Farm Credit and CoBank provide flood relief donations to central Indiana organizations

Donation helps repair 4-H Exhibit Halls and Columbus Regional Hospital

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 20, 2008) – For almost a century, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America and CoBank have formed connections to communities they serve and supported a range of programs and projects that help foster and support growth in rural America.  

When the flood that swept through Indiana this summer damaged many buildings and properties, the two ag lending cooperatives stepped forward to help organizations in central Indiana with their losses by donating $22,500 to help repair 4-H Buildings in Owen and Bartholomew Counties as well as the Columbus Regional Hospital.

“Our community is very important to the employees at Farm Credit,” said Hollie Bowser, vice president of several central Indiana FCS offices, the area where the flood wreaked the most damage. “We’ve always supported the 4-H through various awards and local 4-H Fairs.  But with the damages to the 4-H Buildings in Owen and Bartholomew Counties, we felt like we wanted to do something more to help the youth and its leaders.  And of course, a functioning hospital is critical to any community,” she said.

Julie Abedian, president of the Columbus Regional Hospital Foundation, added that the Columbus Regional Hospital suffered over $200 million in damages. “It will be the combination of state and federal disaster recovery funds, insurance and private donations that will cover these losses.”

“We knew some losses were insured.  But in many cases, insurance didn’t quite cover all the expenses,” Bowser said.  “That’s why our Stewardship Program funds important initiatives like the ones that impacted Bartholomew and Owen Counties. We’re committed to making life better in our local communities, and so are they. We’re glad to help them make a difference.”

Derrick Waggoner, regional manager with CoBank in Louisville, Kentucky agrees. “We believe strongly in being a responsible corporate citizen and giving back to the communities where our customers live and work. The recent flood situation was a perfect opportunity to do just that. Our cooperative heritage teaches us that, working together, we can accomplish great things for our neighbors and our communities.” 

Both Farm Credit Services and CoBank have allocated stewardship dollars to programs that build leadership and encourage teamwork in rural America’s youth by giving back to local communities through their Support for Agriculture Stewardship Program.  Their programs target agricultural projects and educational initiatives, giving priority to youth and young farmers. More information about Farm Credit’s and CoBank’s Stewardship Programs and commitment to the rural community can be found online at www.e-farmcredit.com or www.cobank.com.

Caption

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America and CoBank recently made $22,500 in donations to organizations in Bartholomew and Owen Counties.  Shown here are Farm Credit Services staff members Mark Koehne, Hollie Bowser and Elizabeth Hazelgrove with Larry Fisher (second to the left) of the Bartholomew County Fair Board. The second picture features FCS staff members Kristin Lykins, Danita Watts, Mark Koehne, Jody Isley and Hollie Bowser with Julie Abedian (second from left) who is president of the Columbus Regional Hospital Foundation.  The third picture features FCS staff members Matt Oberlies, Matt Lantz, Josh Wells and Hollie Bowser with Dave Schenck (second from left) from the Purdue Extension Office representing the 4-H Fair Board in Owen County.

About Farm Credit Services

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $16 billion financial services cooperative serving over 85,000 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating equipment and housing and related services such as crop and life insurance, and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-FARM or visit them on the web at www.e-farmcredit.com.

About CoBank

CoBank provides financing to rural cooperatives and critical lifeline businesses – food, water, electricity and communications – across the United States. Part of the $208 billion U.S. Farm Credit System, the bank also finances agricultural exports. In addition to the national office in Denver, CoBank has offices across the United States and one international representative office in Singapore. For more information about CoBank, visit the bank’s web site at www.cobank.com.