STATESVILLE, NC – Carolina Farm Credit completed the 2019 director election by mail on October 8th. The stockholders elected to serve on the Board of Directors are J. Eric McPherson (5 year term), and Leslie G. Sparks (5 year term).
J. Eric McPherson, of Snow Camp, N.C., whose farming operation consists of beef cattle and poultry was re-elected to serve a 5 year term. In addition to farming, Mr. McPherson is President of Mac Tire, Inc., a tire mechanical sales and service center and mobile tire service. Mr. McPherson has served on the Carolina Farm Credit Board of Directors since 2017. He serves on the Boards of the Alamance County Farm Bureau, Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation District, Alamance County Voluntary Agricultural District, and Snow Camp Volunteer Fire Department.
Leslie G. Sparks, DVM of Sparta, N.C. whose farming operation consists of beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry, and goats was elected to serve a 5 year term. Mrs. Sparks is the owner and operator of Tarheel Mobile Veterinary Services, and is a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the North Carolina Holstein Association.
The following stockholders were elected to serve on the 2020 Nominating Committee:
Region 1 – Donald R. Smart, Haywood Co.
Donna R. Jones, Madison Co. (Alternate)
Region 2 – Vance C. Proctor, III, Catawba Co.
Steven R. Gunnell, Gaston Co. (Alternate)
Region 3 – Ricky W. Talley, Iredell Co.
Dennis T. Leamon, Iredell Co. (Alternate)
Region 4 - David N. Hall, Rowan Co.
Billy Franklin Lee, Stanly Co. (Alternate)
Region 5 – Mary Beth Jackson, Moore Co.
John E. Ashe, Jr., Rockingham Co. (Alternate)
Region 6 – Sam I. Kiser, Jr., Alamance Co.
Tina T. Gross, Lee Co. (Alternate)
In late October, the Board will hold an organizational meeting to appoint committee members and elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson.
Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 30 branch offices. Other financial services available are credit life insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.
For 100 years, Farm Credit has been supporting rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.
Carolina Farm Credit serves over 10,500 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.6 billion. The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with branch offices located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Browns Summit, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Conover, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Monroe, Murphy, Pilot Mountain, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.
Current Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are W. Rex Bell, Chairman, Statesville, David M. Coltrane, Vice-Chairman, Pleasant Garden; John M. Barnard, Statesville; E. Bernard Beck, Seagrove; Mark A. Bray, Lawsonville; Susie J. Gambill, Sparta; Joseph A. Lail, Shelby; Clark M. Newlin, Haw River; Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Concord; Eric McPherson, Snow Camp; D. Kaleb Rathbone, Waynesville; Lewis E. Smith, Lincolnton; Vickie N. Smitherman, East Bend; L. Kim Starnes, Salisbury; Dr. Alton Thompson, Summerfield.