On Friday July 15th,
2016 four of Yankee Farm Credit’s offices opened their doors to celebrate the
Centennial Anniversary of Farm Credit. Derby, St. Albans, Middlebury and White
River Junction VT, each welcomed past, present and hopeful future customers,
directors, families and friends to
highlight the 100 years of service Farm Credit has been able to offer the
agricultural and rural communities.
Each branch welcomed
visitors to join them for lunch and festivities. Everyone was welcome for fun, food, a chance
to catch up with your local office staff or meet them for the first time.
“The 100th year open
house celebration was a hit. When the
kids and I had the tour, they realized how much YFC had grown since their loans
with Ken at the old office. 100 years
seems like a long time until you are sitting with member friends of 30 years
plus and it occurs to you that you have been a part of this amazing
organization for just shy of a third of that time. Couldn't stay long enough to see everyone,
but it was encouraging to see a FarmStart couple take the time to attend.”
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| Middlebury's collection of Vintage Farm Credit signs |
If you were lucky and visited White River
Junction you could have left with a tractor painted on your cheek! St. Albans
had lawn games in full swing with Island Ice Cream, Middlebury had a showcase
of vintage Farm Credit signs on display and the Derby office had the honor of an
extra -special guest at their Open House.
Katherine Sims of Green
Mountain Farm to School stopped by the Derby office to accept matching
donations of $5000.00 each from Yankee Farm Credit and CoBank, as part of
CoBank’s “Sharing Success” program. George Putnam, Yankee’s President and CEO
also presented Katherine with a personalized plaque awarded to her by Farm
Credit as a top 100 Fresh Perspective Honoree. A program created by Farm Credit
to highlight 100 individuals or organizations creating the future of
agriculture and rural America across the nation.
A few comments from Yankee Farm
Credit’s board members on our 100 Years Open Houses:
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| President and CEO, George Putnam and GMFTS Executive Director, Katherine Sims |
“Enjoyed the time
out to catch up with employees and customers that I don't usually cross paths
with. Good summer time food,- especially the baked beans. Hats off to the
preparers of the photo albums of earlier association times and members. Makes
you appreciate the earlier footprints we are all following. Thanks for the work
of all the staff to pull it together.”
-Paul Franklin, Board Chairperson
“The open house event in
White River Junction was very enjoyable because it gave my sons and me the
chance to visit informally with various members of the staff in a relaxed,
festive setting. It’s great to get to know what they’re doing in their lives
both professionally and beyond. They’re a pretty impressive group.”
- Steve Taylor,
Board Member
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| The White River Jct., staff. |
--
Rene Saenger, Board member
 |
| The St. Albans staff. |
“It was so
good to see our members. When I see the many different ages and
enterprises represented, it reaffirms my belief that Yankee has and will
continue to play an essential role in agricultural communities, farm families
and the well-being of our nation.”
-Rocki-Lee Dewitt, Board Member
