The Ohio AgriBusiness Association is pleased to feature our Sustaining Sponsors in the 2026 Spotlight Series. This week, the focus is on Platinum Sponsor: Farm Credit Mid-America.
Location (Main Headquarters): 12501 Lakefront Place, Louisville, KY
Year established: 1916
Number of locations: 88 total (21 in Ohio)
Number of employees: 1500+
Farm Credit Mid-America is a customer-owned cooperative and proud member of the Farm Credit System, which was created in 1916 by Congress. For more than a century, we have been a source of reliable, consistent credit and financial services to farmers, producers, and agribusinesses. Today we proudly serve more than 145,000 customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
Products & services provided:
What makes your company unique? Farm Credit Mid-America is unique because it is a customer-owned financial cooperative, meaning the customers we serve are also owners of the organization. This cooperative structure allows us to focus on the long-term success of our customers rather than shareholder returns, and it enables us to return a portion of our earnings to eligible customers through our patronage program.
In addition, Farm Credit Mid-America combines more than a century of agricultural lending experience through the Farm Credit System with deep local relationships and specialized expertise in agriculture, agribusiness, and rural communities. Our team understands the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural America because we live and work in the communities we serve.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to our mission of Securing the Future of Rural Communities and Agriculture®. From financing farms and agribusinesses to supporting rural homeownership through Rural 1st®, we provide tailored financial solutions designed to help our customers grow, succeed, and invest in the future of rural America.
Farm Credit Mid-America traces its roots to the creation of the Farm Credit System in 1916, which was established to provide farmers with a reliable source of credit. In 1985, more than 80 local Farm Credit associations across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee merged to form Farm Credit Mid-America. Today, the customer-owned financial cooperative serves farmers, agribusinesses, and rural residents across Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Over the years, Farm Credit Mid-America has expanded beyond traditional agricultural lending to offer a broader range of financial solutions, including equipment financing, crop insurance, leasing, and rural home lending. In 2018, the organization launched Rural 1st® to meet the growing demand for rural residential financing. Most recently, Farm Credit Mid-America expanded its footprint through a 2023 merger that added Arkansas and Missouri to its service territory, strengthening its ability to support rural communities and agriculture across the Midwest and South.
What's next for your company? Farm Credit Mid-America remains focused on securing the future of rural communities and agriculture. The organization continues to invest in technology, customer experience, and specialized financial solutions that help farmers, agribusinesses, and rural homeowners succeed. Looking ahead, Farm Credit Mid-America is committed to supporting the next generation of agriculture, growing its rural lending offerings, and providing the financial tools and expertise customers need to navigate an evolving agricultural landscape.
How has OABA membership benefited your company or the agribusiness industry? Many OABA members are also customers of Farm Credit Mid-America. They receive vital support for their operations in the areas of advocacy and continuing education. Through OABA’s efforts, our customers and Ohio agriculture have been strengthened for the future.
What is one reason you would encourage others to become an OABA member? As a cooperative dedicated to serving agriculture and rural communities, Farm Credit Mid-America values the power of strong industry partnerships. One reason we would encourage others to become an OABA member is the organization's ability to bring together leaders from across Ohio agriculture to collaborate on the issues and opportunities that impact our industry. OABA provides a strong platform for advocacy, education, and networking, helping members stay informed, build meaningful relationships, and work collectively to strengthen the future of agriculture. By being part of OABA, organizations can connect with peers, share expertise, and contribute to the continued success of Ohio's agricultural community.
Farm Credit Mid-America understands the cyclical nature of agriculture and is prepared to stand beside our customers through both good and challenging times. We are proud to partner with OABA in this important work.
An interesting fact about Farm Credit Mid-America is that 2026 marks a record year for our Patronage Program, with $280 million being distributed to eligible customer-owners—the largest patronage distribution in our history. As a customer-owned cooperative, we share a portion of our earnings with our customers, reinforcing our commitment to their long-term success. This also marks the 10th year of the program, bringing the total amount returned to eligible customers to more than $1.75 billion over the last decade. It's a powerful example of how our cooperative structure allows us to invest directly back into the farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities we serve.
Click here to learn more about the program or contact Lauren Prettyman Brown at lprettyman@oaba.net. Sustaining sponsors will automatically be promoted as such at all OABA events and will not be approached for sponsorship opportunities throughout the year.
Note that because the OABA Educational Trust is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, sponsorships related to this trust are separate from OABA.