1st farm credit services
1st farm credit services -
Scholarship Programs
AgCountry offers scholarships for high school seniors entering college in the fall of 2022, as well as college upperclassmen pursuing ag careers.
Students Entering College
AgCountry Farm Credit Services is offering scholarships for high school seniors entering college in the fall of 2022. Scholarship awards are $1,000 each.
Applicants must be from an actively farming or ranching family OR must be planning to pursue a career in farming or some other aspect of agriculture such as agricultural extension, agricultural education, soil conservation, farm and ranch management, agricultural finance, veterinary medicine or agribusiness.
Applicants must be residents of a county served by AgCountry in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Selection is based on academic aptitude, vocational promise, personal attributes, leadership and financial need. Children of AgCountry FCS employees and Board Members are not eligible to apply.
Application Deadline - March 1st, 2022
To apply, please click here
College Upperclassmen
AgCountry is offering ten $1,000 scholarships for upperclassmen college students who have completed 69 credits at
a college or university; are studying in an agribusiness, business, or related field of study; and plan on working in
production agricultural lending or related agricultural services.
Selection is based on academic aptitude, vocational promise, personal attributes and leadership. Children of
AgCountry Farm Credit Services Executive Leadership, Board Members or Selection Committee Members are not
eligible to apply.
Application Deadline - June 1st, 2022
To apply, please click here
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Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/25/2016 The boards of directors that serve the region's three main Farm Credit institutions have begun exploring the possibility of joining forces. On Tuesday, Badgerland Financial, AgStar Financial Services and 1st Farm Credit Services announced they are in the process of evaluating a potential collaboration with each other. According to a joint release--which was signed by Badgerland CEO Diane Cole, AgStar CEO Rod Hebrink, and 1st Farm CEO Gary Ash--the three cooperatives combined would create the nation's third largest Farm Credit group with about $17 billion in assets. "Once our research is complete, all three Boards of Directors will decide whether to move forward," the CEOs said in their memo. "If a merger is deemed appropriate, as cooperatives owned by our member-borrowers, our stockholders will receive further communications and have the opportunity to vote on the proposal." The statement also noted that all three of the associations share the same values and commitment to rural communities and agriculture. "For more than 100 years, Farm Credit has supported rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services and we're just as committed to that mission today and in the future," the release said. Badgerland Financial, based in Prairie Du Sac, serves 33 southern Wisconsin counties with 17 locations. The co-op's loan volume between its more than 16,000 members is about $3.8 billion. AgStar Financial Services, headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota, has 13 branch offices in 69 counties in Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, while the Normal, Illinois-based 1st Farm Credit covers 42 counties in northern Illinois at 16 individual sites. Board members say they have not established an exact time table for such a merger, but it could happen by April 2017. | ![]() |
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1st Farm Credit Services
1st Farm Credit Services

One of the joys of working at 1st Farm Credit Services, according to Vice President Jessica Carolan, is getting to travel to meet with clients.
“No two days are alike. I like to go out to the farms to visit with our clients. You get a better feel for their individual situation when visiting them on the farm, rather than sitting across from them at a desk,” Carolan said.
1st Farm Credit Services, located at 436 S. 54th St., provides farm real estate, rural home, operating and equipment loans, and other financial services including equipment and building leasing; farm appraisals, Farm Cash Management SM and Federal Crop Insurance, and hail insurance.
This year is a special year for 1st Farm Credit Services—they have been in existence for 100 years. It was established in 1916 first as the Federal Land Bank Association.
With its 16 branches, 1st Farm Credit Services serves clients who live and work in the northern 42 counties of Illinois. As the largest agricultural lender in the state, 1st Farm Credit Services operates as a cooperative and is owned by more than 13,000 clients. It is governed by a 14-member board of directors.
They are heavily involved in the community, specifically with organizations that deal with agriculture; including FFA and 4-H. 1st Farm Credit Services values its Chamber membership and is active in the Chamber. In fact, Rural Consumer Vice President Katherine Roskamp is a Chamber Ambassador.
“A Chamber membership exposes us to people we might not know, and there are quite a few members that own rural property who we may do business with. Our membership also gives us an opportunity to network with professionals in the community,” Carolan said.
For more information on how 1st Farm Credit Services, visit them online at www.1stfarmcredit.com or call (217) 222-4000.
As agriculture moves through cycles, it’s important that farmers have partners that are committed to their success. Particularly in times like now – when lower commodity prices, higher input costs and volatile land prices bring uncertainty – reliable, trusted credit and financial services expertise and resources are critical.
The Farm Credit System is a cooperative system established 100 years ago to do just that. Regardless of economic cycle, Farm Credit has stood beside rural communities and agriculture for the past century, helping to weather the storms they have faced. As a long-time member of Farm Credit through Badgerland Financial, I appreciate this commitment and expertise. As a farmer, I know they understand my business and are with me for the long-haul.
Just as I look for ways to improve yields and decrease input costs on my farm, three Farm Credit associations have evaluated an opportunity that has the potential to position their organizations to better serve their members today and in the future.
As cooperatives owned by their stockholders, the Boards of Directors of 1st Farm Credit Services, AgStar Financial Services and Badgerland Financial have collaboratively discussed and unanimously recommended a merger to their stockholders.
So what does that mean for farmers around here?
I wholeheartedly believe a merger of 1st Farm Credit Services, AgStar Financial Services and Badgerland Financial is about providing the very best products and services to farmers across the three states.
Because the three associations are all currently part of the Farm Credit System and partners in what they do today, the merger provides an opportunity to combine their values and commitment to rural communities and agriculture. Each association has a distinct chartered territory so farmers will have the same lending competition even after a merger. Together, the merged association would offer even more options and expertise, and have the opportunity to develop and leverage technology for farmers – to a degree much greater than any of the single associations can do individually. In the true spirit of collaboration, it’s the old adage that together we’re better. I’m excited about the approach Badgerland Financial is taking and I believe there is opportunity for my farm, and yours, through this collaboration.
Stockholders have received a disclosure packet with the specific information about the proposed merger. I encourage stockholders to review the disclosure closely and get answers to any questions before voting. Pick up the phone and call your board representative to discuss your thoughts.
The bottom line is that Farm Credit is committed to the success of agriculture, rural communities and most importantly, us – the farmers. This is a partnership. I think about this in terms of my relationship today with my loan officer. When we meet, he offers insights and guidance to help me reach the goals of my family’s farm. I believe the proposed merger matches the strides of all of us – constantly evolving and growing together to better our cooperative.
Mark Cade is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Badgerland Financial
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