Here We Grow

Episode 13 of HERE WE GROW is focused on equipping women with the resources to tackle their landowner and forest management needs through programs, membership, and online resources. This episode features commentary by Danielle Atkins and Billy Billings

Danielle Atkins is the owner of Land & Ladies, whose purpose is to educate and empower women landowners with the confidence to manage their land. Danielle designs and leads all Land & Ladies events, writes original articles which explains various forest management aspects in common terms and relatable to every-day life, and offers forestry management plan development services through Land & Ladies.

Billy Billings is a Relationship Manager with Southwest Georgia Farm Credit.

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 12 is focused on southern architecture, home construction, home financing, and rural living.

Heather Dozier is a Residential Loan Officer with Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Home Loans. Heather has spent the past decade helping borrowers in our area finance their next home—be that their first home, or their forever home. Heather is from the Albany-Leesburg area. She attended Darton College and Troy University.

Kurt Lamon: Having started as a residential painting contractor in 2003 and a home builder in 2004, Kurt Lamon has 20 years of experience in meeting and exceeding customers' expectations. Kurt is involved in all aspects of the business from quality control, project management, & overall operations of the business. Currently he focuses on building custom homes in Lee County & surrounding areas.

Andy Wood: Andy was born and raised in Southwest Georgia and has worked in Lee County selling real estate now for over 20 years. Andy opened Virtual Realty Team focused on providing an exceptional experience for one of the largest decisions many people make: buying or selling a home.

Anna Kinchen is the Marketing Manager for Southwest Georgia Farm Credit.

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 11 is focused on farm financing, operating loans, and revolving lines of credit with a special emphasis on cattle operations. This episode features commentary by Southwest Georgia Farm Credit loan officers Billy Billings and Mike Harris.

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.

Episode 10 is focused on hunting opportunities in Southwest Georgia, what to expect on a guided hunt at a plantation, and how to manage wildlife on your property. This episode features commentary by Plantation Manager Sean Hader, Professional Trapper John Ethridge, and land owner Jim Lewis.

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 this episode, co-hosts Billy Billings and Anna Kinchen welcome guest speakers to discuss branding and marketing for ag related or agritourism businesses, learning how to tell your farm's story with captivating content, and creating meaningful partnerships and collaborations to increase your visibility and exposure. This episode features commentary by Cheryl Smith, Laura Rotroff, and Kristen Traugh.

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.

“Happy New Year! Today’s podcast will provide a 2023 outlook for equipment, equipment financing, and leasing! On this episode, our host Billy Billings welcomes guest speakers, Clayton Willis and Ragan Fretwell Brown.

Clayton Willis currently serves as the Farm Credit Leasing Relationship Manager for the southeastern United States. Clayton has been working in the agricultural equipment finance sector since he began he career with Farm Credit six years ago. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and previously worked as a relationship manager for Farm Credit of Florida. In his free time he enjoys hunting deer and turkey as well as fishing the waters off the coast of his home in Jupiter, Florida.

Ragan Brown has been employed with SWGA for over 18 years. She has her MBA from Georgia Southwestern and has held various positions and is currently Residential Lending Unit & Other Financial Services Manager. She started the Farm Credit Express product for SWGA and other farm credits associations and has been working with equipment financing and leasing for the past 10 years. Ragan resides in Leesburg with her husband, Richard and children.

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 Seven’s theme is the belief that there is truly no place like HOME for the holidays! Host Billy Billings, a Relationship Manager with Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, welcomes co-host Jordan Gilbert, along with guest speakers, Natalie Kirbo and Brandon Godwin. If you’re asking Santa for a new key under the tree, a historic home renovation, or a custom home build this Christmas and into the New Year, today’s experts have prepared some great content just for you! Learn about the joys of rural living, timeless architecture, buying your first home, rehabbing an historic home, and building your dream home on this episode!

Jordan Gilbert: A native of Bainbridge, GA, Jordan joined the Association in 2017. She assists clients with navigating the home buying process from start to finish, including the origination of residential mortgages for purchase or refinance. Jordan has extensive sales and customer service experience, and provides a wealth of knowledge about the local housing market, as well as how Farm Credit does business throughout the area. Jordan is passionate about educating her clients on all the home loan options, and explaining the pros and cons of each. There’s nothing more satisfying to her than seeing a happy customer find a home they love and can grow their family in.

