Here We Grow

On our latest episode, Relationship Manager Mike Harris discusses what happens when a commodity leaves the farm with McClellan Organics owner, Bryan McClellan. 

Bryan McClellan is owner of McClellan Organics, a 350-acre organic vegetable farm located in Climax, GA. Bryan has been growing and selling organic produce for over 18 years.

Mike Harris has extensive experience as a Credit Officer, Commercial Lender, Branch Manager, and Market President.  Mike’s personal experience on the farm, combined with his professional experience as an ag lender, make him an asset for Farm Credit and our clients.  He has a passion for helping farmers succeed and rural communities grow. Mike will use his firsthand experiences and his financial skills to help our association continue to serve our customers at an exceptional level.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender.  NMLS 691477.  The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System.  No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice.  For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected].  Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com.

On episode 23 of HERE WE GROW, we sit down with guest experts Michael Chamberlain and Kevin Dowdy to discuss cultivating the perfect South Georgia habitat for wildlife, turkey hunting, and how to search for and collect prized artifacts on your property.

Michael Chamberlain: Dr. Mike Chamberlain is the Terrell Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia. He is widely recognized as a leading authority on wild turkeys and has been conducting applied research on the bird for the past 30 years. Mike did his undergraduate work at Virginia Tech University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Mississippi State University.

Kevin Dowdy: Kevin Dowdy found his first arrowhead when he was about 6 years old with his grandfather while squirrel hunting. He’s had a passion for arrowheads and artifacts ever since. Mr. Dowdy has written and published 4 arrowhead Identification and Price Guides (Best of The Best Vol 1-4) and 4 Volumes of Legends in Stone books. He has also maintained and operated an online Artifacts store since 1998.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

On episode 22, Jordan Gilbert, a Residential and Lifestyle Lender with SWGA Farm Credit, shares information regarding the current and future housing markets as well as welcomes first-time home buyers to share their experiences. This episode features commentary by Lydia and Cory Green.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

On Epsiode 21, our host welcomes a fantastic lineup of experts willing to share their knowledge and resources and for young, beginning, and small operation farmers in Georgia. This episode features commentary by Martin Bius and Lily Baucom.

Martin Bius was an agriculture teacher in Decatur County for 30 years. In 1990, he started his career at West Bainbridge Middle School and also taught High School classes periodically during this time. In 2006, Martin became the advisor for the Decatur County Young Farmers Chapter and taught agriculture classes at Bainbridge High School. Upon his graduation from teaching in 2019, he and his wife, Denise moved to Tifton where he now serves as the Adult Education Director for the Georgia Agriculture Education Program. He serves as the Executive Secretary for the Georgia Young Farmers Association.

Lily Baucom is a native Atlantan – she is also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a B.A. in Public Policy and Social Entrepreneurship. Her career has primarily focused on scaling non-profit organizations with missions centered around agriculture education and local food systems. Prior to her current role, she served as the Executive Director of the Common Market Southeast, a local farm foods distributor, based in Atlanta, that focused on improving regional food systems. Currently she serves as the Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, a nonprofit organization founded by Georgia Farm Bureau.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

On episode 20 of HERE WE GROW, Relationship Manager Brant Harrell welcomes a fantastic lineup of experts willing to share their knowledge on land, recreational properties, and hunting opportunities in Southwest Georgia. This episode features commentary by Vince Barfield, Cole Barfield, and Brian Dean.

Vince Barfield: Vince is the Broker and Owner of Barfield Auctions, Inc. and is licensed in 5 Southeastern States (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Mississippi. Vince is also a state registered real property appraiser in the State of Georgia.

Cole Barfield: Cole is an Associate Real Estate Broker with Barfield Auctions, Inc. and has been in the real estate business for over 20 years. Cole also owns a solo law practice located in Cuthbert, Ga, where he specializes in real property law and estate matters.

Brian Dean: Brian is a 6th generation farmer in Decatur County who grows cotton, corn, soybeans, and peanuts. His operations span overs 4,000 acres. In 2013 he started bagging quality wholesale corn for deer and other wildlife purposes.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

Episode 19 of HERE WE GROW welcomes a fantastic lineup of experts willing to share their fall forecasts and insights to the 2023 harvest season. This episode features commentary by Climantologist, Pam Knox, Peanut Agronomist Scott Monfort, and Cotton Economist Don Shurley!

