Farm Credit Supports Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
Farm Credit of the Virginias (FCV), a lending cooperative serving Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, conducted a number of support initiatives to benefit the farming communities impacted by Hurricane Helene across their footprint and beyond, including monetary contributions to several organizations which totaled more than $28,500 made by the Association and its employees.
In the days following Hurricane Helene, the Association’s Wytheville and Abingdon branches opened their doors to the public to offer charging stations and resources, including water, snacks and flashlights. The following week, all branch offices served as collection sites for donations of critical supplies to send to communities impacted by the hurricane. The team packed donations into a U-Haul trailer and multiple pick-up trucks, which were delivered to some of the hardest hit rural communities in southwest Virginia and western North Carolina.
Additionally, FCV made monetary donations to several organizations, including the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability (VAFAIRS), Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation, the Farm Credit System Employee Relief Fund, the AgSouth Farm Credit Employee Relief Fund and the Carroll Grayson Cattle Producers Association’s Annual Mountain Momma Sale, in which a heifer was auctioned and donated back multiple times, raising $23,300 for flood victim relief in southwest Virginia. Each of these organizations received $5,000 from the Association, though FCV employees also had the opportunity to individually contribute to the relief efforts organized by VAFAIRS, Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse, which totaled more than $3,700.
The Farm Credit Knowledge Center also maintained a disaster relief resources page on the Association’s website, which was shared in customer-owner communications and with the entire agriculture community on social media. The page contains information on webinars and events to help producers navigate ongoing challenges, mental health resources and volunteer forms for agricultural producers needing supplies as well as those willing to donate supplies.
“Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation greatly appreciates Farm Credit’s generous donation to our disaster relief efforts,” shared Brandon Reeves, Executive Director of Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. He continued, “Farm Credit continues to be an incredible supporter of Virginia cattle producers and we are grateful to them for stepping up at a time of need. This donation will go a long way in helping get the Southwest Virginia’s agriculture community back on its feet.”
Brad Cornelius, CEO of FCV, said, “Farm Credit’s mission is to be an engaged partner in our rural communities, through good times and bad. We have seen the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on our Southwest Virginia communities and other parts of Appalachia, and we hope that our collective efforts offer some small relief to affected families during this uncertain time. We continue to pray for all of the communities and agricultural operations impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
About Farm Credit of the Virginias
Farm Credit of the Virginias provides over $2 billion dollars in financing to over 12,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural homeowners throughout Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland. Farm Credit is a cooperative capitalized largely through investments made by farmers, ranchers and the rural homeowners and businesses that borrow from them. In fact, as part of a nationwide network they are the largest single provider of agricultural credit in the United States and have been for over 100 years. Farm Credit helps maintain and improve the quality of life in rural America and on the farm through its constant commitment to competitive lending, expert financial services and for facilitating and sharing knowledge and resources through the Farm Credit Knowledge Center.