Mississippi Land Bank is pleased to offer our customers additional benefits. As a valued member, you are eligible to participate in multiple National Discount Programs offered exclusively to Farm Credit customers.

Chairman Myers Meets With Congressional Leaders

Chairman Abbott Myers attended a meeting in Washington, D.C., this summer that was hosted by the Farm Credit Council. The meeting provided Chairman Myers and about 20 other directors from Farm Credit associations in our district an opportunity to hear what has been happening in Washington and to offer input from their local areas.

While in Washington, the district council received briefings from several ag industry representatives and from Farm Credit staff, before meeting on Capitol Hill with Senate Agriculture Committee staff and with the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson (D-MN).

They also met with congressmen who serve on the Financial Services Committee, which oversees the banking industry, and with Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX), who is familiar with the Farm Credit System and has a background in agriculture.

After the formal meeting, the group split up to meet with their respective representatives and senators. Chairman Myers met with Rep. Travis Childers, a representative for Mississippi, who sits on both the agriculture committee and the financial services committee.

Jim Kloac Retires From the Land Bank

Jim Kloac, vice president/special projects, retired from the Mississippi Land Bank effective June 30, after 30 years of service. Jim began his Farm Credit career in May 1979, and over the years, he has held many positions at the association level, the district bank level and even at the Farm Credit Administration.

He began working in the Tupelo branch in 1989, where he remained until June 2008, when he moved to the administrative group to work on special projects, such as credit and appraisal reviews and some operational projects.

A retirement reception was held at the new Tupelo office location on July 8, and a large number of friends and customers who worked with Jim during his career came by to visit. The staff and directors also hosted a dinner for Jim and his family. Several of Jim’s co-workers offered stories from over the years, and Jim enjoyed a small “roast.” Abbott Myers, board chairman, and CEO Gary Gaines presented Jim with a watch to express their thanks for his years of service.

New Name and Loan Products Coming in January

In a special stockholder meeting on August 25, a resolution was passed reorganizing the association into an Agricultural Credit Association named Mississippi Land Bank, ACA. The restructured organization will allow the association to make short- and intermediate-term loans, in addition to long-term land loans. The necessary paperwork was submitted to the Farm Credit Administration for final approval, and the change will be effective Jan. 1, 2010.

“Forming the ACA will make the association better able to meet all the needs of its customers,” stated Abbott Myers, board chairman.

The Mississippi Land Bank's Borrower Braggin' Board gives us the opportunity to congratulate borrowers for awards and announcements found in the local newspapers, etc. Give it a read!

Cabin in the Country

From an old tree stump and empty shotgun shells, Ken Plunk crafted a rustic clock to hang in the office of his log home in rural Marshall County, MS. “But I never put a battery in it,” says Plunk, retired CEO of the former Union Planters Bank in Memphis, Tenn. “Out here I don’t need to know what time it is.” Read entire article

NEW EMPLOYEES:

Summer Holcomb, joined the team in Tupelo.  Summer was born and raised in Corinth and graduated from Alcorn Central High School then attended Northeast Community College.  She is married to Sonny Holcomb.  They currently live in Corinth but plan to move to Tupelo in the near future.  She is a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Corinth.  Summer enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, vacationing in the mountains, biking, reading and cooking.

PROMOTIONS:

Robert Taylor of the Cleveland office was promoted to Assistant Vice President.

Jeremy Brock of the Starkville office was promoted to Assistant Vice President, and Debbie Carlisle was promoted to Loan Administrator.

Stephanie Wilkie in our administrative office was promoted to Loan Operations Manager/Compliance Officer.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Matthew Raff was recognized by the Mississippi Society of American Foresters as the Outstanding Young Forester for 2008.

Josh Shideler, son of Craig and Calvert Shideler, was selected to be an Alumni Delegate for the 2009-2010 school year at Mississippi State University where Josh will be a senior this fall. Josh was also named to the President’s List (4.0) for the spring semester at MSU. Josh spent 6 weeks in Italy with Campus Crusade for Christ and then returned home for a brief visit before heading to Washington, DC to work as a summer intern for Senator Roger Wicker.

Melissa Stanford, daughter of Jessica and James Stanford was named to the President’s List at Northwest MS Community College for the spring 2009 semester where she is working toward a nursing degree.

Matt Sellers, son of Ronnie Sellers was presented the Delta Chapter of CPA’s Outstanding MPA Award. This award is presented to an outstanding graduate student based on leadership and scholarship. He was also recognized for receiving the William Benoit Holloway Scholarship which is awarded to an accounting major. These awards were recognized at the Business Student Advisory Council’s College of Business Awards and Scholarship Recognition Banquet at Delta State University .

Max Stanford, son of Jessica and James Stanford came in 2nd place in the North Half MPSA Tennis Tournament that earned him a spot in the State Tennis Tournament in Jackson.  Max also plays in USTA tournaments and came in 2nd place in the Greenville Jr. Cotton Classic in June and 1st place in the Grenada Junior Open and the Corinth Candy Classic in July.

Mississippi Land Bank proudly presents new additions to the family:

Ryland Parker Martin, great nephew of Estella Perez was born on June 4th in Orlando, Florida. Ryland weighed in at 6 pounds 9 oz. and was 21” long. Ryland is the son of Tim and Stephanie Martin and was welcomed home by big brother Phoenix. Stephanie is the niece of Stella Perez. Stella is the Loan Administrator in the Cleveland Branch office.

Mac Anderson Gilreath, grandson of David Loftin was born on April 24th in Columbia, South Carolina. Mac weighed in at 9 pounds 4 oz. Mac’s parents are Kate and Jim Gilreath. Kate is the daughter of Elaine and David Loftin. David is the vice president of the Houston branch office.

Wedding Bells
Congratulations to Matt Sellers who married Regan Hall from Marvell, AR on March 14, 2009.  Matt is the son of Ronnie Sellers, vice president of the Clarksdale branch office.

In Memoriam
Lemmie Kilgore, mother of Judy Hill passed away in August.  Judy is the wife of Director Jan Hill.