Responsible Production & Consumption

Panel Of Agriculture And Industry Experts Announced To Evaluate Outstanding Rural Leaders

Oct 2, 2015 2:00 PM ET
Campaign: Farm Credit 100

DENVER, Colo., October 1, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Farm Credit has identified 21 individuals to serve on the selection panel for Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives — a nationwide search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing the future of rural communities and agriculture for the better. The initiative is part of Farm Credit’s efforts to commemorate its upcoming centennial in July 2016.

The selection panel includes experts on rural matters with diverse perspectives and skill sets, including some from Farm Credit and others from across agricultural and rural industries. Panelists will evaluate the nominations and help select the top 100 honorees. Of the 100 to be announced during National Ag Week in March 2016, ten distinguished visionaries will also receive $10,000 to further their contributions to thriving rural communities and agriculture. The top-10 honorees will also be recognized at a special event in Washington, D.C., in 2016.

The full selection panel includes:

  • Leigh Allen, executive director, National Black Growers Council, Washington, D.C.
  • Ann Brown, director of organizational development, Farm Credit Mid-America, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Glenn Doran, managing director of finance, Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation, Jersey City, New Jersey
  • Dan Durheim, executive director of industry affairs, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.
  • Betty Flores, former mayor of Laredo, Texas and director, Farm Credit Bank of Texas, Laredo, Texas
  • Kathy S. Heustess, president and CEO, ArborOne Farm Credit, Florence, South Carolina
  • Janie Hipp, JD, LLM (Chickasaw), director, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, University of Arkansas School of Law and partner with the Intertribal Agriculture Council, Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Kirvin Knox, director, American AgCredit, Fort Collins, Colorado
  • Catherine Moyer, CEO and general manager, Pioneer Communications and CoBank director, Ulysses, Kansas
  • Ann-Lamar Tuten, vice president: customer support, marketing and corporate events, AgFirst, Columbia, South Carolina
  • Sara Wyant, editor/publisher, Agri-Pulse, Washington, D.C.
  • Dan Looker, business editor, Successful Farming, Des Moines, Iowa
  • John Floros, College of Agriculture dean and director, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
  • Danny Klinefelter, professor and extension economist, Texas A&M, College Station, Texas
  • Karen Schott, secretary, Bar Four F Ranch and director, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Broadview, Montana
  • Madeline Schultz, program manager, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture, Ames, Iowa
  • Jennifer L. Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council, Chevy Chase, Maryland
  • Margaret E. Smith, professor and Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station associate director, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
  • Maggie Stith, senior regional director, National FFA Foundation, Ankeny, Iowa
  • Nick Vande Weerd, co-owner, Pleasant Dutch Dairy and AgriBank director, Brookings, South Dakota
  • Kim Vanneman, former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and co-owner, Vanneman Farms, Farm Credit Council director and Farm Credit Services of America director, Ideal, South Dakota

“Each of our panelists will greatly enhance our nomination review process by contributing their extensive and diverse experience on matters affecting rural communities and agriculture,” said Leigh Picchetti, senior vice president, National Communications for the Farm Credit Council. “On behalf of Farm Credit, we are grateful these panelists are dedicating time to contribute their expertise to identifying the 100 visionaries.”

Those interested in learning more about the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives search and nominating a leader can visit farmcredit100.com. Nominations will be accepted until December 18, 2015.

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About Farm Credit
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Farm Credit has been fulfilling its mission of helping these areas grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers with the capital they need to make their businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. Because a steady flow of capital means more jobs and economic growth, Farm Credit is able to invest in the vibrancy of communities throughout rural America. For more information about Farm Credit please visit www.farmcredit.com.