Thankful for Northeast Producers

There are many things I am thankful for each Thanksgiving, but given it’s a holiday centered on fresh and local farm products, I can’t help but be most thankful for Northeast producers. It’s because of their unwavering efforts to provide food and fiber products for their families, communities and beyond, that we’re all able to enjoy the bounty of Thanksgiving.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to be able to reconnect in person this year. It’s been a long 18+ months apart, and this year, we were fortunate to host some of our customer appreciation meetings in person. I was glad to see many of our hardworking members as I traveled across our territory. I’m thankful we were able to get together in a safe manner to show our appreciation and thanks for all you do.

One of the highlights at our meetings was a video showcasing the environmental stewardship efforts of Northeast producers. I often say farmers, fishermen and forest products producers are the true stewards of the land and waters, and this video aims to recognize that. While it only showcases a few operations, we know similar efforts are taking place across the region — and have been for decades. We look forward to continuing to work with our customers to ensure they’re successful while protecting the environment.

I am also grateful for our Farm Credit East team — and I look forward to growing our team in 2022. Last week, we announced our customer owners as well as those of Yankee Farm Credit overwhelmingly approved a merger of our two associations. This strategic merger will combine two highly skilled teams to enable us to deliver long-term value for Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products into the future.

As we head into the busy holiday season, I encourage everyone to consider what they’re thankful for. I hope atop that list will be your local farmers, foresters and fishermen who continue to provide for us. From the Farm Credit East family to yours, thank you for all you do and we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season.