Farm Credit supports Hurricane Helene relief efforts

November 13, 2024 - Farm Credit of the Virginias (FCV), a lending cooperative serving Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, recently acted in multiple ways to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts across their footprint and beyond.

Image credit: Farm Credit

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, FCV team members leapt into action to assist farmers and families in affected areas. The Association’s Wytheville and Abingdon branches opened their doors to the public to offer charging stations and resources such as water, snacks and flashlights during the first week of October. In the second week of October, all branch offices served as collection sites for donations of critical supplies to send to community members impacted by the hurricane in Southwest Virginia. FCV team members brought all donations collected to their recent company-wide meeting in Roanoke, Virginia. The team packed all donations into a U-Haul trailer and two pick-up trucks, which were then distributed to some of the hardest hit 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, which auctioned off a heifer to raise money for flood victim relief Southwest Virginia. Each of these organizations received $5,000 from the Association, though FCV employees also had the opportunity to individually contribute to VAFAIRS, Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse, which totaled more than $3,200.

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.