Harvest Time at Carolina Farm Credit
Hey guys! It’s me again, Alyson Biddix. My time at Carolina Farm Credit is starting to come to an end. I am grateful for this opportunity to be apart of such an outstanding company that makes a direct positive impact in the agricultural community.
My role as a Loan Officer Intern is to work closely with my mentor, be a face in the community by going out on farm visits, making connections with customers and learning more about the career opportunities that Carolina Farm Credit offers. Also, the interns and I have been investing our time into a project that targets the food deserts in our area in association with the farmers markets. By doing this we hope to potentially decrease the total amount of existing food deserts.
I have learned a various topics and concepts during my time at Carolina Farm Credit. One of which that is very important for loan officers is the 5 C’s of credit. The 5 C’s of credit consist of; Conditions, Character, Capital, Capacity, and Collateral. Each element of credit is equally important as they all play a role in deciding whether an individual is granted financial assistance. I also learned about the many computer programs related to lending. All are used daily by loan officers and are very important for their success. One very interesting fact that I learned while on a farm tour/visit is that rice hulls are hydrophobic. “Native” a local plant nursery in Burnsville, NC uses rice hulls, on top of the surface layer of the soil, on each plant to discourage the growth of unwanted weeds. This is a natural alternative to chemical sprays and the old-fashioned time-consuming weeding.
There have been many moments and memories made that I will reminisce about. One in particular is the trip to AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in Columbia, SC. This trip opened my eyes to just how large the AgFirst district is. We were able to mingle with other interns within the AgFirst community, strengthen our understanding of finance and loaning, and tour the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank. During the farm visits I encountered firsthand the many shared and comparative struggles that all farmers are facing. Everything from weather related to the economic status of the country effects farmers. Carolina Farm Credit’s assistance to the producers has been the upmost eye-catching experience for me. In my introduction blog, I spoke about the importance of “Agvocating” and I have had the opportunity to do so in my short time here. I am strongly certain that “Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow.” From all of the farm visits, the trip to Columbia, South Carolina, and the times where my branch and I had lunch together, this has been an experience that I will never forget.
Pictured from Left to Right: Alyson Biddix, Jessie Cline, Aaron Sloan, Alice Mukunzi, & Kate Carter