Natalie Kirbo: In a past life, Natalie practiced law in a corporate setting before shifting gears and becoming a real estate agent at Premier Group Realty in 2019. There, and as Good Morning Bainbridge, a brand she began back in 2014, she is an active Realtor, an Airbnb Superhost, and rehabilitates historic homes downtown, both as rental property and for sale. She lives downtown in a 1906 Folk Victorian renovation project with her husband Wheat, children Adella and Beau, their three dogs and flock of backyard chickens. She is a believer in historic preservation, a sense of community, and a slower way of living.

Brandon Godwin: A native of Thomasville Ga, Brandon is a passionate artist, architect & outdoorsman who also enjoys various competitive sports while playing the piano when he has time. Brandon attended Southern Polytechnic State University, Atlanta, Ga where he obtained a professional degree in architecture. He is licensed in 6 states, practicing architecture all over the country; ranging from Los Angeles to Sea Island. He is also a licensed contractor and develops his own real estate investments. His architecture firm specializes in custom higher end residential, historic preservation and small-mid size commercial architecture. His passion for South Georgia and North Florida has kept him close by to live and work, hoping to keep the area vibrant and fresh for the future generations.

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 again with Episode Six of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit’s Podcast! Our host, Billy Billings, welcomes a cohort of expert guests taking time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences promoting the great industry of agriculture in the communities and classrooms across Southwest Georgia. This episode features commentary by Andrew Thoron, Megan Verner, and Fredando Jackson.

Andrew Thoron is the Department Head for the Agricultural Education and Communication Department at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. His research expertise is in the areas of teaching and learning and he is a founding member of a Multistate Research project that focuses on STEM emphasis in school-based agricultural education. Andrew has a Bachelors in Agriculture with an emphasis on Agriculture Education from Illinois State University, a Master of Science in Agriculture Education from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in Agriscience and Teacher Preparation from the University of Florida.

Megan Verner Bio: Megan graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelors in Agricultural business and economics, and minor in Marketing. She currently teaches agricultural business at Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy in Albany. Mega is also the Office Manager for her husband’s farm equipment dealership, Elite Ag. Along with her husband, Megan owns VF Livestock, a seed stock operation for Angus and Herefords.

Fredando Jackson Bio: Fredando has worked in agricultural outreach to low-income communities and food production for more than a decade. His was named the 2019 Farmer of The Year by the Georgia Department of Education and continues to serve the Dougherty County School System’s nutrition program through 200 interactive teaching gardens throughout the county. As Executive Director of Flint River Fresh, Mr. Jackson actively manages and provides technical assistance for a combined total of four acres of urban farms, 237 garden beds, 3/4 acre of urban orchards in Colquitt, Dougherty, and Sumter Counties. His passion for turning green spaces into food spaces motivates him to cultivate relationships around community gardening and urban farming, focusing on conserving natural resources.

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 again with Episode Four of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit’s Podcast! Our host, Billy Billings, welcomes expert guests taking time out of their busy schedules to share their insights and expertise on farms in transition, succession planning, and financial planning for the long term success of your farm or agriculture operation. This episode features commentary by Ashley Gardner and Brant Harrell.

Ashely Gardner is a partner at Youmans & Gardner, CPAs and a licensed certified public accountant in Georgia and Florida. He has practiced public accounting for 26 years and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Georgia Society of CPAs, and Florida Institute of CPAs. He was raised on a farm in southern Decatur County, GA and happily serves agriculture and agri-business clients in southwest Georgia and Florida’s big bend regions.

Brant Harrell was born and raised in Decatur County. He is graduate of Georgia Southern University. He has farmed for 25 years and has served as a Lender and Relationship Manager for Southwest Farm Credit for 15 years. He also serves as the Chair for the Decatur County Agriculture Committee.

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]. For more information, visit our website at www.SWGAFarmCredit.com.