SANTA ROSA, CA – Out of more than a thousand people and organizations submitted, California FarmLink and FFA dairy breeder Carly Olufs were recognized nationally through Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives, a search to identify and honor 100 leaders who are changing rural communities and agriculture for the better. The honorees were announced on National Ag Day, Tuesday, March 15, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Olufs, a senior at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, CA, was recognized as a top 100 Nominee for her work as a young pioneer in genetics breeding dairy cows and for her success as a young business woman, under the category of Beginning Farmer or Rancher Achievement.
Additionally, California FarmLink, located in Santa Cruz, CA, was named among the top 10 distinguished honorees, under the category of Financial Stewardship. As a top 10 award winner, California FarmLink will receive a $10,000 award to help further their contributions to thriving rural communities and agriculture, and will be honored in Washington, D.C., at a special Farm Credit event in June of this year.
As Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives honorees, both California FarmLink and Olufs join an impressive list of leaders in agriculture and rural enterprise. American AgCredit joins the nearly 80 Farm Credit organizations that are celebrating the dynamic future of rural communities and agriculture.
“These are the people and ideas that will move Farm Credit into the next century and beyond. It takes vision and smart business sense to remain successful over time in a rapidly evolving and thriving industry like agriculture,” said President and CEO Byron Enix. “We are delighted to recognize both California FarmLink and Carly Olufs as leaders helping to define the future of agriculture.”
Selected by a panel of experts on rural matters, including Farm Credit leaders and others from throughout the agriculture industry, these honorees were named the best‐of‐the‐best among those nominated who demonstrate influence, leadership and innovation in the following categories:
* Agriculture Education and Community Impact * Mentoring and Volunteerism
* Beginning Farmer or Rancher Achievement * Rural Policy Influence
* Entrepreneurship and Innovation * Rural and Urban Connection
* Financial Stewardship * Sustainability and Natural Resources
* Leadership (21 and up) * Youth Leadership (under 21)
To learn more about the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives honorees, visit www.farmcredit100.com/top100. There you can also find a complete list of the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives honorees.
About California FarmLink – Top 10 Fresh Perspective Award Winner
The mission of California FarmLink is to link independent farmers and ranchers to the land and financing they need for a sustainable future. Since 1998, California FarmLink has assisted more than 3,000 farmers and ranchers throughout California. Their programs including financing, land security, and educational and advisory services to low income, beginning, underserved, minority and small‐scale farmers. American AgCredit has worked with California FarmLink since 1999 as an early founding donor, and has been involved in assisting with their educational programs, speaking at seminars and panels, and sharing knowledge about agricultural finances to their financing prospects and customers.
About Carly Olufs – Top 100 Fresh Perspective Winner
Carly is the principal for Carly‐O Jerseys and Holsteins, where she manages a herd of 15 registered Jerseys and Holsteins. A senior at Petaluma High School, Carly is member of the Petaluma (CA) FFA Chapter and a 3‐time Gold Award Winner of the Sonoma Section FFA Project Competition, of which American AgCredit is a key sponsor. In 2015 she was the National FFA Proficiency Finalist, Dairy Production Entrepreneurship, and a recipient of the Adelene Keightley Memorial Trophy, as Breeder of the Grand Champion Female at the All American Jersey Show in Louisville, Kentucky. She was also a member of the CA State Champion FFA Dairy Judging Team, and was awarded the Supreme Champion Grade Dairy Female, for the Sonoma Marin & Sonoma County Fair. Carly was also a recipient of the Lester Corda & Danny Buttke Memorial Award for Outstanding Dairy Project. After graduating from Petaluma High School, she plans on attending college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, to pursue a degree in Animal Science with the intent of pursuing a career as a dairy cattle geneticist.
About Farm Credit
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Farm Credit has been fulfilling its mission of helping rural America grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers with the capital they need to make their businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. Farm Credit launched the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives program as part of its 100th anniversary of service to rural communities and agriculture. For more information about Farm Credit please visit www.farmcredit.com.
About American AgCredit
Founded in 1916, American AgCredit is a member of the Farm Credit System. As the 6th largest lending cooperative in the U.S. with lending assets in excess of $7.7 billion, American AgCredit specializes in providing financial services to farmers and ranchers throughout California, Nevada, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Northern New Mexico – as well as to capital markets and agribusiness operators across the country. Financial services include production and mortgage financing, equipment and vehicle leasing, crop and life insurance, and lines of credit. Specialized programs include AgLife (focusing on Young, Beginning and Small farmers) and AgConnect, which offers financing to new and emerging markets.