!

To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.