Farm Credit East Announces Board Election Results and Reorganization

ENFIELD, CONN. — Farm Credit East, a customer-owned cooperative lender and financial services provider, has announced the results of its recent director elections and board reorganization meeting. The 15-member board represents the diversity of Northeast agriculture and forest products.

Farm Credit East, ACA stockholders recently re-elected the following three members to serve on its board of directors:

• Kyle Thygesen, of Tunbridge, Vt., was elected to a four-year term in the Eastern Region. Kyle is a managing member of the Farmstead at Falls Hill, LLC, a diversified hay and purebred dairy cattle marketing business.
• Philip “Jamie” Jones, of Shelton, Conn., was elected to a four-year term in the Central Region. Jamie is a co-owner and manager of Jones Family Farms and Jones Family Farms Winery, a specialty crop farm, winery and greenhouse operation.
• Terry Zittel, of Eden, N.Y., was elected to a four-year term in the Western Region. Terry is business manager and accounting and systems analyst of Amos Zittel & Sons, Inc., a wholesale vegetable and flowers business.

Farm Credit East congratulates the winning candidates and thanks customer-members for participating in the election process.

At the April 28 reorganization meeting, the board re-elected John Knopf, of Canandaigua, N.Y., as Chair and LouAnne King, of Madrid, N.Y., as Vice Chair. In addition to Chair Knopf and Vice Chair King, the Executive Committee also includes Laurie Griffen, of Schuylerville, N.Y., and James Robbins II, of Searsmont, Maine.

Additionally, at the April 28 board meeting, the board appointed John Kelder of Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson, N.Y., to fill a recently vacated director seat in the Central Region. John previously served as a young, beginning, small, veteran (YBSV) advisor to the board. He will serve in this position until the 2027 director election, at which time the seat will be up for election for a 4-year term.

“Farm Credit East has an essential role in supporting Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products businesses,” said Chair Knopf. “Our experienced board of directors encompasses the diversity of the region’s agriculture, ensuring we effectively represent members across the territory.”

Farm Credit East is a customer-owned agricultural cooperative and part of the nationwide Farm Credit System. Farm Credit East serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The full Farm Credit East board is comprised of 15 directors, which includes three appointed directors who bring additional skills and capabilities to the boardroom. In addition to those recently elected or appointed to the board and those elected to leadership and Executive Committee positions, the board includes: Christopher Cebula, Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; James Crane, Exeter, Maine; Brett Kreher, Clarence, N.Y.; Jay McWatters, Hamburg, N.Y.; Douglas Shelmidine, Adams, N.Y.; Peter Triandafillou, Orono, Maine; and Joel Viereck, Woolwich, N.J. Additionally, Cathryn Kennedy, North Smithfield, R.I., serves as a non-voting YBSV advisor.

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