Pam Knox: Pam Knox is the Director of the University of Georgia Weather Network, a group of 88 automated weather stations across the state which provide weather and climate data to farmers, utilities, Extension agents and private citizens. The network also helps support the National Weather Service by providing real-time weather information in hazardous weather outbreaks to support public safety initiatives. She is an Extension Climatologist in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences specializing in agriculture and climate change and is a past Assistant State Climatologist for Georgia and has also served as the Wisconsin State Climatologist. Pam is currently serving as an author for the upcoming 5th National Climate Assessment on Southeastern climate.

Scott Monfort: Scott Monfort is the Extension Peanut Agronomist at the UGA Tifton Campus in Tifton, Georgia. Scott joined the UGA Extension Peanut Team on August 1, 2014. His primary focus area is the Development of cost-effective crop management systems including cultivar evaluation, tillage systems, Precision Ag Technologies in peanut. He earned the BSA and MS in Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia and the Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Arkansas.

Don Shurley: Don is a retired University of Georgia cotton economist. He spent 28 years on the UGA Tifton Campus. He has continued his cotton work through industry sponsorships, contracts and grants, consulting, print and on-line media, and invited presentations. With 33 years’ experience in cotton, Don is widely considered by industry and peers as one of nations leading cotton experts. He is recipient of some of the University of Georgia and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences highest awards for public service and outreach. Don also teaches ½ time at ABAC teaching commodity marketing and agricultural policy.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

HERE WE GROW with Episode 18!

On our recent podcast, Southwest Georgia Farm Credit welcomed Captain Donnie Cochran, Retired Naval Captain and pecan farmer, as well as Jennifer Dunn, Rural Health Agent with UGA Extension, to discuss leadership, overcoming adversity, facing obstacles, succeeding under pressure, and combating mental stress in agriculture. Captain Donnie Cochran, grew up on a farm in Pelham, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering Technology and a Commission in the United States Navy. Captain Cochran’s Naval duty includes his time as a RF-8G and F-14 fighter pilot and was once the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 111. Captain Cochran’s distinguished career also included tours with the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (The Blue Angels) as the first African American Pilot where he flew three out of size different positions. He was honored again when he was selected to the be the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the Blue Angels ins 1994. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 2000, he continued his extraordinary contributions to aviation as a supervisor for the United State Parcel Services (UPS) and a Manager of the Aviation Program for the Coca-Cola Company. Among his many medals, honors, and awards, he is also known for authoring the book, “Glad to Be Here”, and recognized as a motivational teacher, keynote speaker, as successful pecan farmer in South Georgia.

Jennifer Dunn Is the Rural Health Agent for the Southwest District of UGA Extension and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Before beginning her position with UGA Extension, Jennifer worked for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for sixteen years, where she served as the Regional Services Administrator for the twenty-four counties located in the southwestern portion of the state. In her current role, Jennifer is helping advance the mission of the UGA Extension’s Rural Georgia: Growing Stronger Initiative by guiding farmers towards necessary mental health resources and teaching them about stress management strategies.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com

On Episode 16, Southwest Georgia Farm Credits welcomes Marcus Carter, President and CEO of LMC Machine Manufacturing, and Neal Flanagan, President and CEO American Peanut Growers Group, LLC, to discuss technology and agribusiness advancements taking place in Southwest Georgia!

Lewis Marcus Carter III (Marcus) is the fourth generation President/ CEO and Owner of LMC. Marcus oversees the operations of LMC Donalsonville, LMC AG Albany, and LMC Canada. Marcus and his team have developed and engineered processing plants around the globe, while also specializing in the manufacturing of separation equipment for peanuts, tree nuts, and other agricultural products that eventually become food ingredients or seeds. Marcus has a passion for building relationships with customers and ensuring that the solutions LMC provide are the best available.

Neal Flanagan is the President & CEO of American Peanut Growers Group, LLC, otherwise known as APGG in Donalsonville, Georgia. Neal has been in his role with APGG since 2017. Prior to his role with APGG, he was in charge of Sales for Brooks Peanut Company in Samson, AL which later became part of the global ag conglomerate, Olam. Neal is a graduate of the University of Georgia in Agribusiness. Neal is most proud of all that American Peanut Growers Group has accomplished since its inception in 2003 and during his tenure for the last 6 years.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit is an equal opportunity lender. NMLS 691477. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit or the Farm Credit System. No information contained in this podcast shall constitute financial, investment, legal, and/or other professional advice. For questions about the podcast, please contact Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Marketing Manager, Anna Kinchen, at 229-493-0921 or [email protected]. Please visit our website to learn more at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com.